The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-11
Miss Hitty's
Discovery
A Story of the Movies
By CLARISSA MACK4E

ssssssssssssssssssSsssssss
In the village of Edgewood were
many straitlaced persons. To visit
that town and become acquainted with
the Inhabitants was like going back
century, when the theater, playing
cards and all manner of amusements
were considered wicked. There is
story of a man who paved the way for
the enjoyment of the game of billiards
in the God fearing town of Philadel-
phia during the early part of the last
century. He said that marbles were
not considered wicked-why billiards?
Marbles were stone, while billiard
balls were ivory Marbles were shot
by the hand, billiard balls by a stick
Marbles were played on the sidewalk
out Of doors, while billiards were play
ed on a level bed in the house. Where
in lay the difference?
The good people Of the Quaker City,
whose children could not be prevented
from playing marbles, concluded after
this discovery had been made that bill
lizards were no more sinful and with
drew their opposition, and thereafter
billiards became fashionable.
1t was the fate Of Miss Hitty to
make a similar discovery in Edgewood.
Miss Kitty met Dick Hedges at
church sociable. Had she not met him
at a church sociable she would prob
ably never have met him at ALL for
dancing was frowned upon in Edge
wood, and without dancing young peo-
pies parties are considered dull. The
consequence was that, no one caring to
go TO the trouble of getting up party
that was sure to be dull, parties were
not given.
But 1t would have made no differ
ence where these two happened to
meet, for at once both recognized that
they were made for each other, and
after that they provided their own
places of meeting, and very soon they
were engaged. Unfortunately Hedges
was poor and but one opening appear
ed for him; that was a position in an
American tea house in China. Dick
availed himself of it and tore himself
away from his betrothed. Weeks,
months, even years, passed. and he did
not return.
When the Palace movie theater open.
ed its doors In Edgewood the house
of entertainment was looked upon with
disapproval by the church members
At first many of them declined tt
even penetrate the mysteries beyond
the white painted doors and the many
posters outside, but gradually one BY
one the villagers were lured inside un
til the venture promised to be profit
able one. Even the ministers of tn,
different churches visited the theate
from time to time to censor the plays
but on the whole 1t was decided tina
1t was harmless diversion.
After Miss Kitty Morton made he
important discovery Edgewood took tn,
Palace theater to its heart
Every one knew that Hitty Mortol
would have been married long ago 1
Dick Hedges had ever returned from
his long voyage to China. But Dicl
had never returned, and it was be
lieved that he had died. One by on
his family had died or moved ava.
from Edgewood until there remained
only his old sweetheart, Hitty Morton
who lived on Honeypot road, in littl
red cottage near the bay. Some peopl
whispered that Dick had been faithles
to Kitty.
The first time Hitty entered the wall
of the Palace she was bewildered b.
the crowd of silent people. the flash
ing pictures on the screen, the novelt
of it all, for she had never been in
theater in all her simple life.
But the screen pictures laid thei
magic spell upon her, and she becam
a devotee of the movies. Twice a wee
as regularly as the program wa
changed Hitty Morton could be foun
sitting In the same seat halfway dow
the room, her bright eyes eagerly 70
lowing the stories told by the screen.
Deacon Peddie, who passed the co
lection plate In church, always SER
tinized Hitty's contribution to detet
whether or not she was enjoying Ii
semiweekly amusement at the expenS
Of the church. but invariably Hitty
silver dime would drop into the plat
Perhaps Hlme Dayton, the butche
might have told another story-thi
Kitty was skimping on her food. 81
was eating meat only twice a wee
now instead of three times.
One night In particular the postel
were more alluring than ever. The
had been a change of program thu
day. but there was a missionary NEE
ing. and Hitty had postponed her goir
to the following night. Now she pau
ed in front OF the brightly lighted e
trance and studied the colored poster
"All For Love-" That sounded thri
ing, with a rescue at sea. Pictures
the sea always attracted her.
Visits to Strange Lands" Hit
thrilled with anticipated pleasure. (
she dearly loved these travel picture
giving glimpses of strange lands al
strange people. perhaps the countri
that Dick Hedges had visited.
used to say that when he got vess
of his own he would take her with hi
to the far east Kitty still lived the
voyages In her day dreams.
She glanced up and down the villa
street.
Yonder was the church. The has
ment was brightly lighted, for the