Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-08-17
A PICTURE
PLAYWRIGHT
By F. A. mitchell

of Holland appeared in the rear of the
German lines and asked permission to
go through into Belgium. He was
taken before Colonel Diedrich, who
was charged with the examination OF
those desiring to pass out of Germany
to discover if they bore any informa-
ton that the government would not
care to have carried out Of the country.
name entered on his passport-was led
to the quarters of the colonel, carrying
suit case, his only baggage.
"Open it." said the officer, pointing to
the suit case.
Van Gassboch laid open the case,
and the colonel directed soldier to
dump the contents on table. This
done, the colonel drew chair near the
pile and, taking up each article 1t con-
tanned, scrutinized it infinitely. There
We're some linen, brushes and combs
and other toilet articles. These he laid
aside and, coming to a roll Of manu-
script, pounced upon it suspiciously.
it from the envelope containing it.
"a scenario for picture play"
The colonel turned over one page
after another, not reading them, but
looking for what might indicate mat
ter covering information Of the Ger
man situation.
what are these drawings" he
asked.
Suggestions for scenery to be pro
duced in the play was the reply.
what is this-a Zeppelin"
'No, colonel; that is intended to
represent a cloud.'
HIN; you Dutchmen know nothing
about art
II don't pretend to be an artist. AS
I have told you, colonel, these are
merely suggestions. They are intend
ed to indicate to the artist what Is re-
CURED
II should think so. Well, I must
read this manuscript, and l cannot do
so at once, so you must wait
''That is to be expected, only trust
that you will not keep me waiting any
longer than absolutely necessary"
With this Van Gassboch was taken
to place where he was kept under
guard till the next day, when he was
again led to Colonel Diedrich's quar-
tiers. The colonel seemed during the
interval to have thawed somewhat.
His manner was more friendly.
II did not understand yesterday" he
said, why you came to Germany to
write your picture play. The theme
explains it. Where could you get the
| material to present play based on
the Faust Of the immortal Goethe ex.
cept in the fatherland? Your play
will be a wonder. I have read it all
That scene where Faust goes down te
hell will be very impressive when pho.
tographed."
ut Is intended to be vivid"
"But why do you make the principal
scenes among mountains?"
Because mountains are so much
more impressive than plains
II see Nothing better represents the
superworld than the Jungfrau."
"Or Mont Blanc"
Zach, Mont Blanc is killed by its
French name. The Jungfrau has the
proper sound. But here"-referrins
to one of the pictures-"is some
thing don't understand. It looks
more like diagram than anything
else"
1T is a diagram-a diagram Of tn,
famous garden scene between Faus
and Marguerite"
"Marguerite! Nein! Gretchen"
"You are right, colonel / was think
ing of Gounod's opera"
Zach, Gounod was not the man t
write an opera on this theme"
ct should have been Wagner
yah, Wagner; the immortal Wag
ner." And the colonel's eye lighte'
with enthusiasm.
The picture play will have the Ger
man coloring throughout"
THAT is good"
"And the heroine will be name
Gretchen"
"That is good tool"
"And Mephistopheles will be Gale
der teufel.'"
THAT is very goodv'
, well, colonel, may go throughY'
At this the practical side of the coli
mel reasserted itself. His enthusiast
smile subsidized into severer look, an
J he hesitated. Then he took the mann
script to a fireplace, separated til
sheets and held them near the fam
He was testing for something write
in acid that would come out when e.
posed to warmth. Nothing appeare
and, stepping to case representing
miniature drug store. he applied IL
contents of several different bottles
the paper. Finally, being satisfied, !
permitted Van Gassboch to paS
through the lines with his scenari
(. his linen and his brushes.
No sooner had the playwright passe
the lines than he began to talk tia
ian. eScheWing the Dutch language e