The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-07


take advantage OF my friendly ad-
vances or WIS not disposed to be SO
/ ciabie. My scheme for a play depend
ed largely on my being able to study
him. aud | threw away what | con
siCered false moGesty and resolved to
spare no effort 10 submit Linn to my
purpose.
/ | soon convinced him that | desired
his acquaintance. and. when sure that
lie would not be presuming. he recip-
rocated my advances. and. although
there was no revelation of his inner
self. we came to be on excellent terms.
/ Every day my play was taking
shape. the young couple had seen at
the barn dance beblg my leading man
and woman and TO whom had given
the names respectively of John and
Edna. | concocted pretty scenes be-
/ tween the lovers. interspersing them
with periods of influence brought to
bear ON Edna by Forester The rules
OF dramatic procedure are imperative.
and found myself obliged to make
Forester the villain of my play. But
II he must he villain he should be
/ fascinating villain
What Mr.. FORESTER was doing at
the inn did not know Ii he did any
/ work he must have done IL in his room.
/ for | never saw him doing anything.
But he seemed to be constantly dream
ing and appeared To he too lazy to do
! anything else. At first | was curious
/ TO know why he was thus Spending his
/ time. but | became SO Interested ia
my play that | thought very little
about his occupation.
When had finished my story in the
rough before making a scenario of it
| resolved TO submit il TO Mr.. Forres-
I ter. 10 whom | had confessed what |
was doing. and ask for suggestions.
He took my manuscript, promising tn
return II when read with his criticism.
| | had named him In my story Alfred
Denton. and had no fear that he
would recognize himself under this
name. | don't think he did. for when
he returned the manuscript his chief
criticism was that had made my vii
lain a very attractive character and
my hero country pumpkin. An au
dience would naturally sympathize
with the former and condemn the lat
/ ter.
was somewhat discouraged at this
and resolved that II l could not key
up the rustic l would at least try to
reduce the fascinating powers of his
| rival
One morning, taking up newspa
per, l noticed an announcement that
Edward Forester. the novelist, was
taking rest at the Waverly Inn. In
Calumet county. The words sent
shock through me. Literary persons
Of note are besieged by amateurs and
other scribblers for criticisms on their
work. blushed at remembering that
| had asked Mr.. Forester for an Opin-
ion on my work
After consideration | concluded to
! keep my knowledge Of his being q
I novelist to myself, permitting him to
/ presume that ] was ignorant OF It,
labored to reduce the attractivcness OF
my villain, but found 1t impossible.
/ The truth Is that | had conceived an
admiration for the model for Denton
that would insist on coming out In
Denton. After much working over the
/ character | found that the more labor
I put into 1t the more of a muddle |
made of II. Then, In despair, gave
up tho whole matter. l was tired out
| with 1t and determined to 80 home and
undertake another work later. Before
setting out concluded to tell Mr.. For
roster that Notwithstanding his reu-
cence knew who he was.
We sat on the vcrnnda of the hotel
when | began by announcing that l
proposed to leave tho next day. was
! looking him In the eve at the time,
and, despite his control OF himself. l
] saw that my announcement was some
thing OF backset to him.
Il am sorry for that" he said Il
am a scribblcr as well as you. came
here to write novel. and I would like
your opinion OF It,"
MY opinion would be worthless"
replied, but such as It Is I would be
happy to give 1t to you. Let me have
your manuscript and | will read 1t be-
fore go.
He went to his room and brought his
novel. | withdrew to secluded spot
and read till | had finished It. When
had done SO saw Mr.. Forester sit
ting on the vcranda Returning his
manuscript ! said:
1T is singular that | must make the
same criticism Of your work that you
made of niue The woman whom you
have made foil for your heroine