The Washington herald., 1920-07-18

MARY ROBERTS RINEHART has just
A'1 passed a psychological milestone; her
oldest boy, who married last year, has made
her grandmother at the age OF forty three.
I'm quite conscious of having passed
this milestone" she declared feelingly, but
passed It with great pride"
In the meantime, little Mary Roberts
Rinehart, I'd, familiarly known in the
family as "Babs," although she has turned
q mother into a grandmother, Is resting quite
undisturbed by this fact, as well as by the
honor Of bearing so distinguished a name.
Like her small granddaughter, the dignity
and responsibility Of her position and added
honor sit lightly on the shoulders of this
popular writer. 1t was all there in her
voice, and 1 was quite impressed by her
manner until-clang! down the street thun-
dered a fire -engine. Like lightning came
the metamorphosis. Up she sprang, up
went the window and out went her head!
why, 1 do believe it's really a fire."
she exclaimed delightedly. Come look,
she called. As far out as she could lean,
unmindful Of any possible injury to gown or
person, she was oblivious of everything but
the volumes Of smoke from the nearby build
ing and the clatter in the street below.
"why don't the fremen hurry?' she
asked e1citedly. "I suppose each action
tells though"-to herself.
"Oh, look at the men coming up through
that trapdoorr' she cried, completely lost
In the spirit of the moment. Interviewers
were, for the time being, quite forgot.
TTAD she said grandmother" or had
IL dreamed it? No, 1t was certainly true;
but had learned one thing, that love and
pride enter mostly into the makeup of some
grandmothers and that a feeling of age and
too much dignity are not necessary, are only
handicaps. Roads to babies hearts are very
Straight for grandmothers when love and
pride lead the way. Back she turned from
the window with a sigh (the fire had not
come up to expectations), but the sigh
quickly became q smile As she dropped into
a chair and said:
"a racing fire engine or q circus parade
always takes me back to my childhood. The
single dramatic moment of the whole day,
then, was when heard the FIRE engine and
saw it tearing down the street. 1t repre-
sented excitement, romance and adventure,
and all the rest Of childhood's dreams. The
circus came less often, but was almost as
thrilling.
''I remember, several years ago, I must
have rather stunned a dignifed publisher,
who came to see me at my apartment in
New York. But he was a good sport, as you
will see. 1t was evening. He was talking
very interestingly about fire engines, when
out the window saw a bright red glare.
jumped up.
"'I'm awfully sorry I said, but
have to 20 to this fire. So he picked up his
high silk hat and went with me. I'm not
bloodthirsty, but when there is fire have
to be there"
After fifteen years Of hard work Mrs.
Rinehart finds it hard to relax. At present
she is trying to eliminate the short work
with which she usually fills in her year.
Her new novel, '"The Poor Wise Man."
to be published in October, she began last
August and worked steadily on till the mid
die of January-straight ahead every day.
She wrote the book in longhand with pen
and ink and then rewrote it after it had been
typed, making total Of 300 900 words.
81 still have not recovered from the
strain" she told me. "While / was work
ing on the book" she continued, 81 had
some fear of writer's cramp and endeavored
to use the typewriter, but found myself 20