The New York herald., 1920-11-21
ABOUT AUTHORS
Irwin S. Cobb---And House
"Where Does This Door Lead To?''

There are a number of lessons to be
CLEANED from this House of the Cobbs-Rebel
Ridge. IT is called-real rebels fighting up
and down the hill in revolutionary days. and
a real ridge still alive Next to the excellent
asset of being funny enough to start this
house is being clever enough to finish 1t by
being funny enough TO write about it. The
first time 1 visited the family when the
homestead was completed I asked If il had
been written up for the magazines that are
given over TO architecture, swimming pools
and sun dials, and l was told that it had not
been. You see, 1 was going to be fairly
clever and make a little money out OF The
House myself.
Photgraphing an Earthly Paradise
Is a Very Solemn Business
Both Laura and Irwin looked wistful as
though their highest ambition was to have
me photograph the place after my own style
of three exposures on one film pack Conn
posite" pictures or Impressions" call themt
and send them to Earthly Paradises" or
some such publication. They never breathed
of abandoned Farmers" to me in which
you get the architects name and that of his
favorite workman on the dedcatory page
CLOSETS having been deleted when the last
proofs came in) and don't have to look at
my pictures, either. Really, feel that I
have grounds for something or grounds to
start something.
Granting that have little ground 1 have
learned from abandoned Farmers" that the
next thing to do is to hurry out and buy an
old brick yard. 1 don't know where Irwin
got his, but those / can see from my rear
windows are the last pieces Of real estate in
the world / should want to spend money on
If this successful householder had not found
one such place a treasure trove. l have
seen nothing in them for weeks except a
n Sh Rut at
shall have a selection to choose from, and il
took some scouting before he found his.
1 confess l am somewhat at loss for the
securing of a stone fence for my foundation
and my first story. MY first story!" 1t
would not have bought any kind of stone
fence, even the type that was once served
in tumblers. To be sure had very salts
factory dream last night about buying VI
all the set rocks from Abandoned Plays bui
in the cold light of a rainy morning their
fmsy composition of lath and canvas
seems, while fully exempifying the kind OF
a house | am most likely to have, TO be the
kind of rocks best reserved ror the under
pinnings of my heavenly mansion.
Like an Epergne at Party
Sitting Firmly in the Centre"
| think have slipped one over on the mas,
ter of Rebel Ridge when II comes to roof
trees all the same. | am starting out to buy
up the states the children once used ir
school. Where are they now? They must
be somewhere, with those neat red flame
edges bound by shoestring and little sponges
hanging by cord. shall lay them on my
housetop just they are. the sponges
sopping up the rain and cooling off the roof
by releasing their moisture when the sun
shines hot! And / am sure 1t will be the
abode of faint young laughter.
But even If / never have a house. and il
the guest rooms Of Rebel Ridge should be all
sealed up and my chandeliers and piano
stools held for storage. even so. l should not
be utterly bereft Nor are those who may
be denied a close personal relationship with
the house OF Cobb for the garden lies with
out-the pleasant garden of the Cobb men
tality that began long before there was
house and is for all who read TO share in.
Nice growing plants in that garden
simple things. ! remember my agonizing
one Sunday night through a benefit our
chorus girls were giving our soldiers,
when Irwin Cobb coming straight (pretty
straighO from the trenches. helped us along
with little talk to delighted and surprised
audience How shy he looked back i'm the
wings with the girls clustered about him
He was like epergne at a dinner party sit
ting firmly in the centre Of the flowers
horn OF plenty I think.
He wasn't comic that night. The stories
ho told sent us all to swallowing our Adams
apples The real comedian. In the seesaw
OF his attainments. must he acquainted with
the depths TO know the heights. And that's
another reason he has a house
The Sad. Shaving Humorist