The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-09-20
AM
|h!flIIpR ),
" DAY
MINOR p41N0s
&0kAAMCE
The Sparrows
IN Madison
Square

4 Co.: psbiishsd by special ar
vangemesf scssh the Wheeler syn-
dscafc. Inc.
\ The young man In straitened cir.
cumstanccs who comes to New
York City to enter literature has but
enc thing to do. provided he has
sosudied carefully his field In ad'
vance. lie must SO straight to Mad
ison square. write an article about
the sparrows lshere and sell II to
the Sun for SIS.
I cannot recall either n novel or a
story dealing with the popular theme
of the young writer from the prov.
tnces who comes to the metropolis
- win fame and fortune with his
pen in which the hero does not get
his start that way. II does seem
strange that some author. in cast
ting about for startiingiy original
psofs. has not hit upon the idea Of
having hts hero write about the blue
birds in Union Square and sell II
70 the Herald hut search thru
the flies OF metropolitan fiction
counts up Overwhelmingly for the
sparrows and the old Garden square.
and the sun always writes the
check.
OF course II is easy TO understand
why this first city venture Of the
budding author Ia always success
fpl. He il primed by necessity to
= superiative effort: mid the iron
and stone and marble OF the roaring
city he has found this spot OF sing
ing birds and green grass and trees;
every tender sentiment in his nature
- battling with the sweet pain Of
homesickness: hts genius IL aroused
~ II never may be- again: the birds
chirp. the tree branches sway. the
noise OF wheels In forgotten: he
writes with his soul in his pcn--and
he sells IL to the Sun for SIS.
I had read OF this custom during
many years before I came TO New
York. When my friends were using
their strongest arguments TO dis
suxde me from coming. only smiled
sereneIy. They did not know OF
that sparrow graft ! had up my
sleeve.
4 When I arrived in New York. and
'fhe car took me straight from the
j1erry up z3rd ~. to Madison square.
u could hear that SIS check rustling
IN my inside pocket.
obtained lodging at an unhy-
phenafed hosiery. and the next
morning I was on a bench In Madi-
son Square almost by the time the
aparrows were awake. Their
meIodious chirping. the benignant
spring foliage Of the noble trees and
the clean. fragrant grass reminded
me so potently Of the old farm I had
left that tears almost came into my
eyes.
Then. all in moment. felt my
Inspiration. The brave, piercing
notes Of those cheerful small birds
formed a keynote to wonderful,
light, fancifui song Of hope and Joy
and altruism. Like myself. they
were creatures with hearts pitched
20 the tune Of woods and fields: as
81 was, so were the captives by cir
cumstance In the discordant, dull
city---yct with how much grace and
glee they bore the restraint.
And then the early morning people
began to pass thru the square to
their work--suIlen people, with side
long giances and glum faces. hurry
ing. hurrying. hurrying. And / got
NV theme cut out clear from the
bird notes. and wrought It into
lesson, and a poem. and "A carnival
lated 1t all into prose and began to
write.
For two hours my pencil Travelled
over my pad with scarcely a rest.
Then ! went 20 the little room
had rented for two days. and there !
cut IT to half, and then mailed II,
whlte-hot. to the sun.
The next morning / was up by
daylight and spent two cents OF my
capital for paper. II the word
"sparrow" WIS In II ! was unable 10
find IL.
took II up 10 my room and
spread II out on the bed and went
over IL, column by column. Some
thing was wrong.
Three hours afterward the post.
man brought me a large envelope
containing my MS. and piece Of
inexpensive paper. about three
inches by four suppose some OF
syou have seen them-upon which
was written In violet ink, with the
Suns thanks"
went over 70 the square and sat
upon a bench. No. / did not think
II necessary TO eat any breakfast
Uurn 10 Page !, Column 81