Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-08-09
Annals Merciless
Critic
By coRoNE REMINGTON

Terhune should try writing for the
movies. Everybody but the entirely
illiterate and the abjectly lazy has
tried 1t, is trying It or is going to try
1t tomorrow. Most folks experiment
in film fiction because they fancy them
selves a bit clever.
Anna. however, was prompted to
that endeavor only because she was
sure she was little less stupid and a
good deal less badly educated than
Hazel Hazelhurst; and Hazel, so all
Hillsburg was one morning Informed
by the Herald, had written and sold
to the Imperial Films company a
scenario called "Flaming Swords and
Bleeding Hearts" Afterward Anna
had seen the film herself, with the sub
title, "Story by Hazel Hazelhurst," as
big as life.
It was an amazing thing to Anna,
because Hazel, a spinner girl In the
silk mill where Anna was a sten0g-
rapher, had left school of her own vo-
lition at thirteen and was the kind of
girl who talks slang exclusively,
chews gum on the streets and goes to
10-cent dances.
If it were really true that inarticu-
late people like that could get hun
dreds and hundreds Of dollars for just
tacking together few ideas and send
Ing them to film company. then Anna
felt she was doing herself an abso-
lutte injustice by not trying her hand
at this fairy game Of chance. She
would do It
Wherefore, within the next six
weeks. Anna by dint Of much mental
toll evolved three stories. Each was
neatly typed and dispatched to the
Colossal Photoplays company, at New
York. And each, about week after
its departure, came back as unerringly
as homing pigeon. With each was
enclosed the same printed form, stat
ing that the Colossal company regrets
that ths material submitted Is not ex-
aetly suited to Its present needs"
1t was just at this time that the Ma
tional Fabrics company decided to
close down lts Hillsburg plant for two
weeks for "readjustment purposes
Anna, receiving assurance from the
manager that she would not be affected
by the readjustment proceedings, found
herself with q fortnight's vacation on
her hands.
She determined that the way to dis
cover something about this scenario
game, meantime, was to 60 to the place
where 1t is played. So she made the
first trip of her life to the metropolis,
procured as comfortable furnished
room as New York's fantastic prices
made possible to her limited purse. and
set out next day to "learn the game"
Anna expected to get speech with q
couple of scenario editors, at least, and
to obtain from them some words OF ad-
vice and suggestion; also. probably, to
secure permission to visit studio or
two and witness screen drama In the
making. She went to the ColossaPs
establishment first.
From a red-headed typlst at the por-
tai of the scenario department Anna
received disillusionment. The scenario
editor wasn't to be seen. Nobody was
to be seen, except by appointment. A
million people day wanted to see
somebody about scenarios. Anyhow,
Mr.. Highland was out. The associate
editor was out, too.
Anna was on the point Of beating a
discounted retreat when Ted Maltby,
under inspiration to have an early
lunch, emerged from an inner room.
Ted one of the Colossal's keenest
scenario readers, nevertheless was
departmental joke for his softness OF
heart toward the genus writing nut
He stopped, looking inQuiringly at the
red-headed girl and toward Anna.
as lady wantsta see somebody bout
script writln'." volunteered Red Head
vastly bored.
perhaps can be Of service" OF,
fered Tom. The proffer was made In
sacrificial kindness, but as Anna Ter
hune's face lighted in acknowledgment
Ted whistled, mentally, In delighted
surprise. "a regular grill" he inward
ly congratulated himself-"after, Oh
Lord, these many hundreds!" Then, tt
Anna, 81 am one Of the readers-Malt
BY"
Anna told him her name. "Of Hills
burgf" Ted asked. II have read sew
eral Of your scripts lately"
"oh, I'm 80 gladw exclaimed the
girl. "Then you will be the very per
son 4o advise me. That's what l have
come for, you know"
Maltby experienced the sudden sense
of depression that comes to him whit
is Unexpectedly called on to break thu
news to the family Of the victim. y
shall be delighted" he managed to say
however. IT was just going over t.
Forty-fourth street for much coffee
and little food. Would you care II
comet It's wonderful place to talk.
New York is not Hillsburg, even Of
ones first day. Anna, quite to he
own astonishment. accepted the invi
tation with no more ceremony thar
had accompanied It's extension. Tel
minutes later they were sitting, In tn
camaraderie Of old acQuaintanceship
at little undraped table in the pres
ence of a negligible luncheon ant
miraculous Brazilian brew.
"Now," said Ted, I'm going to pla!
the heavy-just mere plain brute
You've come to New York to get se
right In this stunt Of screen writing
You've had your scripts sent back ant
you've made up your mind to find TN
reason why and how to correct you
ruults. That's 1t. isn't lit"
"Why, yes. And I'm glad you
SWait," interrupted Ted. "Your
not going to thank me; In a minut
you're going to throw that coffee Gu
at my head, Miss Terhune"-Maltby
expression showed that he hated tf
task ahead Of him-T ask you TO D.
lieve that am animated by the sil
, cerest, II quite sudden. friendsni!
There is only one thing for you to q
about this work"
VI think know what you are goir
,. to say" Anna interjected. "You'l
eoing to tell me must start all over
begin at q beginning, somewhere