Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-04-18
JON Read
At Meeting
Of OfWriters

The one act play Jon" writ.
ten by Miss Odell Savage, of this
city, was read last night by its
author at the regular session OF
the Modern Writers section Of the
Salem Arts league, entertained at
the residence of Mrs. Byron
Brunk. Miss Savage read her play
and answered many questions
concerning how it came to be writ
ten.
The scene of the piece is laid
on the coast of Scotland and the
plot is in fact "a love tragedy. A
line of the piece which seems to
be typical is: "We bear our sons
to be fishermen-the sun goes out
and we are left" The curtain goes
up on prologue from which the
act dates ten years. During the
act there is a curtain drop to de-
note the passing of cnA week. The
lplot, complete, came to Miss S.r.
age, she stated, when she was un-
der pressure to produce something
for class at college. Since being
written, the piece has been pub
lished by an eastern company and
has brought Miss Savage a good
bit of fame.
Six characters appear in the
play Jon, Myra, his mother; Pet
er, his father; Nan, his sweet
heart; his grandmother, and Lar
ry, a friend. The psychology of
each character is beautifully
worked out and the ending altho
inevitable is slightly unexpected
Miss Savage, who is in Salem
at the home of her parents, is
taking course in short story in
the University of Chicago and is
busy most of the time with writ
ing.
In addition to the play read by
Miss Savage, original things were
read by other members of the
group. Mrs. Blanche Jones read
two poems, "Fare Forth" and
April" Miss Grace Smith gave
a sketch; Miss Marjory Mellinger
read an essay Pioneer Mother"
Gertrude Robson Ross. gave two
poems Last Night / Talked with
Harlequin" and II Never Looked
on Helen's Face" The poems .: In
Autumn" II Saw Her Copper
Shield Flash BY" and Lullaby"
were presented by Mrs. F. S.
Barton; Mrs. j. c. Nelson read the
poem, "Tis Passion Week"
The essay read by Miss Mellin-
ger bears the distinction of being
written for a contest conducted !
by the University Of Oregon ex-
tension division, which is gather
ing material for a history of Ore
gon. All essays submitted must be
of facts and cup is Of
fered as a reward to the high |
school winning the decision for
three years. Miss Mellinger has
won the cup for Salem for two
years and the school is depending
upon her this year to gain it
again. Her essay is made up of
material which she
gathered herself.
An invitation was read last
night before the meeting for mem
bers of the section who have had
work published to join the Oregon
Authors league, headed by Anne
shannon Monroe. Also progress
,oward the publication of book
If poems and prose by Oregon
authors was reported by Guy
fitch Phelps. Work by Mrs. F. S.
Barton and Gertrude Robson
Ross will be included in the book
nd in his communication read at
he meeting Mr.. Phelps wrote, II
onsider Mrs. Ross one of the best
'oets of the west"
The next session of the section
will be at the residence of Mrs.
&C. Nelson, where it was previ-
usly planned to meet, but later
Those present were
Irs. Ethel DeSelm, Mrs. Arthur
Mrs. E. c. Richards, Mrs.
ertrude Robson Ross, Mrs. ]. c.
Telson, Mrs. Claudine Mellinger,
[iss Marjory Mellinger, Miss
dell Savage, Miss Grace Smith,
[iss Minna Harding, Mrs. F. S.
arton, Mrs. ]. M. Clifford. Mrs.
lanche Jones, Miss Florence
9nes and Mrs. Byron Brunk.