The Washington times., 1922-10-29

LAURA - Whatever you say--I
don't believe it! Everyone
knows what artists are! They're
worse than sailors! Didn't you
start in right after we married?
Walking the floor all night and
smoking? Always wishing you
were in Egypt?
JULIAN-The truth is, I'm a born
solitary. | was never meant for
the matrimonial harness. I've
got wild horses under my skin!
The mad March ind in my
veins!
LAURA-Do you merely float along
in space, or have you a particular
location?
JULIAN-New York at present-a
matter of business. And then. II
all goes we'll, I'm off again to
Europe.
LAURA (with gasp OF envy)-
Again!
JULIAN fproudIv)-I've sold
dozen canvases, My New York
dealer almost gobbles them. I'm
in a fair way Of becoming cele-
brated. But between ourselves,
don't want to become famous in
America. I'd rather the world
would discover me-''Over there"
LAURA (ciping dtody q smile with
her hdndkcrchief)-YOu won't
give America the benefit Of your
genius?
JULIAN-Why should I? For
years | have offered my work to
this country-and II has been re-
jected! Up to a year ago never
sold a thing.
LAURA (timidly)-But aren't your
pictures just wee bit-curious?
JULIAN-I abhor Nature in her
studio poses. II 10 no trick to
paint a mountain IL you are look.
ing at il! What do I dol seek
until find a mass of milde~-!
And lurking in this notified ray
and green. hat do find, eh?
What do find?
LAURA fheIplessly)-I haven't
notion.
JULIAN (eFuberantly) - Strange
crouching animals! Tropical
forests! Tragic flowers! Stark
trees straining in tornadoes. Sin.
lister rivers! Unearthly land
scapes,-Ah. the triumph Of it!
i calmly sit before my mass of
mildew and paint what no other
mortal eve can see!
LAURA-And you've sold twelve
canvases!
JULIAN-A pot of gold dropped out
Of the sky-just as I was begin
ming to despair!
LAURA t,otth a sigh)-It must be
quite thrilling to be You!
Julian unbends to the ertent of
sitting upon a table,.
JULIAN (riding his high horse)-
Unless one is free-free to ex-
press ones individuality, life is
not a privilege-it is a punish
ment! Lord help you, Laura!
You had the whole world before
you-but you choose to sink in a
morass, half submerged by the
united burdens of your family
LAURA (shdrply)-I won't listen
to such talk
JULIAN-Didn't warn you when
we we're married Sell this
house!"-that's what said-"be-
fore 1t becomes the dropping-off
place for near and distant rela.
tives," You wouldn't listen to
me. Well-what happened? We
hadn't lived here week before a
black cloud appeared upon the
horizon. 1t was your old Aunt.
Some-O -One-or-O Other, leading on
her tribe!
LAURA fhat tearfuIly)-Could I
refuse shelter to a woman who
was homeless?
JULIAN-Within month the
front lawn looked like an orphan
asylum and an old folks home!
What ever became Of that half
witted cousin of yours? The one
who laughed like a hyena2
LAURA-Joey?-He's still living
with us.
JULIAN-And his mother-who
used to kill flies with a palm.
leaf fan and leave her teeth on
the maptel'
LAURA-Here.
JULIAN-And Lily?-the CHASTITY
female who walked in her sleep?
LAURA-she vert out one night
and never returned--poor soul!
She had gone to gather cat.tails
- in a swamp
JULIAN-There you have II!
That's the grotesque type of
tragedy that invariably happens