Evening star., 1927-11-06
By Edna Ferber

Funny. though. Laid down and never
closed an eye"
THAT was Gloria Dalton we just
passed! 1t was. I'd know her any.
where She looks lot older than she
does on the screen, though"
Getting pretty chilly now. Let's
have him turn around. l guess I'll
get out and walk awhile"
you've walked enough. pa"
Carrie and her mother dressed for
dinner, Mrs. Cowan in her faille crepe,
Carrie in her sleeveless black velvet
"A good black velvet's always good. -
Carrie cut loose bit and ordered
hors-d 'oeuvres of sea food, braised Gel
cry, shad roe, chocolate meringue.
Things / don't get at home.' But Ma
and Pa were cautious. They ordered
accustomed dishes. The old man had
scant chance to do otherwise. For
years chronic aiment had made
sweets, starches and red meats forbid
den delights for him. Sometimes he
rebelIed, but the revolt always came
to nothing.
"Now you know you can't touch
that stuff" Ma would caution him.
IT'S poison for YOU"
II just wanted 10 taste it,"
But she was firm. You know
who'll suffer for it. You're like a
child"
Indeed. he did resemble naughty
child as he sat at table, sulking, re-
bellious. greedy.
After dinner they went to the NOV
les. The picture was taken from a
classic. 1t gave the star an oppor-
tunity to wear pearl-encrusted robes,
and be rescued from the Shiny mon
arch, and let down her golden hair
and ride on milk-white palfrey. and
sit on n chair with q Gothic back,
all robed in velvet and ermine. and
change 10 the ragged, tattered georg-
cite crepe of Il becgar maid. The
picture had cost seven hundred thous-
and dollars. The Cowans viewed it
with coldly critical eyes. When they
emerged into the lights of the board
walk, they said that it was a pretty
fair picture.
THE old man and old woman and
the spinster daughter slept very
well. But they awoke at their accus
toned hour and could not sleep again.
The day stretched empty ahead of
them. Walk. Wheel-chair Win
dows. Some shopping. Madeira en-.
W OitSlyP poot-SciNsb StiiL-Nttti tuH
Mrs. Cowan stopped again before
the window full of pink and rose and
orchid crepe de chine. "That orchid
set is lovely. 1 wonder how much it
is"
What do you want to know for?"
"Oh. I'd just like to know. Wait
a minute"
She entered the shop-came out,
"The woman says it's
to be auctioned off this afternoon.
with a lot of other sets"
well, l don't see--" said Carrie
vaguely. The truth is she was bored.
SO was Ma Cowan bored. So was Pa
Cowan bored. Bored with Atlantic
City, with the Madeira embroidery,
with each other; with walking; with
riding in wheel-chairs; with the fiat
blue. gray ocean.
each other Well. what do YOU want
to do. then? Well. why didn't you
say so in the first place? Lunch? Pa
Cowan didn't think he'd eat any No.
he felt all right. But he had had
breakfast at nine. instead of at his
accustomed hour of seven-thirty. He
had eaten two eggs. The mcn had
brought him two. Simply wasn't
that's ALL No use stuffing
If you're not hungry.
DO YOU want to sit with us while
we eat? Ma and I'll have sandwich
and a cup Of tea in one of these tea
rooms"
No. he didn't think so. There
was an exhibit up the walk that
he wanted to take in. Showed how
they made Happy Days cigarettes.
Not hand touched 'em. Everything
by Misunderstanding. packing. label
He turned to go.
"We-e-ell." said Ma Cowan, doubt.
fully. you sure YOU feel all right?".
Never felt better in my life See
you later" He was off briskly. There
was a new lift to his shoulders, almost
a spring in his step. He actually did
20 to the building in which YOU saw
all the processes in the mechanical
birth of Happy Days cigarettes. He
had said he was going. and he went.
But by / o'clock he had struck off 10.
ward the business district. He went
at brisk pace, his face almost grim.
The light of daring--of adventure
was now afame in his eyes. Got