Evening star., 1928-05-19
Criticisms.
K RS. HUBERT LAIDLAW looked
~ nVer the coffee ftrY1 ar her

| M over the coffee urn at her
| N family. Her husband, stolid,
1 / we'll groomed, prosperous look
ing. half hidden behind his
morning paper; Madelaine, daintily
pretty. still sleepy from last nights
country club dance; Hubert, tr., or
Hub" blond hair disheveled. dividing
! eggs and his "math' book propped up
against the water pitcher before his
| plate.
| II am going to ask you all favor,
| and wish you would pay attention 70
me-" said Mrs Laidlaw as she carefully
, dropped two and half Jumps Of sugar
| into her husbands coffee and passed
it to him. II want you-all three-to
give this evening to me-"
| Sorry Nom. but l can't" said Huo.
Promised Mickey I'd help him tear
| down his radio set tonight"
THAT can wait until tomorrow night,
son. Mother doesn't ask favors very
often and this Is irnportant--to me-"
| "Oh. mother" complained Madelaine
| fearily. II planned on going to bed
early tonight-I'll be Just dead! and to-
morrow night is the sorority dance at
| the club didn't get in until 3
this morning-and can just never
keep-awake! !"
II won't keep you much after g."
promised her mother. 1T will help me
| q Iot-vol1r new ideas. You see-now
| that l have more time-I am going to
write stories. I did in college and
| father viii remember that 1 had sew
eral published. 1 have been too busy
| all these years but now-Im
/ writing. / have one all ready for copy
| ing and I would like to have your
| opinion before l send it out. 1t seems
! very good-to me--but Of course crit
| icisms are always helpful"
Mr.. Laidlaw smiled at her over his
| newspaper.
Turning literary again. mother, after
| all these years? Well, well. We WILL
all be on hand tonight to hear your
story. Beauty maps and radios can
| wait this time After all these years OF
cares and household duties, mother is
| going back TO her first love-"
That evening Mr. Laidlaw esconced
| himself in his favorite chair, the eve
ming paper folded on the table beside
| him. Hub leaned over his closed his
| tory book, his face in his palms, and
| Madelaine was stretched full length on
the couch. her pretty face resting in
the crook Of her arm.
"At college, I always wrote small
town stories" said Mrs. Laidlaw as she
unfolded the pages Of her story. MY
professor told me never to try to change
| my style-and couldn't if would. /
| love the atmosphere Of small towns
| the people tf1ere-and this story Is OF
| a typical small town family with the
mother and wife as the main character.
/ She has a husband-a son and-a
daughter-just like me. She rebels
against what she calls restricted
| life"
Read it, MON. read it--cut the
scenario" advised Hub. and his mother
began TO read Her husband nodded ap-
| proyingly several times and twirled his
| thumbs, his chin resting on his shirt
front. Her daughter giggled once or
! twice, yawned. furtively wiped away
| tear at one high spot" and then re-
, laxed. her eyes closed Hub slid down
| into his chair. his hands thrust deep
into his pockets and gave his mother
| his undivided attention. 1t was just
after 8 when she folded the pages
snapped an elastic band about them.
and looked from one face to another
! expectantly.
We'll" she invited.
Good stuff. my dear You have not
| lost your fair for storytelling. But
| there are-ahem-one or two details
which think could be changed-im.
uroved upon Now. for instance, your
Harry Carpenter should not be prod
uce man. Let him be banker in that
small town"
Like yourself. dear?" laughed his
wife good-naturedly. Il do like the idea
| Of Henry being produce man, because
naturally Marion-his wife-would
rebel at onions. carrots. peas. tomatoes.
beets, and all that. really built my
story on that idea, Hubert"
| He could be equally as narrow as
| banker and the close of your story
would be much more dignifed. and,
besides. you could bring In more OF a
social element, Elsie. Don't you see?
| It is mighty hard for produce man
really a truck gardener-to work into
society. and as a banker you could add
lot of atmosphere you cannot other
wise"
You don't see my point. Hubert. 1t
| is lust because he is a produce man
that Marion reyoits-thinks IL Is inter-
fering with her children's opportuni-
ties. her own dislike for the business.
and thinks he could do something more
: alarruftyaU The snriQfy element did not