Evening star., 1928-03-18

- Is now no more. 1t was a shabby
place. but by some golden boost OF fate
1t brought together batch of young
sters whose present literary value ranks
them. shoulder to shoulder. with the
successful writer's OF the day. This Is
just glimpse backward at one OF them {:
A Cobwebby Office. with gray dusk
through the curtainless Notwithstanding
the gray dust Of corners, shelves and
chairs.
A boy at a deal table. writing dra-
matte review~a boy with hair like
heavy black satin, a skin as pink and
fine AS a baby's. and eyes like midnight
suns The thing he was working on
was continuation of report that had
threatened him the loss of his job--a
poor Job, that paid him SIS a week
but which he loved because his heart
was In his work and because of an am
bition that demanded constant express
sion--.and because he was only Is.
The whole Office knew that he had
dared to print that certain performer
was UNIT to be seen by respectable peo-
pie. because of disrobing act on =
trapeze bar, a vulgarity which the play
bill referred to as Art. The theater
threatened withdrawal OF It's advertise
ment. and the newspaper threatened
the boy with dismissal. And there he
sat at the deal table. intensely absorbed
In driving his argument home-and
himself out of a job.
AS the dusk leadened into night. he
turned on gas jet and worked on. A
woman came in. turned a Jet over her
own table. and. knowing about the boys
trouble. said something Just to show
that her heart was with him In his fight.
You are working late. Have you had
your dinner?"
The boy chuckled-like a boy:
Cant have any. Spent my money in
a run over to Baltimore to see a play
that is to open here tomorrow, so that
/ can do 1t justice. Oh. l can get a
sandwich and coffee. 1t is a good play.
and l want to put in 1t all that I am
worth-provided the Office allows me
the chance"
The Office did not. And his dismissal
because he told the public what ella IS
Of entertainment a certain place If
amusement was showing. left him with
out cent. He had friends, however.
among his people. so he went to New
York and became one Of the successful
playwrights OF the country.
And that Is all there was to 1t, ex-
cept that newspaper sQuib writer. who
diagnoses the personalities of famous
folk. put In a printed query the other
day as TO whether certain high-brow
dramatist Is really austerely righteous
or II 1t be merely literary pose?
And having read 1t. the woman at the
deal table ventured, in a small way, to
put Charming Pollock on the screen.
II anybody reads Victorian novels.
these progressive times, a day may be
pleasantly spent following the literary
ups and downs OF dear Miss Muloch's
Brave Lady" The plot Is English, OF
course, its scenes visioning the life of
town and country. The openings and
cloSings Of city and Summer homes. and
so on--and though the title seems to
relate entirely to a British heroine, her
experiences may remind you that here
right here among uS--we have brave
ladies OF our own. friend of the
column was telling about them--some-
thing like this:
There was a rich woman. who lived
in a palatial home In a wealthy COM
munity. Her husband was killed In an
automobile accident. Fortune vanished
and 1t was necessary TO make a living
for herself and children. She had been
notable hostess. so. for the double
reason that she was united for busi-
ness life and had to give immediate
support to her family. she boldly de-
cided TO do the only thing for which she
was eQuipped-attend to the openings
and closings OF the mansions of others.
as she had done for her own. Her repu-
tation as hostess won for her recogni-
ton as housekeeper, and she found
steady employment at prosperous wages
You have to be q brave lady to take
a step like that.
Another brave lady of WASHINGTON
to give up her splendid home her car,
theaters travel--eVerything-- go 10
work. She had always been proud
among her friends, OF her born ability
10 cook~-chafing- dish parties. electric
grills and the like--and when ad-
versity taught her that 1t was her only
asset since she had neither time nor
money To be trained for anything else
you have TO hustle when little mouths
are waiting like hungry birds In a nest
she went to a nearby city and hired
Out-Hired Out~and Is today q high
priced chef. Brave lady No. 2.
To hOuSekeep and cook after a life
time OF servants of your own means a
bitter sup and bite for ladies. whether
they are brave or not. but. anyhow. 1t
is all right, II 1t stands for help 10
others and ones own Self-reSpeCt. And
1t Is a big heap better than dependence
provided there Is any one to depend
on. SO. should you be inclined to read
dear Miss Muloch's Brave Lady" don't
forget that we have brave ladies OF our
very own.