Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-07-26
First Recognition IN New York;
She Intrigued by Greenwich Village

,are colored and they are white. ano
because you are under my wing. II
you weren't living here, you'd see
how quickly they would make adj
vances If it were not for the criti-
cism Of society, any of these men
would be proud to marry you, but the
difference in race prevents that.
"They would love to have an affair
with you, but they are afraid to
troach the subject because you live
with me. They'll not hold off very
long, though, so I warn you to be
careful. To a girl as beautiful as
you are, men will offer anything, and
there are men rich enough to offer
anything who often come to visit u.s."
Margot smiled wisely and protect
ingly, drew indulgently upon a long
Russian cigarette and shifted her po-
sition on the chaise lounge.
Three months after Verna's advent
to Greenwich Village, the annual
Beaux Arts Ball was announced. The
ball was always the occasion for the
artists, artists models, scenic artists.
interior decorators and other people
of the Bohemian set to wear their
most elaborate costumes amid the
most gorgeous and exotic scenery.
"Verna," drawled Margot, you
must go by all means. You'll really
be a sensation. Well get you up as
the Queen of Sheba. Fred Watkins
will make the costume and Will Ran
doski will make the palanquin for
you to be carried in. Well get
quartet of big handsome black fellows
from Harlem to bear it and dress
them as Egyptian serving men. Oh,
it'll just be grand"
But" interrupted Verna, won't
there be some objection to er.-me
at such a swell AFFAIR.""
NONSENSE" said Margot. mo one
will dare to object to my guest. Be-
sides, Honey, this is Greenwich Viii
laye, New York City, and not the
Solid South. Everybody will be de-
lighted. There may be few narrow
minded persons about but they don't
count; besides, most of them drop
their silly prejudices when they en-
te- this life. They have to-"
There was much hustle and hustle
in the artists colony getting ready
for the annual affair scheduled to
be the most elaborate in history.
Verna was as excited as the rest.
Two or three times she went over to
Fred Watkinss studio to see the
progress of her costume, or to Will
RondosN's little basement shop to
watch the building of the palatial sill
vered palanquin.
'"The Ethiopian Love Song"
Margot had said that when the
time came for stunts, Verna must
sing a song; so Verna began to hunt
for something appropriate. Nothing
trite or commonplace would do, but
she could find nothing else. Then,
one day Margot swept into the studio
with eyes agleam.
"I've got just the thing" she cried
excitedly. "Its Wendell Daltons very
latest piece, The Ethiopian Love
Song.'"
"Who is Wendell Dalton?" asked
Verna, wondering and curious, as
Margot seated herself at the baby
grand piano and began to run over
the piece.
who is Wendell Dalton?" echoed
Margot, facing her incredulouSly.
"Why, don't you know? Say, Verna,
he is the SWEETEST, handsomest col
ored fellow I've ever seen; college
graduate, the very soul of culture:
tell, aristocratic and one Of our lead
ing composers. I'll have him down
to tea sometime so you can meet
him"
Between Margot Yancey, Fred Wat
kins and VIII Rondoski, Verna GER
tainly looked more like the Queen Of
Sheba than it had been possible fog