The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-24
BY DOUGLAS GILBERT,

went back to his typewriter,
side of the desk.
The soft feel Of the rug
under foot was comfortable,
sort of honey, restoring
somewhat the easy assurance
of the gossipy give and take
of last nights conversation in
Gosden's apartment.
"Sit down. said Gosden. I'm
Just about to kill chicken" dof>
flng his black headpiece.
why the cap?"
"Just a habit, 1 guess, although
it keeps my hair slicked down"
Correll, fumbling with a sheet
of paper, was uncovered. He flshed
his out, crumpled it in his hands,
and put it back.
Cosden threw my overcoat and
hat on a chair. remarked that 1
was afraid, when I found the door
locked, that they had been unable
to keep our appointment. That I'd
have to go back to New York with
out whatever it was they were going
to give me.
Amos n Andy wasn't on the di-
rectory board of the building. Nor
were Gosden, Freeman F., or Cor
relI, Charles j., listed in the tele-
phone book.
II wasn't that I needed more
quotes" These boys had pierced
beyond a newspaperman'S custom
aly-and often pardonable-cyni-
cism toward public characters.
There was something agreeably ag-
gressive, spontaneity of energy
thoroughly likable about Gosden.
Cornell Interesting
Corell's laugh it off" attitude,
hts absolute dismissal of things that
I had found irked other men whose
names are news, interested me in a
clriously personal manner.
I sort Of wanted just to talk to
them some more. The all-impelling
copy" the material" for it, for
this moment seemed secondary. I
didn't realize until coming back on
the train-I remember precisely we
we're just pulling through Gary
how this peculiar ''unprofessional'
reaction might have given me more
material for these interviews than
If 1 had approached them in the
usual lockstep series Of routine queS-
tons.
How much Of this stuff are you
going to use for the stories?" Cos
den asked me.
"All of it." I answered. "Or as
much as can remember. You
didn't sew me up on anything that
! recall"
Everything Allowed
That was another point. The alb
sence Of "of the record" stuff.
They hadn't told me a thing I
couldn't print. I recalled the talk
about the Pepsodent contract last
night. They hadn't SHE'D at its
financial aspects.
"a wonderful contract" Gosden
had said. Its given us lots of
leeway." I might have persisted, I
suppose, and asked him to explain
the significance of his remark.
Somehow I didn't want to.
They had become less and less
subjects" for stories - more and
more Just friendly chaps. 1t seemed
like prying into something that was
none of my-or of your, for that
matter-buSineSs
Different Attitude
Ordinarily should have made it,
or at least tried to, your business.
II they had been so-called sophisti-
Gated types, wise" if they had
challenged me in my capacity as a
reporter, as lots Of prominent per-
sons do, should have attempted to
ferret out much other information
from them that might have pro-
voked your interest. But I should
have ruined any attempt toward
real Characterization of the boys.
They're Easy to Handle
They were, as we say in the news
paper business. easy to handle"
Frank, almost garrulous, they
tipped of answers to my endless
questions with an expansion whose
threads I was continually losing.
Did you get that?" Gosden would
ask. stop me if go too fast" It
wasn't studied politeneSs. They
don't care a damn about this pub
hcity.
They're as well of without It,
perhaps better. realized this. But
they never made me- Again they
we're below the line" in the point
score Of my estimate.
liked particularly GoSden's atti-
tude toward his wife. Very little
sweetheart" stuff, a great deal of
honest intention to please. In less
than three years-thatS as long as
they've been married-that uncon-
Scious comradeShip observant. usu-
ally, in couples only after a decade
was quite apparent.
Both Wear Well
Each exhibited no superficial con-
Germ for the other, but a great deal
Of understanding. They are wear
sng well.
s was very definitely impressed