The Washington times., 1931-06-12

how?
II have lately had occasion,
Father, mostly through Grafton
Davies. to mix up with some of
the girls and boys who write,
or are trying to write. You
know, the beginning crowd
that is trying to get it said in
plays and verse and articles
and such. NoveliStS. Fellows
who hold up the mirror, mostly
crookedly. DramatiStS, mean
ing the set that is still writing
plays for the trunk or bottom
drawer.
Her Clever Wit
Her brand of pretentiouS
cleverneSs was always anathema
to him. Be Yourself.
Father, let us hand over
Cataract Lodge as sort OF
all-year workshop to this crowd
from here and everywhere,
who haven't got the where or
the withal.
I've always had such a yen
myself for writing, Father,
without being able to do much
more than make a CroSS-Sign
for my signature, that after
meeting a few of these young
sters-I kind of thought-well
give me Cataract Lodge to
turn over to them, Father.
There are 48 rooms, not
counting eight big airy ones
over the boat-house and eight
over the garages. Create a
foundation committee, Father,
deed over the Cataract and the
three hundred acres, and may
be some day you will have
given lodging to the birth of
the great American novel, or
the near-great.
What was he up to? Was it
possible that she and this young
Grafton Davies
Think it over, Father. It's a
grand idea. and our chance to
have about the only kind of
finger we can ever hope to have
in making the world safe for
genius. It's a concrete, defin-
able world. Father, if you make
it's hairpins, its jig-saws and its
salt-cellars. There isn't such a
well-defined law of supply and
demand for soul-commodities.
1t pays better to manufacture
mirrors than to hold them up
to nature. That line sounds
like Gratton!"
Grafton again!"
1t is unfortunate that you
should come to me at this time
on such a mission, Jennifer.
have had on my mind for some
time to discuss a certain matter
with your mother: but now that
her illness has come up, l do
not want her bothered. Cata-
ract Lodge is sold"
"Sold?"
Possession does not go into
effect so long as I exercise my
annual option-privilege of rent
ing from the new owners"
Over Their Heads
you sold Cararact over our
heads!"
"I suppose it amounts to
that"
"Why?"
For reasons too intricate TO
enter into here"
You mean to tell me"
Are you cateChizing me?"
Father. you are not in any
possible money difficul-"
mo, l am not"
If I thought it were that,
then of course I would un-
You would be misled young
woman"
Then why?" she cried, and
stamped her foot. a quick sheet
of tears forming in her eyes
Why"
so far as you are concerned,
Cataract Lodge is still yours, to
do everything you want with
except give away. 1 like your
impulse. daughter, but it is out
Of the question"
But why?" she cried, rising
and stamping the desk three
times with her gloved hand.
why? Why? Don't treat me
like a half-wit, Father. Why
did you sell Cataract Lodge?"
For the same reason that I
have sold Thousand Island
Camp and Beaupre and the
Nice property"
Father"
Very Poorly Treated
For reasons Of greatest i'm
portanCe to me. but with the
leaseholds which have retained
in each case. of no great i'm
portance to you or your mother,
since you are left free as ever
to use them as you have hereto
fore"
Il think it is abominable, she
said, frankly crying now.
Mother and l have every right
to feel rottenly treated. OF
course, it is all yours to do with
as you will; but it might have
been decenter, father; it might
have been kinder, it might have
been treating us more like hu-
man beings and less like chat
tells. to have told u.s."
Il meant in good time to tell
your m OF her. This illness
changed that"
Mother isn't as ill as all
that. :"
Never forget this, Jennifer,
I have deeply-founded reasons
for AVarV Yo0oUn YooLn Va,