The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-06-14
Novelist B0denhein1
Downfall Recalled
Writer Ben Hecht Had Been His Friend in Old Days;
Hecht's Wife Buys BOdenheim Works for SAL

1 Mr.. Heoht published hi first
book and critics. said he was a
young man of promise. Mr.. Boden-
helm published his first and crit
| les said much the same. Mr.. Hecht
published his second and his third,
Mr.. Bodenheim did likewise. Their
regulations increased and in some
inadvertant way, the critics began
comparing one to the other. Both
were young men of promise, but
which promised the most, Mr..
Hecht or Mr.. Bodenheim?
Chill In Friendship
Then Bohemians noted the
slightest chilli in the warm friend
ship Of MIR. Hecht and Mr.. Boden-
helm. Mr.. Hecht's bon mots at lit
erary teas were relayed by his
friends to Mr.. Bodenheim and Mr..
Bodenheim's friends performed q
like service. These bon mots be-
came more pointed and 1t wasn't
long before all the village knew
that Mr.. Hecht and Mr.. Boden-
helm were no longer friends. II
seemed to make little difference be-
cause now both were writing best
sellers and both were recognized
men Of genius.
AT this point Mr.. Hecht wrote n
novel called Count Bruga." Its
hero was a strange creature. a
poet, bon vivant In his way, an
indisputed man of genius, but not
always strictly admirable. His
friends and Mr.. Bodenheim's
friends said 1t was direct satire
on Mr.. Bodenheim and Mr.. Bod
enheim ragged for weeks, even
months. In white heat he set down
a book which some people said was
a satire on Mr.. Hecht. II was his
first bad book and now It is hardly
remembered.
When Mr.. Bodenheim published
his next book, some critics asked
what has happened to Boden.
helm His next and they sobbed
over the degeneration of a great
talent. His next and next they
hardly bothered to review. Soon
Mr.. Bodenheim was writing nc
more books.
Hecht Grew Famous
But Mr.. Hecht's prolificness
seemed increased a hundred fold
He wrote the newspaper play
The Front Page" Scores OF
staries, movie scenarios, book.
poured In an amending stream
from his typewriter and a CORE.
spending current carried the prof.
its to his bank.
Mr.. Bodenheim, meanwhile. wa,
drifting steadily down. In Green.
wich Village he was called thu
High Priest Of Sociology In Liter.
ature.' Finally a few months ago
he applied for relief.
Then some of the village 30.
hemians decided something had te
be done for Make. Last nigh,
the cillagers held a shebang at tn,
Vagabonds Club for the purpose
of auctioning his life works, al
first editions and all autograph err
by the author, so that he nigh
continue to eat.
Among the white faced, lon,
haired young men and the bizar
rely dressed young women poet
and artists all-sat a woman un
known to them all dressed richl.
in the height OF fashion.
The Woman Appears
The auctioneer called loudly foi
order. held up. volume:
What am i offered for an au
tographed first edition Of replen
ishing Jessica?"
At this point, wild-haired gen.
tleman who had removed his coat
and necktie because of the oppres.
sive heat and whose. soiled shirt
and face were made the more no.
ticeable by perspiration, dashed vi
to the table, pushed the auctioneei
aside, screamed at the audience:
Shut p,--you all. Shall
] recite some Of my poems? okay
will"
Whereupon, the world famous
author ratified off half hundred
lines. his lisp adding q certain
charm to the recitation. Then tn,
auctioneer proceeded.
twenty-five cents" said some.
one.
What? two-bits for replenishinl
Jessica I'm amazed"
Five dollars" called cool re-
fined voice.
Pointed 20 Lady BOuntiful
The audience appeared supplied
No one had heard of that much
money. They began pointing to tn,
richly dressed woman. Who wa.
this lady Bountifui?
The next book came up.
Ten centsl"
Ten dollars!" said the feminin,
voice.
Finally all the books were auc'
toned and the woman had a stack
Of them on her lap.
Have YOU a fountain pen ?" she
asked the auctioneer, poising hei
checkbook.
One was found for her.
The name on the check wos Mrs
Ben Hecht."
mn uwtA