Evening star., 1935-03-17

hrSt met William Bolith0, WhO wOrked with
me on this story, in Paris, in 1917. He'd just
spent year in a hospital after being buried
alive by German drun,.fre at the SOmnte. Unit
for further SerCice tn the trenches, he Ur0te an
important report for Arnold Bennett, then high
tn the British Propaganda Department. A tew
r0eeks later the Manchester Guardian offered him
its PGrtS-cOrreSbotlden post.
His Guardian service pdS brilliant from the
outset, and the following four years, When we
wOrked closely together, learned far more from
William BolithO than he euer got from me.
Finally, uith a Characteristic flash OF genius,
he wrote story about the Carpenter Sikh Prize
fight which he entitled, 1.-THE Mob CrOwns the
Ape" AS a result The World in NeW York
made contract With him to write exclusive
articles for them
His success in New York. and that amazing
book "TWelpe Against the Gods" came in
swift, inevitable succession. I believe that
Bolith0 WOuh hare been one of the worlds
greatest UrfterS had moi untintely death checked
him in his early prime.
This little story We wrote together Vith high
HOpeS JU he JHWe' "opeS ""''" VIC "o'e I"oH
justified. -.
Waller Duranty
"NHERE are spring mornings in New
York so perfect that business men
sing in their baths Thus Packard
IL Morton sang while the needle
shower tingled his flesh with little whips and
he looked out from the Ritz Tower at the
toll Hnuarc nf ctool and hoCknuDu n
the sky. They stood high and clean in the
sunshine. outlined white against blue.
Morton's heart was uplifted. and he sang
with tuneless fervor a ballad of his youth
when Eva Tanguay, whirling like flame of
blue and gold. set Broadway crazy with her
"IDont Care Morton was far from careless.
but this morning he was carefree. Prosperous
in his affairs. happy in marriage, healthy in
body - why should he not respond to the
magic of spring and enjoy to the full, as he
entered his breakfast room, the fat rich smell
of ham and eggs?
Elsa was there to greet him. smiling and
dignified in her mandarin robe of blue ablaze
with golden dragons. In all the years they
had been married she had never let herself get
sloppy. She had none of the conjugal untidi-
ness and the lax intimacies which cheaper
woman in the eyes of the man who loves her:
She had an instructive gift for privacy to
maintain her feminine mystery and charm.
Always like this she gave him breakfast, we'll
groomed, quiet, affectionate; if not really
aware of his affairs, at least displaying a
friendly interest. The phrase came to him for
the thousandth time as he looked at her
queenly figure of woman.
He felt so happy this morning that ne
wished to communicate his happiness, to
spread it round him and make others feel it
too. And to whom more properly than Elsa.
That coat of Russian sables after all, he
could afford it. Even Depression's cloud had
precious Innings for men of courage and
experience.
About that coat" he said abruptly as he
rose from the table, Its okay. my dear
Though why women should want to buy
sables at the end of the winter don't under
stand. Oh, know it's bargain price
that's what you said, wasn't it?-but . .
anyway, 60 ahead and get it."
Her face lit up and glowed. Just like little
girl, he thought, with box of candy "Oh
Packard, do you really mean it?" she cried
How darling of you! did so want it, and
it is bargain. | know today is fine but
therell be cold weather yet before the re9l
spring"
The maid was helping him into his coat,
but Elsa pushed her aside and tucked it
round his shoulders. He too was glowing; he
had transferred a part of his happiness to her.
Il u