The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-01-22
In New York
@1sS ~A {
RY GEORGE ROSS

BY GEORGE ROSS
 New York, Jan. 22.-Ever since Byron swam the Hellespont, and Shelley stormed unclothed through one of his wife's teatime soirees, authors foibles have given lounge lizards something to talk about. Though Inodern-day authors the possible exception of Richard Halliburton-are more retiring than some of their predecessors, their antics still furnish plenty of idle chatter.
 One of Manhattan's important literary figures at the present writing is MT Thomas Wolfe-the small town boy from North Caro- lima whose last two novels, Look Homeward Angep and "Of Time and the River," have placed him in the front, rank of the nations literary white hopes.
 Recently, Wolfe was invited to Q swanky party over on Sutton Place. Now Wolfe, whose novels run well over six hundred printed pages. Is Q fidgety fellow. He can't stand the noise of a type- writer, and 50 does all of his writing by laborious' long hand, setting 1t down in ordinary double entry bookkeeping ledgers. When he arrived at the V social, he in- formed his hostess 7 that he had brought along his manuscript. Would she mind if he brought 1t in. She was delighted with the idea.
 Wolfe excused himself and re- turned in five minutes with Q taxi driver who was carrying Q crate large enough to hold Q refrigera. tor. @
 What" the hostess asked. "is THAT?" ' Wolfe sat down on the box. "This," he answered. lis my new est novel Now, may I have a drink please? ... ."
 Closing Chapter
 Most authors are always trying "to get away from 1t all and Pbe alone" This habit of emulat- ing Garbo has its share of eccen- tricity, too. Pearl Buck, whose Good Earth" led the best seller lists for many months, took c house up in Connecticut not long ago to escape from the noise and travail of Manhattan. Miss Buck had another book to finish. After @ few weeks, the uilceasing lire of tourists who beat 6 path to her door to ask for autographs and annoy her in general, made the chatter of Manhattan seem like a bucolis blessing. She hung up signs, Beware of the dogl" she attempted frightening people, but in vain.
 Finally, the memebrs of the town board were amazed one day to find Miss Buck addressing them in person, demanding that the county close the road which led by her house 50 that she could get some work finishedl
 Driven to Protest
 All of which reminds me of an anecdote about the late Rud- yard Kipling, which is going the rounds. It seems that in the days when Kipling lived in Sussex. there was. Q bus driver who used to point out Kipling to his fares, with Q flourish of his whip. Kip- Ing wrote Q letter of protest to the bus propretor. There was no answer. He wrote again, and again. Finally he called. The bus proprietor received him amia- bly,. He was all smiles.
 T wish you would write me a letter every day, MT. Kipling," he said, "they sell well. It's much better than the bus business !. r Hechtoring . Fan
 Not long ago Ben Hecht was leaning against the rail of his favorite tavern in the West Fifties, when . sweet young thing dashed up to him and gushed: "Aren't you Ben Hecht2"
 FIecht grimaced. "Yes," he said. I'm Ben Hecht all right" "You know," the gal Uttered I'm one of your chronic read- ers." W
 "Tch-tch," Ilecht answered turning back to his drink. "what do you take for it?"
 But I believe that 1t was George Bernard Shaw who elevated thi squelching wise-crack to . posi-. ton of confluence. Shaw was seat cd nexxt { oa young woman wht babbled on Ceaselessly. Finally she turned to- the Wizard Oi whitehall and said: "fspt youth [ wonderful thing. MT. shaw7"
 Shaw. looked the young lady siI and down, smiled tolerantly Alit ansWexed: "xe5 and what pit. lh "A An aIlhnka # alllna nhlIAHnI 2