Evening star., 1936-05-24
BY ROBERT CRAWFORD

d hObEhl ChS WI OnD
TN THE Springtime when all WASH
ington is gay and vernal, decked
out in foliage Of many hues. with
Towering trees and Shrubbery in
bloom and great beds of red, yellow
and purple tulips on the White House
lawn and in the parks flaunt them
selves and nod in the breeze, Temple
Bailey comes to town for breathing
spell. She settles herself in some ho-
tel where she can look out on the
trees and green lawns and enjoy her
self in the city she loves best, where
she spent many happy girlhood days
and where many of her dreams came
true. The plots of several of her
most successful novels were laid here
For the benefit of those devoted
young readers of Miss Bailey, let us
tell you that she is charming looking,
neither short not tall, neither stout
nor thin; her hair is dark, arranged
softly about her face and her eyes
are a greenish blue and full of fun.
She is not temperamental likes
golf 4. plays bridge likes people
and horses and has but one hobby
writing books-and dreams of a mas
terpiece in the off1ng 1t must be added
that her mother has always been a
kind of inspiration and incentive to
her and Is her boon companion. Dur
ing her fathers lifetime she read
with him and was allowed to browse
through his library at will; 1t being
fine one, she was reared with
taste for only the best in literature.
She Typewrites-
With Two Fingers.
Most people like to know how their
favorite author dies the deed for
their informa ton, Miss Bailey says
she does it all on the typewriter L. . {.
composes as she goes, makes but few
notes. and unravels her plot as she
proceeds. She goes to her typewriter
after her coffee at nine in the morning
and picks away until twelve. Being
blessed with deep concentration, she
is oblivious to the life going on
about her and to interrupt her is not
q crime.
To find any one in these hectic times
so absolutely normal and restful as
Miss Bailey, seems a dream in itself.
She was born down in Petersburg,
Va, Of New England parents and an
ceStry; her voice Is Southern, her
pronunciation bit so, and her man
ner wholly of the South. When she
comes forward to shake hands the
cares and worries of the day just ma
smile radiates peace and content
ment. She is somewhat wary Of news
men since an interview she gave up
on Nantucket one Summer when she
was quite taken in, and still laughs
at the joke which was all on her She
tells funny story on herself with
as much gusto as if it were on the
other chap.
Miss Bailey Tells With Gusto
A Joke on Herself.
Coming in from a brisk walk one
morning-she is fond of walking,
too-she found two young reporters
from a Boston paper bent on inter-
viewing her Guests were expected
shortly and she had very little time.
One of the reporters piled questions
volubly, principally on the subject of
her reasons for not having married;
while the other seemed to be indus
trtously taking notes. When she
rose to end the interview she told
them they must bring the copy for
her to blue pencil before it was used.
In an hour or two they returned with
the copy and she found it quite as it
should be-no need Of changing. But
horror Of horrors, when the story ap-
peared there we're no sensational
headlines, but several most sensa-
tional cartoons OF her, one which pic
tured her dressed in mannish clothes
with a fedora hat, hands in pockets,
striding along and "keep-your- dis
tance look" as she eyed the other sex.
AS Miss Bailey is extremely feminine
1r dress, liking frou-frou ruff1es and
all those gadgets, it was funny.
Said to Be Highest
Paid Woman Writer.
Miss Bailey is said to be the highest
paid woman writer in the world for
single stories. All her novels are
serialized before being printed in
book form. There are no strings at
tached to her serials, however, after
their appearance in the magazines.
1t is then entirely with her and her
publishers when they shall appear in
book form. Her novels have been
translated into French, Spanish,
Scandinavian and several other Ian
guages, the terms of which she ar
ranges herself. And she will laugh
ingly say that this Is where her Yam
kee forebears come in. She makes a
good contract but says she has some
times felt she was offered more than
she deserved. She also says the plots
of her stories are not racks on which
to hang isms, or PHILOSOPHERS or social
problems, but are to entertain and
amuse and put a wholesome taste in
the readers mouth. 1t really must be
true that men and women after work.
ing hard all day like to relax and get
away from the worries and problems
Of their own lives. The miner likes to
get the sound Of the drill out Of his
ears, and the machinist the whir of
the wheels.