Evening star., 1939-01-01
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

It was the day after Christmas in
the Wardman Park apartment Of
Bernard Gallagher, one of Washing
tons successful young attorneys, and
his wife, Phyllis Moore Gallagher.
short-story writer and novelist,
whose literary output has been syn
dicated from coast to coast.
There was a shining Christmas
tree. A big red fire engine, . low
swung green racing auto and all
sorts Of fascinating windup toys
stood by 1t. apparently needing only
their little owners magic touch to
swing into action.
In the long sun-drenched drawing
room. geared to childhood's tempo.
there could be heard the sounds of
q happy family in gala session over
their young sons morning ablutions.
Then there greeted me. with the
aura of this background still shining
in her eyes, the slender. almost girl
ish young mother whose newest
book. Dark Shadows" spy story
about Washington, will be published
January IS.
Not Allowed to Interfere.
"Stubby Fingers" Mrs. Gallagher's
first syndicated short story, ap-
peared in the columns of The Eve
ming Star, as did Lovely Little
Fool" her first novel, the latter in
installment form.
To my remark, II came to talk to
you about your new book, but in
stead. I think it would be helpful for
others to hear how you combine
writing career with that of being q
wife, q homemaker and a mother"
her reply was simple and direct.
when the writing interferes with
our home, it gets pushed into the
background" she said. "Of course,
writing is one of the few extra
curricular activities for wives and
mothers which can be conducted
from the home base, and 1t has
many advantages from that stand
point alone"
This past summer. for instance"
Mrs. Gallagher continued, because
I wanted to have the satisfaction
Of taking the entire care of our son,
there naturally wasn't time for very
much else. But the pleasure that
I derived from this adjustment made
1t one Of the supreme ones of my
life, from his 6 O'Clock waking time
on through the days schedule. For
tunately he is very idyllic about
mapping from l until $50 every
afternoon, so that Is usually the time
when do most of my writing. Any
other time contrive for it has to
be crowded into whatever spare
moments that may present them
selves"
Writes In Longhand.
Between Mrs. Gallagher and her
husband a very happy and har-
monious arrangement prevails as to
the use of her leisure time, as well
as to all other aspects of their mar
ried life, We suspect. His judgment
is writing as side-line career for
a wife Is certainly more stimulat-
ing and beneficial one to house.
hold than similar amount of time
utilized in bridge playing or some
other purely social form Of social
diversion.
Mrs. Gallagher first writes all Of
her work in longhand, then runs
1t OH upon her typewriter several
times before she is satisfied to let
a certain result constitute the final
copy.
Washington reared and educated,
Mrs. Gallagher was born Phyllis
Shackleford Moore, at Waynesboro,
Va, where her family had lived
for a number Of generations.
Many of her more serious short
stories have been based upon letters
which were written or received by
her Virginia grandfathers and great
grandfathers in the period between
1915 to 1875. It Is her present intent
to use as the basis for q historical
novel letter which one Of her
grandfathers wrote q member Of his
family after attending Robert E.
Lees wedding.
Prefers Historical Stories.
Mrs. Gallagher's own reading
preference Is for stories with q his
torical background, which she con-
fesses amounts at times to down
right literary dissipation" and she
finds her own writing trend is more
and more in this direction.
Mrs. Gallagher's first literary pro-
duction dates from her very early
childhood, and consists of q num-
Der Of closely written quires Of ruled
stationery tied together with a piece
Of her favorite blue hair ribbon. It
Is entitled, 'Malalane's Romance"
by Phyllis Shackleford Moore, au-
thor. There follows a group of some
Is mythical books, painstakingly
listed, OF which this aspiring young
follower Of the muse, fancied her
self the literary parent.
No further efforts along the line
Of her early aspirations were at
tempted until 1882, two years after
the writing game, Mrs. Gallagher's
and their return from q business
sojourn in France. Contrary to the
usual experience Of most beginners
in the writing gabe, Mrs. dallasher's