The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-02-17
How 1t Happened
By VIRGINIA z. STRONG
@ Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.
OE BLAINE sat in the program
~ directors office of the small ~

=. SdI III the program
directors Office of the small ra-
do station in Massachusetts,.
At the directors first mention of
Twilight Reveries," Joe's mind had
automatically flown to those smart
friends of his who would, he had
groaned, rename the program "Twi-
hght Slush." He writhed, mentally.
as he imagined their cynical re-
marks. where's the flowing tie.
Omar?" or Wont your hair grow.
Byron-me-boy?" =
Worrledly glancing at his boss
profile, Joe's voice belied his at
tempt at casualness. For the last
time, my revered Chief, I refuse.
Not that I don't appreciate the -.
the honor, of course" he hastily
added. After all, from ordinary
announcer to star in one leap isn't
offered fellow every day. Now, if
1t were anything but but
poetry!" The word glided from his
mouth in a flood of &C 1tempt.
He rose from his chair preparing
to leave the room. mo, no, a thou
sand times no." he sang, walking
to the door.
"Joe!"
Blaine stopped with a suddenness
that matched the program directors
mclslve command. He had heard
that tone before.
Boston has started using poetry"
the radio stations car announced.
$50 has New York. You know that
as well as 1 do. What you don't
know is this" His smooth, DELHI
crate words became tinged with a
threat. Twilight Reveries' is 60
ing on the air, a combination of
organ and poetry. You're the only
guy IN the place whose voice is good
enough to put it over"
That is how it happened that Joe
Blaine became Joseph" Blaine,
reader on the Twilight Reveries"
hour, in spite of his friends joshing.
That is how it happened that his
pleasing, vibrant voice carried
homely, sentimental poems to
places near and far. And that is
why Joe received a good many fan
letters from the despised element
which goes in for that stuff"
One Of them read like this:
my dear Mr.. Blaine:
my daughter has been a patient in
City Hospital for several months.
We despaired of her life because
she gave up the battle. Some weeks
ago she first heard your program
and although she seemed to show
no particular interest, the next day
she asked to have it tuned in and
has listened to you every day since.
Your inspirational readings have
brought my daughter renewed hope
and ambition. Her condition h a S
changed for the better and the doc
tors are now sure she will pull
through. We feel you have been in
strumental in saving her life. Just
wanted you to know.
Her mother,
RODerLd jennings"
The Program Director couldn't
afford to keep secret a situation SO
deserving of publicity. That is how
it happened that the newspapers
first printed stories about Mrs. Jen-
nings' daughter, Carolyn, and OF
| the hard-boiled announcer. And that
led to Blaine's visiting Miss Jen-
nings in order to give her a huge
bouquet of roses sent by the radio
station.
Joe angry nervousness gave way
to an unaccustomed quiet on enter
ing the hospital, for his impression
of white-the walls, the uniforms OF
doctors and nurses-seemed to calm
the violence of his mood until his
whole being was strangely toned
down.
Joe attempted to smile when he
was introduced to Mrs. Roberta Jen-
nings and her daughter. Perhaps il
was failure, because Mrs. Jen-
nings, although still grateful, mod
estly (and Intellectually objected to
any additional publicity. Or perhaps
it was because Carolyn, so white
herself, lay there in a white gown
on a white bed; a fraiI little thing.
awfully quiet as she watched and
listened.
Or it might have been her quick,
courageous smile as she said, ooh,
how beautiful! Thank you so
much" when Joe handed her the
roses and the fashlight picture was
taken. In any event, the photograph
appearing in the newspapers show
ed young lady smilingly at ease,
receiving flowers from an unsmil-
ing, obviously embarrassed young
man.
Fan mail increased after that, of
course, for the story was carried in
the Boston papers as well. And in
order to forestall the offer he had
heard was coming from a larger
station, the program director again
talked with Joe.
Twilight slush' has clicked pref
ty well, hasn't it?" he began, sar-
castically.
ct oh ~ cnoy,o1 -x -