The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-01-06
Artistic Ancestors
BY KARL GRAYSoN
q Associated Newspapers.-WNUS Service.

had been some one IN our family
who really did something, some
thing worth while, something" she
smiled as she said it-"I could brag
about"
Fred Butterworth laid aside the
morning paper, gulped down the
last of his coffee, showed back his
hair and said: WHAT"
Anne overlooked his rudeness.
''The bridge club meets here this
afternoon" she said, land l dread
it. I dread it because Aggie Spencer
and Gertrude Wilcox will monopo-
lie the conversation with stories
of their ancestors. Aggie's uncle
was an artist. Gertrude's half-sister
was presented at Court last year.
Even Helen Blackwell can brag
about her aunt out in Chicago, who
once witnessed a gangster murder"
Fred scratched his chin and con-
templated the wistful look in his
wife's eyes. Suddenly he banged the
table. by George, I'd almost for
gotten it! Darned if hadn't. You
sit here minute, sweet, till l rum
mage around in the attic. I'll give
you something to brag about!"
Fred returned ten minutes later
and presented Anne with a book.
1t was small book neatly enclosed
in light blue cover-jacket.
There you are!" said Bert trium-
phantly. "Show that to your friends.
It's a book of poetry written by my
mother and published twenty years
ago. There's talent in my family,
I'll have you know"
Anne Rugged the volume to her
breast. "Oh, Fred, it's too thrilling
for words!"
Fred grinned delightedly. En-
route to the station he began to
smile. Ard by the time he had
boarded the 8:15 the smile had de-
veloped into an occasional chuckle.
Tom Cooke, who usually sat with
Fred during the short run to the
city, became curious.
"Say, what's eating you this
morning? Let a man in on it if
you've got something that'n fetch a
! laugh these dull days"
Fred laughed outright. "I'I tell
you, Tom. It's too good to keep.
But don't on your life breathe a
word. Anne was upset this morning
because she didn't have anything to
brag about at her bridge club. The
other members, it seems, have ar
tistic ancestors. 1t made Anne feel
bad to think she married into such
an undressing family, so l dug
into an old trunk and produced a
book of poems that mother pub
lished twenty years ago, and told
her to brag that"
Tom looked puzzled. whats
wrong with that? I'd say mother
in-law poet was o. X"
'But here's the rub" Fred said.
THAT book of poems is an old
manuscript that belonged to my
grandmother. After grandmother
died, mother found the script,
thought the poems were worthy of
publication, added few of her own
choice verses, and submitted the
retyped copy to a publisher. Mr..
Publisher ate the stuff up.
Mother was thrilled. She thought
,, she must have real talent, and went
down to the library to study up and
read the masters. While perusing a
volume of Walt Whitman she dis
covered some of the very poems
that her mother had supposedly
written.
"Of course, mother, Immediately
wired the publisher, advising him
to cease manufacturing the book,
and explaining that her mother must
have copied some of her favorite
Whitman poems, in order to save
them. But Mr.. Publisher had al
ready printed about 1000 copies,
which were ready for distribution.
Mother bought up the edition and
destroyed all but one, which she
kept for sentimental reasons. That
one is the book l gave Anne this
| morning"
Tom Cooke arrived at the station
few minutes early the next morn
ing and when he saw the grinning
countenance of Fred Butterworth
coming down the street, he went
eagerly to meet him.
How'd you come out?" Tom
asked. what did Ailne say?"
"Well, it went over great. The
ladies were much impressed. Anne
is now one of the clubs most in
teresting members. She can inter-
rupt any conversation whatever and
gain attention"
"They didn't recognize Whitman,
them"
mot a bit of it. Didn't even sus-
pect. But Aime's grieved because
she lost the book" a
Lost it?"
"Sure. Can't find it anywhere.
Confidentially though, l don't think
she's much put out. After all, Anne
was never very strong on poetry
stuff. And the book has served its
purpose"
"But I should think you'd want to
preserve the copy just for senti-
mental reasons"
Fred grinned meaningly. 81 do"