Evening star., 1942-01-10

wooden frame house in downtown
Los Angeles since leaving the big
house on the hill. At one time the
neighborhood was quiet and shady,
exuding moderate prosperity. But in
the last few years the property value
had fallen, the trees were uprooted,
landlords were reluctant to repair
and paint.
AS long as Livia could remember,
her mother had taught in the Los
Angeles public schools. Her sister
was planning the same career And
on Livia's 18th birthday anniversary
it was decided that she, too, should
become q school teacher. LiVia
could not accept or believe anything
unless it was happening now. She
did not want to teach in q school,
then or ever.
And I WON'T" she vowed silently.
But it was all so far distant. Why
quarrel about 1t now? So there was
only a brief defiance, a non-pas-
sionate argument.
What Else?
what else is there for you to do?"
her mother and sister had insisted.
"Well," Livia had said, vein of
seriousness running through the
jest, there's always the movies"
She was unprepared for her moth
er's anger. 1t was the first time she
ever had considered the possibility
that in the movie profession there
was an escape from drab reality.
What's wrong with the movies?"
Livia had asked Vera later when
they were alone and after she had
soothed her mother with the prom
Use to abandon all thoughts on the
subject. They're looking for talent,
and who are we to look down on
movies? Boy. wouldn't I like to
have some of that money!" Livia
went on. Imagine! Some stars get
a small fortune for each picture.
Baby, baby, if ever had half Of
that, oh, what wouldn't I do with it,"
We'll. what would you do?" Vera
asked, indulgently.
First thing, we'd leave this
dump. Next-oh, next, we could
travel. I'd like to go to China. or
even to New York, wouldn't you,
Vera?"
Vera said, eyes" But If their
mother felt that way about the
movies, perhaps Livia had better
stop talking about it. Besides"
said Vera, how dye know you could
break in? There are thousands Of
girls trying every day-and failing"
This was too true for argument.
But Livia hated to be bested by
facts. why on earth Is mother
acting up this way? You'd think
I'd suggested something criminal"
Vera didn't know. but it was her
habit to yield. She had always
yielded to her mother and Livia.
She enjoyed yielding.
Mrs. Clarkson's Plan.
The next day Mrs. Clarkson told
them the plan that had been born
when Vera started her studies for
the teaching profession.
Il have a little money put away.
Why shouldn't we one day all three
of us have our own school?" Per-
haps they could rent back the old
home on the hill? 1T would make
a wonderful girls school," she
glowed Not many, about "a
Livia interrupted her mother and
kissed her.
"Of course" She said, Il was only
joking about the movies" She bent
her back stiffly and scowled with pre-
tended severity. Meet the three
schoolmarms, she said.
That was a year ago. And it was
time to begin her studies. An un-
expected reluctance possessed her.
What was the use Of being attrac-
tive, of a strange exhilaration that
beckoned her-where, she knew not
of youth and exuberance, and all
to be chained in the narrow space of
q classroom? But as they had SO
unerringly stated, what else could
she do?
Then the Los Angeles Gazette
decided to rebuild falling circula-
ton with q competition for THE
Charm Girl" The prize was q
screen test at one of the studios.
Surprise for Livia.
Livia sent a snapshot of herself,
smiling, to the newspaper but with
out any confidence of success. This
morning the miracle had happened.
She had received . letter from the
Gazette, informing her that she was
among the IL picked for the hnal
judging and would she attend the