Evening Star Newspaper, December 11, 1921, Page 74

e 'THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. DECEMBER 11, 1921-PART 4. x —_— David Belasco Tells How to Produce a Christmas Entertainment BY DAVID BELASCO. ¥ BETTER sclection- for a Christmas evening’s entertain- 4 amateur dramatic performance. 1t affords not only amusement to a large | circle of friends, but entertainment and pleasure to the active participants in | Here Preparing for the event. It does not nec- | ment and tact. cssarily follow that in order to produce a | good play one must have recourse to profes- parts sional aid. 1t is surprising what good results and what really excellent per- formances can be obtained with ama- teur talent. The task is not onerous, and the rehearsals can be exceedingly Jolly, so that it will be considered a Dleasant relaxation and assume the gayety of & social gathering. 1 have been asked to give some suggestions which wiil be of aid to any one desirous of promoting one of these amateur affairs. I shall take it for granted in this article that the entire production will be conducted by those who have never had any theatrical experience. tions offered are given in a general way, but are specific enough to cover the ground. The first thing to be comsidered is the selcction of a play. an important point. Do mot choose one that has a large cast of char- Weters. The reason for this is evi- dent. Numbers in affairs of this kind create confusion and difficulties which are hard to smooth out. The pla uld be of a character which W its subject-matter create inter- T would suggest that a play be selected which does ~not extraordinary ability and that is not of a melodramatic nature. ) To my mind, the society drama is the safest proposition. There are many in this class which can be pre- sented without a wealth of scenery. I have ih mind a play like “Rose- mary.” “The Liars,” “Tyranny of 5. “Young Mrs, Winthrop,” “The »“The Charity Ball” I could name a score more, but merely men- tion these in order to give the reader an idez of the sort that will be found easy to produce. For the right of murring and will give them intelli- “IF THE SCENES IN THE PLAY ARE LAID IN THE PAST, CONSULT BOOKS OF REFERENCE.” ment could be made than an |Play bureau for 25 cents. ‘The sugges-| That is rather) 1 require ; producing some of these plays a small | fee is required. Yet there are many good ones that can be procured at a | | * x Xk Xk AVING selected the play. the next thing to do is to select the cast.| it 15 necessary to use good juds- | Be careful to select| the | players who will accept selected for them without de- MERICA'S Leading Dramatic Producer Gives Plain and Practical Direction to Amateurs for Staging and Acting a Play Suitable for the Holiday Season. Personal Instruction From “the Wizard of Stagecraft"—Selection of the Play, Assigning the Parts and Appropriate Costumes—Question of Lights. S gent consideration. Nothing by breeding dissension. gmony in your ranks. And be very careful that the play- | know the ficst act the next day after by their natural!you have read the first act with the ers selected can, qualifications, lend themselves easily to the parts they will be called upon |play has been gone through. For example, the leading | woman should be more dignified than | than fourteen rehearsals prior to the the young lady who will assume one | production. The gentlemen of | little to portray. of the lesser roles. Having selected the cast, ments must be made for hearsals. Before the parts are handed out to cach member the play should be in- telligently read aloud by the appoint- ed stage manager to the assembled company, who should pay the closest attention. After the reading the parts should be igned and questions freely asked and discussed as to the characteristics of the parts and pl The time must be set for the next rehearsal, at which each member will read his own part. and the business arrange- the re- of entrance, cues and positions on the stage will be taken up. Careful at- tention must be paid to these mat- “LET THE COSTUME YOU W will cause the affair to assume a half-|profession, heartedness so much as one person|tempt to memorize your part before who is constantly finding fault, there-| you begin rehearsals. If you would | or three rehearsals have passed and you hope to succeed. you must have har- begin to feel easy in the part before the company should look thé parts.| R BE IN KEEPING WATH THE PLAY.” ters, called, in the parlance of the “business.” Do not at- guilty of an anachronism. Let the { costume that you wear be in keeping | with the period of the play. The cos- { tumes of the time of Louis XIV are just as different from those worn in {the period of Louis XVI or the First Consul as are the costumes of the Frevolutionary or colonial periods from those of the present. There should be unanimity in the selection of the { costumes, so far as color and period are concerned, so that they will blend happily. Care also should be taken in thej matter of hats and shoes, as incon- | gruities are liable to arouse derision on the part of your audience. I would | ladvise vou, if the scenes of the play Wait until two {you tax your memory. You should company. And so on. until the entire It is not necessary to have more It you would add your to the pleasure of the af- fair, be amenable to the rules adopt- led for the conducting of these re- i hearsals. Pay close attention to your {own part, and listen to the others.|selected are laid in the past, to visit Always be ready to pick up vour cue. |librarics and consult books of refer- Time can be saved which will hasten |ence. Many of the histories are illus- |the work. Above all things, show |trated with prints which will be found | consideration for your fellow plavers|extremely useful. 1If, however, the by refraining from conversation while scenes are laid in the present, see j they are speaking their lines. Bear that the characters are properly in mind that good work on your part, | dressed according to the social class | and perhaps on the part of your tel- | to which they belong. If the part rep- | ow players, at the public perform-|resented is a character part, seek out | ance is dependent upon the attention | that class in real life or counterpart, {you pay to the rchearsals. and study the dress and mannerisms, | I *oE ok % | The mext thing to be considered is| HE next thing to consider is the |the stage. If it happens that a regu- dressing of the parts. If it is alar theater cannot be procured. your lcostume play be sure that you are not |ingenuity will be taxed to overcome Statistics Show Courtesy Is Not a Lost Art | BY MARSHALL NICHOLS. N the not-so-long-ago Washing- ton enjoved the reputation of be- ing the most courteous city of its size in the United States. directions were asked of the average pedestrian he not only gave them gladly and well. but, in most i stances, volunteered to go at least part of the way with you, so that no possible mistake could be made. No woman ever stood in the street car or 1ode in elevators with behatted men. 1f yoa were jost! on the street your pardon was craved, not perfunctorily, | but sincerely. One of thé most noticeable as well as the most unusual features of this| city-wide pride in courtesy was that displayed by street car crews. Motor- men lifted the heavy market baskets on the front end. Conductors left their platform to help on the elderly When | | | | | i | | | i ! t person or lift the child. A supporting band under the elbow steadied you! when the car started suddenly. On one of the suburban lines there was a diminutive guardian of the rear platform who never failed to greet you with a cheer: od morning!” and | who never failed to get one in return. | His ready smile seemed to help you start the day right.. His popularity | was such that once, when he had gone | afoul of a minor regulation and was /| dismissed. a petition was circulated | and within the day had more than 300 | names, asking his reinstatement,| which, neediess to say, was granted. VW HAT has become of this courtesy? Did we outgrow it? Are we too busy to be polite? Does it pay to spend valuable time being courteous? The answer comes from the biggest and busiest city in the world and says in no uncertain language that “civil- ity is the best policy.” The Fifth Avenue Bus Company of New York recently received the fol- lowing letter from one of its 150,000 daily passengers: “I have just had a very exciting experience. 1 have ridden with prob- ably the most courteous conductor living. Perhaps 648 was on his good behavior today. Perhaps some one had just left him some rioney. perhaps he is very. very new and wvery, very green, and that accounts for his politeness. But let me tell vou, it is a distinct novelty to be thanked when one pays one's fare! “1 happened to be riding on the upper deck and No. 648 came up and anpounced to a shivering lady that there was just one seat inside if she cared to take it. At 43th street No. | f ASHINGTON Was Once “the Most 'V Courteous City in the Country,” But a New York Bus Line Now Claims Its Employes Have Attained High Standard—Growth of the Capita] May Have Had Something to Do With | Father Washington's Recent Lack of Courtesy. l | ‘WHEN CONDUCTORS LEFT THEIR PLATFORMS TO HELP PASSENGERS. conductor, as of course he will, it The company keeps a complete ‘would really give me a good deal of |record of the courtesy of each individ- pleasure to try and locate this man |ual driver and conductor. A careful where he could get ahead in the|analysis recently made of these rec- world. He is a rare specimen, believe |ords shows the following results: m Men courteous under all circum- stances, 98 per cent; men irritable under - great provocation, 13 per But, according to the Fifth Avenue Bus Company, No. 648 is not “very, men 648 thoughi of something else to do. ‘He helped a lady and her small boy out of the bus, carried the boy in a Jjifty over to the sidewalk and hopped on the bus again in less than no time. “At 32d street his remarkable con- ductor took out his watch and calcu- | which is courtesy and service to its!time, however, it Jated just how long it would take a very agitated passenger to reach the Pennsylvania station and make his train. “As I said, No. 648 probably hasn't bheen very long on the job; New York will probably ‘get him’ shortly. But very new,” nor is he a ‘rare speci- men.” He has been in service since 1917 and represents simply the type of conscientious, loyal, intercsted employe who has caught the spirit of that organization, the keynote of patrons. * %k kX ¥ NOR I8 the letter quoted at all un- AN usual. Hundreds of similar let- ters have been received—the most unusual collection of letters, prob- ably, that a transportation company when he gets too ambitious to be ajhas cver received. . toughest job there is. cent; irritable under slight provocation, 3 per cent. Among railway men it has almost become an axiom that winning the ipraise of the traveling public is the At the same is coming to be recognized as the most impértant | single factor in successful manage- ment of a transportation company. The carrying out of this policy of courtesy begins with the selection of employes. The standards are such that only one applicant out of five successfully passes the examination. |The majority of applicants are .brought to the company by old em- iployes and they are given prefer- |ence. Former salesmen are given special preference. | Some kinds of work absolutely | {unfit an applicant to be trusted wllh! |2 job where politeness and patience |are demanded. The fact is interest- {ing. in this connection, that a ma- | |Jority of the employes of the com. | {pany are of Irish extraction, con-| !trary to the generally accepted be- I]ie( that members of that race are | {ready for a scrap at the drop of a[ hat. Last August the company made a drive for “100 per cent civility” and |asked the co-operation of the public. |The entire month was designated “Civility month,” with the announce- |ment that the aim would be such! courtesy as would bring not a single | { complaint of incivility during the period. | During the six months between (January 1 and July 1 the busses car- ‘iried 26,070,629 passengers. The total ! complaints of incivility received dur- | {ing this period numbered ninety- three. This makes one complaint for each 280,330 passengers carried. | | * Ok ok ok | i | GOME of the unusually. interesting | i orders to employes of. this come !pany are euch as these: “Frequently, | | hung aloft. this handicap. A platform covering an area of-4s little space as twelve by fifteen feet, if more room is not gb- tainable, can be made to serve the purpose. If there is no platform one can be made at a very slight expense. This should be at least three feet above the level of the main floor. A height of at least ten fect can be ar- ranged in the nature of portieres. The scenes where merely interiors jare represented can be made of do- Imestic or some cheap,colored cotton cloth. The many ways of overcoming the lack of scenery are so obvious that I need not make any further | suggestions. The arrangement of lights is the one that requires attention. “Foots” are not indispensable, but when used they should be at least cighteen inches apart, with a reflector back of them, so that the light will be thrown Tin cut! in convenient strips will serve as re-} at an angle on the stage. flectors. If the effects are to be am- bitious, scenery can be produced for amateur affairs by writing to any local theater, the manager of which will, T am sure, give the desired in- formation® In setting the stage—that is, pro- viding it with proper furniture and decorations—care should be taken to! follow the author's suggestions. wrote the play, consequently his ad-| vice should be considered. A reading | of the play will suggest what is{ proper and what s not. A Morris chair in a play where the central figure is some historic character of the sixteenth century would imme- diately attract the attention of the audience from the speaker’s lines to the incongruity of the stage setting. I merecly mention this as a hint. A little judgment as to such minor de- tails will do much to insure a pleasing production. "THE many little tricks and artifices used in creating effects, such as the hoof-beats of a horse, the rum- bling of carriage wheels, the roar and peal of thunder, the flash of lightning, the patter of rain, the swish of waves, the ripple of water, are cqmparatively * k k% jeasy: as are also the making of shrubbery, foliage, vines, vegetables and fruits. To create the effect of hoof-beats, all that is necessary is|GIVES THE SOUND OF A RETREAT- | produced in the s aput shells and a slab of | ING CARRIAGE." two coc “NOTHIY WILL CAUSE AN AF- | FATR TO ASSUME A HALF-HEART- | EDA ESS SO MUCH AS ONE PERSON CONSTANTLY FINDING FAULT.” —_— marble: and in order to deaden the sound, so as to make it more realistic, a piece of carpet will come in good stead. A pole about ten feet in length held” in a perpendicular /position and pushed along the floor will give an almost perfect reproduction of the sound of an approaching or retreating carriage. Thunder effects are created by using {a bass drum and a drumstick and strik- ing a sharp blow and then four or five intermittent blows Wwith less force. The crash of thunder, however, is best imi- tated by giving a sharp, quick shake to a plece of sheet iron about six feet long The lightning effect can be casily produced if you have electric light connections. The wires are at- tached to a carbon and a comnon black- smith’s file. By touching a point of the file to the carbon the flash is obtained. { Where there are no connections the ef- fect ‘can be produced by means of a magnesia torch, which can be procured for a small sum from a theatrical supply house. The sound of the patter of rain things beyond our control will hap- | pen, which tend momentarily.to dis- rupt schedules. This naturally causes inconvenience and annoyance to patrons. On such occaslons, in answering inquiries as' to the why and wherefore, inspectors, starters, drivers and conductors should take unusual pains in explaining fully all is best made by rolling No. 6 shot in a shallow pan. The swish of waves can be imitated by poring about a peck of navy beans into an' ordinary barrel and gently tipping it backward and forward. The making of shrubbery and foliage is done with tissue paper of a proper color, of the circurgstances surrounding the delay or extended interval. Patrons are wholly within their rights when making such inquiries. ' It is not only| our duty, but should be our. pleasure, to see that they are at all times fully and correctly informed. “Pennies are legal..tender—accept them—make passenger believe that you enjoy taking’ them. ' * “Never enter into an argument or dispute with a patron.” It can-do no good and may do a great ‘deal of harm. Keep your wits and keép your temper. There is no better test of a gentleman. “Neat personal appearance makes a most favorable impression: upon patrons. Passengers niturally ex- pect intelligent, colirtedus service from a neatly dressed man ang are inclined to accord himthe same sort of treatment they expect themselves.” October last was thé finést ‘month in the history of the ‘company, in so far as ‘complaints of- incivility were concerned. Omly eight - complaints were received from 4,800,000 pas- sengers carried, or a ratio of one complaint for every 575,000 riders. the bush or foliage you are endeavoring to create. Do not think that in making an apple tree in bloom you can use the naked branch of a cherry. Endeavor to be true to nature. The making of flowers and flower bushes is a com- paratively easy matter to any one who has knowledge of how to make paper flowers. Vegetables are made with cot- ton and cloth. The cloth is cut in the required shape, then stuffed with cot- ton, sewed up and painted the desired tint with water colors. The same rulé applies to the manufacture of fruits. The ruddy glow of a replace, varying from. the cherry red of the blaze to the almost dying embers, is created by means of gelatin rolls of the proper color, which must be obtained from some theatrical supply house; but lack- ing this, almost as good results are pos- sible with stained glass or heavy folds of tissue paper of the color desired, but fe distance in front of the lamp. It is easy to have moonlight if you have electric lights. Three sixteen- candle power incandescents should be mounted in a tin pan, which is placed immediately back of the curtain and at the particular point where the moon is to be, the canvas having previously placed at & “Too busy to 'be- polite” is the}been treated with transparent paint, poorest business maxim imaginable. The bigger the business becomes the better it appreciates the commercial value of courtesy, and many of the largest have - been built -almost en- tirely on-that: theory. ~s ... +... which is sold at any drug store. ER HAT will. form a very pleasing entertainment attendant to the production is the time and efforts con- sumed in “making up.” It is absolutely bread: and-getting a bulldog.” g | He! | i | | H i | | i called upon to portray. For ordinary | with vaseline will suffice. If youth is Nos. 1, Z and 3 are preferabie for wom- | required a small speck of carmi en. Nou. 4, F and 6 for men, the rest|should be put in the inside corner of being decidedly character tints. After|each eyc. If, after having finished, having used the flesh tints, which must |you find that it is necessary to be well and evenly spread, the applica- | heighten the color, ordinary rouge tion of cold cream being used in order |can be used advantageously. An as- to facilitate this, the.shadows are next | sorted set of grease paint colors suf- in order. The groundwork for these is | ficient for all purposes can be pur- laid on with a stick of light gray, which | chased at almost any drug store for is covered with brown when a darker|$1. Mustaches or beards can be Dro- |cured ready-made. The man from | whom you hire your wigs can supply |¥ou with these cheaper and better than you can make them yourself. If | you wish to try your hand at making |them yourself, crimped hair will be |found best for all purposes. This I hair comes in all shapes, and is ap- plied with liquid glue or spirit gum. You will have to practice thrae =< four times before you reach the nec- essary proficiency. 3 B (COLORED lights are often a neces- | sity in a play and add much to | the effectiveness of a scenc. Materia) for them may be procured at a drug {store. They should be burned in a tiu thin wire and the branches of | | AT TOP: “THE SWISH OF WAVES, «A PIECE OF SHEET IRON GIVE CAN BE OBTAINED BY MEANS OF THE THUNDER EFFECT, AND! A BARREL WITH A FEW BEANS SPARKS FROM AN ELECTRIC WIRE, | IN IT» CENTER: “BIRDSHOT IN » | A PAN GIVES THE SOUND OF THE i ATPER OF RAIN” BELOW: «A' | POLE PUSHED ACROSS THE FLOOR chadow is required. The lines are also | me manner. The red! for the cheeks is blended. A sm; of red is first placed on the check necessary that recourse be had to grease | then blended with the fiug paint in order to conform the face to|Prover effcct is reached. the character presented. The footlights ; 9one before the shadows in. | will have a deleterious effect otherwise. | T1¢ Whole is then coverel with powder | To begin with, rub the face thoroughly | (flesh-colored preferably). which is ap. with cold cream. If this is not obtain- |Plied with pufl. The superfluous able vaseline can be used. or cocoa|POWder may then be dusted off with a i ! i 1 butter. The cost of a sufficient quan- |hare’s foot. tity at a drug store is trifling. After| Next the evelashes must be accen rubbing the face, wipe off the residue | tuated. If the character is a bru with a towel. Tie next operation is to| nette. this should be done with black lay on the flesh tint. This is a stick- | Cosmetic, which, owing to its hard paint, of which there are fourteen tints, ness, must first be heated and applie ranging from No. 1. the lightest, to No, , With pencil or stick. If, however, the | 14, the darkest, which is called “Japa- | plaver is of a lighter complexion. nese” The number that you should | brown is used. The eyebrows are use depends upon the character and,treated in the same manner. Next | note of acting. | sel. | admit that you desire the service of “HOOFBEATS ARE PRODLCED WITH COCOANUT SHELLS.”® pan at the side of the stage. a polish jed reflector fitted to the pan casting the light in any desired direction. A simple bit of naturaless often | Boes far toward the success of a play. | Bread actually toasted at a real fire. { water boiled and tea made in sight 1of the audiences are slight touches. {but they sometimes count for more than more pretentious ones. Endeavor in your representation ¢f any character to imagine what your own feelings would be under simiiar circumstances. Try to sink your identity and individuality in the part intrusted to you. If you are called upon to portray 2 product of the slums, remember that a concealment of the gallantry and politeness nai- {ural to you and your walks in life is | nece ry, and that you must bestos on vour part the coarseness of its nature. Though this be but a frolic. this amateur affair. be sincere in your work. and you will find your pleasur: increasing in proportion to the good work that you are doing. Above 2 things. be natural. That is the ke If you are able to pro- cure the services of a “coach.” my advice to you is to follow his coun- When you engage a cosch you ome one who knows more abou! acting than you do, consequently You should be willing to be guided by the complexion required for the part you are advice offered. come the lips. Carmine rouge mi (Coy ) right, Sophie Braslau’s Story. (Continued from First Page.) that of your art. then yours is no love! And. feeling its impulse. you do not obey it in the face of every- thing, then yours is no art. For to every human heart I believe the love- life to be supreme and important above all else. Once it is followed. jif it is found that a “career” is in-| terfered with, then that career should be abandoned. A career. after all, is little clse than another form of love- life. For into it we pour whatever {of creature force, tenderness and de- votion there is in us. 1f, when I'marry, I find that T can- not concert-tour so well, I shall will- ingly abandon a part of my work temporarily. Frequently it is found that the first few years of marriage “ILove You, Exclamation Point” (Continued from Fifth Pags.) __ |point paragraph My apologies aud congratulations on the same cylinder rive” 1o period 1 accidentally listened to this 1 of Eu-!cylinder tonight while kere to dictate ny. many {a memorandum period I apologize pe- | nd Tveiriod You happy things exclamation been unable to raise enough point May you have a wonderful life to speak about. and wa must close|icgether comma and T know you will this week. IUs dreadful. Won't You!period. Arimstrong Strayer P S This think up something bright at once|will also serve as a memorandum th that will get us some publi on September first we're going to in- _And having a heart, Mr. Armstrong | corporate this firm comma with you Straver did think of something that as vice president comma at fifty f-i-f- might persuade cditors to give the|t-y per cent increase in your salary cause a little space. He went to his!period Also 1 suggest you both take office late that evening to dictate it to | off August at full pay for a honey- the machine before the ideas vanished f moon perfod” ) from his mind. The office was closed. | T but he rummaged about to find some | | condueting a most worthy | raise money for the strick: irope. “There've been so m Lot | arives complained, money are apt to occasion this result, but|o¥linders. He found one in the opera- | later the career can be resumed with- | t0r's desk and put it on his machine. out impairmept to either It or the!He was about to talk into the mouth marriage. So meny artists have done | Piece when, to his and are dolng this and do not find|c¥linder began to tali. Tt said that singing interferes with home “One copy no carbon special white life. More prominent prima donnas|Vellum bond Salutation My Darling | have been truly happily married than | Helen Paragraph A littie poem of otherwise. To enumerate them would | Rosettis’ capital r-o-s-e-t-t-i apostro- entail the compilation of a long list.|phe s which T read last night comma I believe that any one of them would | and which 1 want to whisper in your | abandon her career in a twinkling if | ear as my own words to you comma it became a question of choosing be- | determined me to ask you comma| tween that and her husband. without further delay comma to marry Thus, perhaps, do I give myself;me period I krow now that it would away. At any rate. I make manifest|be unutterable u-n-u-t-t-e-r-a-b-l-e that the prima donna and the sales- | folly to try to go through life without lady are “sisters under their skins!|you period I love you exclamation It is a home that we look forward!point dash love you exclamation point to—both of us—with a good man and | dash love you underline the words ex- with kiddies. Nothing else seems to|clamation point When will you marry matter very much alongside of that.|me interrogation point 1 have only Through the glitter and glory of my {a meager salary comma but Mr. Stray- place on high in the world of song 1er once said I might hope to be taken gaze longingly at the woman WhO(into the firm period Please don't de- has found that which I still seek. 1f{1ay answering me double exclamation I am never to find it, then when it oo comes to tally up the chart of ouri o 1 Tives it will. Be! she¥ who Biag) tri% - Strayer heard the machine rasp umphed, for all her obscurity, and 1|3t this Point and presumed the mes- who have lost, for all my fame. sage.was finished, and smiled in great Incidentally, and while on the sub-|ePjoymerit. But in another moment Ject, I might take advantage of this|® Small voice came from the cylinder, opportunity to deny the recent ru- i"""‘igh Mr. Strayer at once recognized: mored and written reports that I am ‘No copy no carbon write it on your marrled to Jascha Heifetz, the vio- |heart Salutation Dearest Poet hyphen linist. Mr. Heifetz has for years been |Spirit Paragraph There is nothing in one of my. dearest personal friends,|the world more beautiful to me to but nothing.more. We had a great | think of than for you and me to spend laugh when Town Topics first brought j our lives together period T love you the currént rumor to our attention. [so much five asterisks that it hurts So, you see, I'm not really a prima period Yes I will marry you when- douna, after all. T'm just a girll ever you feel you can period Under tonishment, the { marked himself down for July and { made a notice that August was to be THE END the circumstances comma I promise - you I will manage oh so economically T period Now comma I'm going to send - . R 3 you kisses on this cylinder dash just The Bright Side. listen carefully k-i- -s—" At this point, Mr. Strayer jumped up, shut off the machine and strode around the room. In a few moments he came back, saw that thers was still space on the cylinder for further dic- tation, and then he spoke into the machine: “The tramp, who had been to the house = prospecting, came out and joined his companion on the roadside. “What luck?” asked the waiting one. one,” growled the other. “I don’t like this business of asking for bread 5 : and getting a-stone.” “Two copies and one carbon white “Well,” said" the first one in a to.ae | vellum bond Mark one for Mister Cand- of ‘philosophic ‘resignation and grim {ler and one for Miss Hathaway Give humor, “’taint as bad as askin’ for|carbon to me for my files Salutation | Bless .you. my children’ exclamation| | ing tea time any QEVERAL days later Miss Madden ™~ got from the boss a2 memo as to the spacing of vications. He had marked off for Mr. Candler and s Hathaway. Miss Madden looked sharply at it and then called one of the girls. “Just look at this” she said. *Va- cation for a whole month for Mr. Candler and Miss Hathaway at the same time! What is the boss up to, after we've been so faithfully putting obstacles in love's pathway?" It being a crazy office, and it be- the girls went to Miss Hathaway's desk, where she was demurely typing. “Why are you taking a whole month’s vacation the same time that Mr. Candler is away?” they asked. eight pairs of eyes fastened on her. “Why, we're going to be married then,” she said. lifting the ear pieces from her head, in her mouse-like way, as though it were the most natural of things to say. Married?” chorused girls, aghast—“marriea! pretty one on us! Oh! Ol Miss Madden kissed the girl, and the other girls followed suit. One of them wzs a bit impetuous and overturned a cylinder standing in its case on the desk. Miss Hathaway sprang forward with a little cry of concern, examined to see if it was broken, and tenderly tucked it in a drawer of her desk. The glrls’ evas opened wide as saucers, as Jiias Hathaway's face reddened guiltily. Four fingers pointed accusingly at the cylinder being tucked away. “It's his proposal!” they said, almost us one voice; and Miss Hathaway did not deny it 5 Just then Mr. Candler came’ out of the office with more cylinders. “Will you join us at tea?” asked Miss Madden, precisely as of yore, with the full battery of eight females an attentive audience. Mir. Candler looked at Mifs Hath- away, squared his shoulders, and said —in a distinctly new tone of voice entirely devoid of fear—"Certainly; in a few moments.” E (Copyright. AT rights reserved.). the bafMed Oh, what a 1