Evening Star Newspaper, June 14, 1925, Page 80

4 T THE FRAMING OF THE SHREW .BY OCTAVUS ROY COHEN. Privacy Robson, His Wife Clarry, and Florian’s First Aid for Husbands. HE eyes of Mr. Privacy Rob. gon were larger than usual— much larger. And the little negro was shrunken smaller than usual—much smaller. He | cowered in the corner and gave re-! luctant ear to certain intensely per sonal comments emanating from Mrs. | Privacy Robson There wa little heroic cringing _figure of the negro. His eves were distended, his jaw dropped, his expression was of hopeless, helpl resignation not un tinged with fe 4 for the wife of his skinny bosom, she towered above him like some dusky Amazon who had been done wrong. And she deliv ered her diatribe in a voice which re sounded down the street and came eventually to the ears of Florian Slappey. That elegant gentleman of leisure undraped himself from the veranda railing and delivered casual comment to the other boarder "l'r.l.\'zu‘_\‘ Robson catchin’ abhout the diminutive | it | one disputed Florians state- | s from the | unmistak the sounds flowing Robson homestead were ible—and not at all uncommon. But this particular family controversy appeared to o more volume than usual, and so Florian strolled languidly in the general direction of the festivities Privacy’s offense had been more or less negligible, the real crux of the matter being that Clarry Robson was out of sorts and Privacy’s position in the household was that of out-of- sortee. She was always safe in searching for something in_which Privacy might have erred. Privacy had 30 much to do about the house that all of it couldn't have been done correctly. This time he had put cer- tain intimate feminine garments be- longing to one white lady in the wash which should have gone to the house of another. The white lady vented her irritation on Clarry Robson—and Clarry promptly conveyed it to Pri-| vay with interest Mr. Robson shuffled discreetly | through the front door and onto the veranda which spanned the front of the little one-story frame house. He saw the eyes of the neighborhood fo. cused upon him, but Privacy was un- ashamed Perhaps there was con tempt in some of the glances be stowed upon him—but from most of the neighbors came looks of pity ._and Privacy adored pity. It made him feel warm inside and good all over. He sidled over to a rocker and was about to seat himself into its depths when a low whistle at. tracted his attention He raised in- terested eves and nodded affirmation | ty Florfan's invitation for a chat. Together they shuffled off: men of a size—but otherwise as dissimilar as 4 second-hand flivve d a im ported limousine. Wh was ramshack) and utterly pi: dated, Florian was a chocolate-cream symphony of the haberdasher’s art And once safely out of earshot, Flo-| rian let loose a commis: juery “Clarry busted lo ““Aln’t you heard? “Uh-huh That sho' the out-talki “I never listen: “But, Privacy—if'n 1 was you—""| “Ain’t no sense wishin' bad mouf n vo'se'f.” “Woul'n't_be no bad ma’ied to that ‘ooman.” Privacy paused abruptly, arms| akimbo, es focused directly on Florian. Vas you Clarry’s husban’ | which you had oughter bless heaven | you ain’t him—you know what yvou'd do?” “Yeh “You wouldn’t do nothin® of Kin'. Yo'd do jes' what I does. “What does you do?" “Nothin’. An’ yo'd do the same thing. On account they jes’ nachelly ain’t no, other thing io do with that oman. Florian swine let new oman « | est vou'n is female— mouf was 1 ra turned away. “You n't| nobody he'p’ you out.” which?” | ys you ain't got no desiah to| be the boss in yo' own home.” “Y-y-you is gotten vou a scheme?’ “Uh-huh. But of co'se they ain't no use tellin’ it to a man like you.” “They ain't no hahm lettin' me think happy thoughts, they, Flo'tan?” “Does you promise me, Privacy | Robson, that if'n T tells youa scheme | how vou ¢'n be boss in yo' own home, | lou is gwine try 240 “If'n you' proves it's gwine wuk." Florian Slappey, drooping his voice | a portentous whisper, uttered a | single sibi] t word- “‘Divohce!” “Mmmph? “Divohce Clarry!” o vou'self away fum * ok % ox PRIVACY stepped back, face dec- _orated with a sneer. ““What you ain’t got head, Flo'ian is no brains. single brain."” fow come?" resentfully. “They's two reasons why I ain't swine divohce myse'f fum Clarry. me ‘em is that if'n mebbe she does aw all the time—also she gives me th'ee meals a day. n' Uother reason is—she won't let me. Florian was disgusted. *T sald nothin' ‘bout divohcin’ fum_ Clarry “You dfd. “Did'n’t. Trouble with tongue is too I quicker'n vo' brain wuks never let me finish. I hegun.” in yo Not a never vo'se't rou, Privacy It slips You don’ wa'nt only haid, Flo'ian.” t's thisaway, Privacy be boss in vo' own aves 1o gR breakfus’ in bed in the mawnin’ an’ not do no wuk all day an’ soht of take things easy at night. | Yoy desiahs to have plenty money to | shoot crap an’ to horn into the kelly | pool game down to Bud Peaglar place. You is ambitious to quit wuk an’ live eas Ain't it a “When you talks, Floian, 1 the angels si “Well heah’s how Brother Robson-—an’ iccount we knows Clarry lights on you heavy an' con- | stant—she loves “you a heap. If'n You was tosuddenly bust loose Clarry would go wild. On account while you ain't much man, Privacy, you | is the on'iest man which Clarry has got, an’ she'd hate to lose you. | So what T says is this: You goes down to Lawyver Evans-Chew an’ gits him to staht divohce preceedin's against Clarry. You ‘leges crublty an' not on’y vou asts fo' a divohce but also vou asks fo' alimonies asts fo' whiches?" Alimonies. “What them is?" “Alimonies is money which the di- vohced pusson which is got it gives :he divohced pusson which ain't got 3 ! “What I has to do to git them aii- rmonjes?" “Jes' git that divohce.” “But s'posin I don't ‘vohce? You ain't gwine git one. You ain’t even aimin' to. Tha's where sie elegant paht of my scheme comes in. On account fum the fust time vou stahts that suit you ain’t got no You aims home. You heahs you you en do it does it on | that even if'n! git no di- | legal | ful little man. | started | wife, to wit | about the cler { cullua boy | ca’tage ride mending | stood uncertainly in the center of the sorry an’ she comes to you an’ th'ows her arms around your neck.” “An’ strangles me?" “—An’ says as how she knows she has done vou wrong, an’ does you all off them suit fo’ divdhce you c'n have ev'thing yo' own way at home an’ plenty of her money, an’ never ave to do wuk n'r nothin You ix sho’ they ain't nothin’ &wine wrong with this scheme? Ise pow'ful fon' of Cla “The mo’ fool you. nothin’ gwine Sudden acy's ime b But they ain't wrong." determination face. “I does on along with es the matter lighted Pri- it, Florian. me an' we with Lawyer you talk It's a pity like a man, Pri- you don’ look like one. One hour later Lawyer Evans Chew. machinery had motion and Priv tainly for home. wonder,” he preculated. nervously wonder has 1 done gone an made a mistake?" * ok ok * [Hi two days immediately ensuing were anxious ones for the doubt they parted from The wheels of been set in started uncer- He knew that he had smething—but he didn't know precisely what that something was. Finally, when he could stand it no longer, he sought Lawyer Chew. That legal light greeted Privacy enthusiasticall g Sv'ything's Fixed?” Uh-huh! The clerk which I hiahs an’ employs to wuk fo' me has jes' rved them divohce papers on yo' Clarry Robson. He must vo' domicile jes' after depahted therefum.” A great fear smote at of Privacy. “He's done “He suttinly and dapper young negro office: ““Heah he is now. you served them divohce Missus Robson?" A sudden haunting s eves. w fixed,” said he. have vou got to the heart done {t?" then, as a| entered the ; Joshua, has | papers on| fea r played c-yassuh, Lawyer Chew What did she say “Well—" the clerk spread his arms expressively—"Taint presac'ly what she sald, Lawyer Chew s how she said it Privacy with fear. felt himself grow small “Wh-what she said now, The lad glanced at his employer’s client commiseratingly. “She Jjes’ soht of said like this: ‘Reckon they’s one skinny cullud man gwine take a with a heap of flowers an’ a ban’ of music—on'y he ain't gwine smell them formers n'r heah them latters.” An ominous stiliness brooded over the little house as Florian turned in at the front gate. which hung de jectedly from a single rusty hinge. | About the place was an air of for- | bidding gloom In the kitchen he caught sight of his wife industriously | bungalow apron He knew that she knew he was | there, yet she gave no indication of her knowledge of his presence. He room, fidgeting uneasily, shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other. | Still she did not raise her eye: coughed — fearfully — apologetically No indication from the large colored lady. And then, lured by the same attraction which sends a bird strolling down the gullet of a snake. Privacy | Robson shuffled into the presence of | his wife And yet she appeared his presence Privacy was trembling Vituperation, clash, he could This fierce interdicto getting on his nerves them raw. Finally the silence no long “H-h-hello. Clarry.’ No answer. “Ff-ffine day, ain't it?" Ditto. “C-c-c-clarry—you you She hummed the opening measures of a new jazz tune. Clarry missing an opportunity to talk! It was gh: ! unaware of | from head fury, even understand. | silence was and rubbing he could stand ain't deef, is T neither ain't you dumb?" he paid no heed. He prepared to flee the onslaught which he knew was inevitable. He tried to make meek amends—— ‘Is — is somebody fum Lawyer Chew's office be'n to see vou, Clarry, honey She rose, moved across to the stove and inspected something which was boiling in a large dark pot “My sweetness, what the matter is | with you?" i But still she did not answer. For a | half hour Privacy hung around,| begging for the guillotine, and being | vouchsafed not even one single con soling blow. Clarry on a rampage was bad enough—but at least she was un- derstandable. Clarry quiet was Clarry terrifying. Privacy sought a secluded corner of Bud Peaglar's Barbecue Lunch Room & Billard Parlor and there he cowered in quivering terror until long after the dinner hour had come and gone. And then he rose and trailed slowly toward home. * % % ox | Robson—it’s good. | hearn ']‘Hl'l place was shrouded in black- ness. He crept guiltily within, yearning for the caressing bang of a fat-iron against his skull—any gentle idee of gittin' divohced fum Clarry. But what happens when vou stahts that suit? Right away Clarry sees that she has went too far. An' she knows she is gwine lose her man—an’ that she never would git her another so long as she lived. An’ she gits indicatfon of wifely affection. But nothing greeted him save stillness, flerce emptiness. He slunk across the room, paused with his hand on the knob of the bedroom door. From within there came to him the sound of healthy snoring. “Tha’s Clarry. She sho'ly do snore sweet!" He turened the knob. But the door didn't open. Then fearful doubt be- came horrible certainty. He was lock- ed out of his own bedroom. He slunk into a -tiny storeroom ad- joining the living room, laboriously moved two or three washtubs and ironing boards, laid himself down on the floor and tried to sleep. But sleep would not come. According to Florian, Clarry should have been waiting for him with teary cheeks, open arms and forgiving heart. Instead of that she ignored his exist- ence. The following morning he sought Lawyer Chew and begged that gentle- man to withdraw the divorce suit. But that dignitary explained in all serious- ness that the courts were not to be played with: that a divorce suit once started could not be stopped. ept- in' on'y by mutual consent- of bofe pahtie: “You—you is got my mutual con- sent, Lawyer Chew.” “Yo' mutual consent ain't enough, Brother Robson. Also, I requiahs yo' wife's mutual consent. But that consent was not forth- coming. For four days the rigid silence was maintained. Humble over- tures from the miserable Privacy were greeted with stony silence. Thrice daily a platter of food was served to him—in the room where he lived with the washtubs. Each night Clar- ry retired behind securely locked doors. Through the long dark hours Pri- vacy pitched sleeplessly and mourned the friendship of Florian Slappey. And on the fourth day he sought that gentleman—sought him with in- dignation in his brain and murder in his soul. Into Florian's ears he poured verbal vitriol Florian listened nonchalantly. But he was both interested and surprised. This was not at all as he had antic} pated. His plan had falled and he knew it. Yet he realized that it would never do to let Privacy In on that knowledge. He puffed languidly upon a near-Turkish cigarette and when Privacy had concluded the outburst HunTyed that emaciated gentleman calmly. Trouble with vou, Brother Robson vou never let no feller finish tellin’ you what he stahts to say." ou mean to say, Flo'ian, that all what you tol’ me t'other day ain’t all what 'you was plannin’' to tell me? Does you mean to 'sinuate that I is to do some mo' 'sides what I is “Then you is mos’ as foolish as you looks.” v well. It's yo' fum'ral. On'y if'n you was to of done one mo’ thing | Clarry would be crawlin’ roun’ on her shinbones beggin' vou should take all her money an’ quit doin’ any soht of wuk an'—but they ain't no use talkin® sense to a feller like'n to what you is. You jes' go in one ear an' come out the res’ of you' scheme is, 1f 1 says it's good advice, Brother If'n you promise you is gwine to take it—I Otherwise I says a Ii'l less'n befo’han’ zives it. nothin".” Privacy begged, pleaded, argued, ca- joled: but Florian was adamant. And | finally—if a bit reluctantly—Privacy consented to act vice. upon Florian's ad- * o ox % LORIAN outlined the new strategy. When he finished Privacy's eyes were wide and staring, his jaw drooped limply. “Flo'ian! .5, “Another gal? 1 is to go take an- other gal out to the pitcher show?" “Uh-huh.” “An’ let same?"” “Jes' that.” “Flo'ian, does yo git kilt or sumthin’ “Reckon you ain't gwine be no kilter than what you Is now. Hones', Privacy, vo' fgrunce is sumthin’ fierce. 1 ‘asts you now, who ever tell of a divohce without no corr'spondent? It jes' can’t be, tha's all. Does you crave to git a divohce, you stahts off b gittin' a corr’- spondent. You jes' natchelly is got to have one. Clarry’s soht of be'n walitin® fo’ it. Up to now she has jes" be'n sayin’ to herse'f that this ain't no You ain't se'fous?” Clarry know I is doin’ crave to see me |decent divohce a tall on account they ain’t no other woman mixed up in it. She's jes' sittin’ back waitin’ fo' that other gal to show up. An’' when she do, Clarry comes to you an’' says please will you fo'give her an’ let her take you back. Don' it soun’ reas- omble. “Mmm! Million dollars soun's reas- omble—but it don’ git me no eatments if'n T ain't got it.” “You done promised you was gwine to take them adwices.” Fearfully, ttmorously, Privacy nod- ded. “Reckon I does, Flo'ian. But sumthin’ tells me T is makin’ a tur- rible mistake.” Nor did anything transpire during the ensuing 24 hours to put Privacy more at ease. Florian, as usual, did TOGETHER THEY SHUFFLED OFF; MEN OF A SIZE—BUT OTHERWISE AS DISSIMILAR AS A SECOND-HAND .FLIVVER AND A NEW IMPORTED LIM- OUSINE. | | } thoroughly the fixing—and he fixed not wisely, but too well. As the tertium quid he selected the regal Mallissie Cheese: curvy, dimpled, roguish, light-tan Malilssie, who trified with the hearts of dusky beaux for the sheer fun of the thing—and to whom the prospect of the soclal spot- light—however doubtfully acquired) —was quite entrancing. The following evening at 7 o'clock, Privacy Robson nervously adorned himself for the festivities; the ward- robing consisting of donning a clean white necktie which had lain long forgotten in a bureau drawer. He presented himself before Clarry’s un- seeing eyes and hurled the defl—hop- ing against hope that she would break her studied silence and save him from himself. “Ise gwine to the Champeen The- ayeter with Mallissie Cheese!" No answer. “Jes' 1 an’ Mallissie an’ not nobody else.” Clarry was not interested. Privacy became desperate. Clarry was due to exhibit anger. understand— “Mallissie’s gwine to be our corr’- spondent.” Still no_sign of excitement from Clarry. Privacy slunk dejectedly through the door. “Reckon she jes' don’ b'lieve I {8 gwine with Mallissie.” Privacy did not enjoy the evening overly much. Mallissie took care that all about them should know whom she accompanied. * ook ¥ LORED society was properly scandalized. Before, the Robson Robson divorce suit had been Now it was becom- vs. merely amusing. ing serlous. And then a sudden tremor of excite- ment shook the house as the picture neared its end. Some.one started the rumor at the door and it wirelessed through the spectators. Privacy was conscious of a renewed—almost mer- bid—interest in himself and his com- panion.. Then some one flopped be- side him, and through the semi-gloom Privac; found himself peering into the cheerful countenance of Keefe Gaines, the undertaker. And Keefe was speaking: “Yo' wife, Clarry, is hangin' roun’ out front waitin’ fo' you'" Privacy went cold all over. Keefe Gaines lowered his voice. “If'n anythin’ was to happen to you right sudden, Brother Robson, does I it the job “Which job?’ “Buryin'? 1 an’ you has always be'n frien's—an’ while I hope Clarry ain’t as mad as what she looks— Privacy shoved Mr. Gaines violently into the aisle—"Gwan away from me, cullud man! Git away from heah Privacy passed the unpleasant in formation on to his partner, and Mal- lissie, despite a vallant exterior, was genuinely frightened. At first she fondly had fancied that no woman— even Clarry—could really be jealous of the runty Privacy Robson. But vidently she had miscalculated. As or Privacy—he felt an interior- mingled sense of terror and elation. | Certainly, here was proof of Clarry’s devotion. For there was not the slightest doubt in Privacy’s mind that he and Mallissie were about to be and completely extermi- nated. The picture ended, the house lights went up, there was a general, hur- ried, buzzing exodus. Necks were craned backwards that eyes might miss no move of Privacy and Mallis- sie. Outside the theater a mob had gathered, standing respectfully back from the mammoth, avenging figure of Clarry Robson oo JVENTUALLY Privacy and his companion emerged. To the ter- rified little man, the figure of his wife loomed like a mountain which was about to fall upon him. Mallissie, pale green with horror, vet tensed herself for the impending physical clash—with {td inevitable dis- astrous results. The crowd held its breath. And then came sweet, soft, gentle. “Evenin’, Mallissie.” Miss Cheese merely gasped. “I says evenin’, Mallissie.” “E-e-evenin’, Missus Robson.” Clarry paid no attention to her quiv- ering husband. “What you is doin’ out all alone by yo'se’f, Miss Cheese?" by myse'f? % Yonm is alone, ain't you? Ah don’ see nobody with you."” Somebody In the crowd laughed. Privacy felt himself flushing hotly Sudden death would have been pref- erable to this ignominy. “Somebody done tol' me. Mallissie, that you was down heah with a man which useter be related to me by ma'iage. But I don't see no man— an' I knowed it never could of be'n Privacy, on account of a gal like you has got too much sense to go traip- sin’ ‘roun’ with a shrimp like'n to what he is. Afn't it the troof?” “Sho'ly is, Missus Robsan.” “An’ seein' as you is alone, Mal- lissie—s'pos-in_I an’ you goes down to the Gol' Crown fo' a ice cream soda?” Mallissie Clarry’s voice— hesitated, suspecting a ruse. But there was no mistaking the amiability on the face of Clarry Robson, nor the atmosphere of gen- uine good humor which hovered over the spectators. And then Mallissie did the only thing possible under the circumstances. She stepped forward g\d linked her arm within that of ‘right, Clarry. Us drink: Together they walked through the lane which was opened for them. utterly oblivious to the dilapidated little man who stood gaping at the spectacle. Then the human gap closed again and a cloud of spontaneous humor arose— ““Who them ladies was, Privacy?” “Seems like they ain't neither of them never sawn you befo'.” “Nary one of them useter be re- lated to you by ma'iage, was they?” “Did you want to separate yo'se'f away fum Clarry, you has sho' suc- ceeded.” Privacy writhed in the nethermost depths of degradation. Had Clarry pulverized Mallissie and himself, his position would not have been' en- tirely ignoble. But now—this was worse than the disgrace of being ignored In his own home. ‘That night he stationed himself outside Clarry's locked door and ate a large chunk of humblest ple. He demeaned himself absolutely and ut- terly—calling himself all the names in her vocabulary, begging for for- iveness and reinstatement. But larry heard not—or if she did hear, she paid no heed. * ok k T was a solemn, crushed, dispirited Privacy Robson’ who found ¥lorian Slappey the next day. He did not even retain sufficient fire to resent the twinkle of amusement in Florian's eyes at the story of the previous night's episode. And of course he could not suspect that Florian was completely bewildered. ‘This was not at all as Mr. Slappey had nned. Privacy spoke in a dull, hopeless; monotonous voice— “You gotten me into this mess, Flolan. Git me out!” Florian lighted a shameless cigar. “I 8'pose you think that on account of what happeried las' nght, things ain't r:r;nln‘ 80 smooth as they oughter, eh?" | “You is @& champeen s'poser, Flo'ian.” But perhaps she didn't | | | i | | “Now what sigges'——" “You ain't got ary thing to sigges’. Not to me you ain't. Not a tal Not even once. On account, Flo'lan, I woul'nt be mis'able like'n to what I is now if you hadn't of been so siggestive a'ready.” Florian appeared hurt. You ain't meanin to stan’ up there an’ tell me to my face you think I is done esplained all my scheme, is you?" A tiny frown corrugated the Robson forehead. ‘““Not all yo' scheme?" “Suttinly I ain’t tol' you all. Trou- ble with you, Privacy, is you never let no feller finish tellin’ you nothin’. Fust off I tells you 'bout stahtin’ a divohce suit an' askin' fo' alimonies —an’ what does you do? “You runs off ‘thout listenin’ to all which I had to say, tha's what you does. If'n you had of listened to me complete an ontire in the fust place . anyways, you di'nt. Then you me to me later an’ I stahts to tell you 'bout gittin' a corr'spondent. An’ what you does then, huh? “You ain’t never let me finish tellin" you what I stahted to tell. Now Ise astin' you now—is you gwine lis'en to all my scheme, or ain't you?" Privacy shrugged ihdifferently. Reckon I might's well listen, Flo-fan. Nothin’ you adwises is gwine git me in any wusser trouble than what I is in a'ready.” “Is you gwine take my adwice?" “I is hearn them words fum yo' lips befo’, Brother Slappey, an’' they always has spelled misery to me." “Tha’s on_ account you never let me finish. Now i#f'n you wants to be happy with Clarry—if'n you craves to jes’ nachelly boss her 'roun’ an' make her do whichsoever you wants —jes’ listen to two words . .. Jes' two 1i'l simple words."” “Yeh? Yeh? What is they?" “Hunger strike!" Privacy shook his head wondering- ly. *“You says words, Flo'lan,—but they don’t make no sense.” “Wiggilin' tripe. When it comes to brains, Privacy, you jes' nachelly ain’t. A hunger strike, Privacy, what you goes on when you wants sumthin’ which somebody ain't aimin’ to_give you.” “l goes on it?" 'Sho’ly you does.” How 1 goes on it All what you does, Privacy—is to stop eatin’-" The Information sifted slowly. Then Privacy stepped back and shook his head. “Reckon I an’ you better keep away fum each other, Flo'fan. I ain’t aimin’ to travel 'roun’ with no crazy man “Who's crazy?” “You is." “How come?” “Any man which says I stop eati Is crazy. Crazy right in the haid.” . A|nd once more came a torrent of ogic. I has got to He traced the history of the fad down to date—and credited to it batting average of 1.000. “An' as fo' vo' case, Privacy,” he finished trium- phantly. “It cain't fail.” “Anything c'n fail where Clarry is concerned at.” “This heah cain't. On account why? On account Clarry is a ele- gant cook an' does she see you starvin’ to death she is gwine be mis’able ‘cause you ain't eatin’' which she cooks fo' you. An' then when you gits sick she has to pay all the expense of doctor's bills an’ ch. Mebbe even fum'ral expenses does you go an' die on her. She comes into you an’ says why don't you eat? An' you says that you ain’t eatin' cause you loves her an' wants be happy with her—but on account she treats you so rotten you'd ruther go die of hunger. An’' then she gits so anxlous fo' you to eat an’ not die that she does whichsoever you wants." “You is posolutely shuah?" “Absolutely.” *xox o D so, with many misgivings, Privacy agreed to try the hunger strike. It wasn’t so difficult at breakfast. As usual, Clarry left his meal on one of the washtubs in his makeshift boudoir. When she returned a half hour later the meal was untouched: grits, side-meat, coffee—ali were just Gabrilowitsch’s Fame as Pianist Due to Singing Teacher’s Zeal BY PRESTON WRIGHT. SSIP GABRILOWITSCH. Olga Theodorovitch. The first name needs no ex- planation, of course. but to the millions of Americans who recognize its owner as one of the supreme pianists and orchestral con- ductors of his day the second, thus presented. will mean nothing. Yet Olga Theodorovitch discovered the musical genius of Ossip Gabrilo- witsch. She was in large part respon- sible for his embarkation upon the career that has made him celebrated around the world. It would be impossible to say that Gabrilowitsch would not have becorhe great pianist without the inferven- tion of Mme. Theodorovitch. But she must be given credit for discerning his ability and using all her energy and lr;flluanca to have him make the most of it. As a child, Gabrilowitsch intended to become a'painter. He was intensely interested in drawing and his teach- ers belleved him capable of success. This judgment was reached while he was still in his eighth year. JHowever, by the time he was 9 he had forsaken his drawing and was completely absorbed in musical stud- fes. ““Toda he told me recently, “I have lost the gift for drawing so com- pletely that I could not draw a straight line.” The story of this “about front” is based upon one of the most unusual episodes in the history of musiec. Ossip Gabrilowitsch, born in Petro- grad, Russia, in 1878, was the son of a lawyer. He grew up in an atmos- phere of music. Both his older broth- ers, Gregor and Arthur, were musical. Neither was a professional musician. Chamber music often was played in the Gabrilowitsch home, and Ossip, like other children, was allowad to at- tend concerts and opera at a very ear- the piano at 5 years of age, his moth- er and his brothers being his teachers. However, there was then no thought of a career for him, these lessons be- ing merely evidence of an absorption in music universal in Russian families of the station of the Gabrilowitaches, ‘whose homes were .not complete with- out a plano. He remained interested in his drawings and sketches. “When he was in his elghth year, however, he was given a plano teach- er. And that teacher was Olga Theo- dorovitch. y Olga Theodorovitch was not long in perceiving that she had been given the direction of an unusual talent. One day, following a lesson in the Gabrilowitsch home, she spoke to her pupil's mother. A ““The boy has a great gift,” she said. “He should study with a view of be- coming & 7 is | Florian commenced with the | first recorded case of hunger striking. | to| HE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, JUNE 14, 1925—PART 5. SHE PILED A PLATE HIGH WITH DAINTIES AND SET VTHljJH And Pri of the cor- visioned as she had served them. vacy, watching her out ner of one hungry eye, gleam of interest. ‘This was his Initial touch of tri umph. The divorce—the introduction of a co-respondent—both devices had gone unrewarded by o much as a single flash of interest. Hungry as he was, he chuckled to himseif at the puzzlement which he knew must be Clarry's at sight of himself unfed And voluntarily so. It was not so easy to leave the lunch untasted. The turnip greens and white meat were toothsome and plentiful. And Privacy was gnawed by a hunger exceeding strong. But his reward came when Clarry opened her lips to question him—then closed them tight again and ked out with the dishee. Privacy was sorry that she hadn't spoken. Undoubted ly, the hunger strike was proving more effective than any other method —but, too, it was extremely painful to a man of Privacy's gastronomic propensities. The supper came near to proving the finish of the hunger strike. a herofc battle, Privacy wrenched him self away from temptation, and left the ham swimming forlornly in its al- | luring gravy, the rice untasted, corn pone ignored. Clarry was bewlidered. And sooner or later Clarry must crack. Privacy found himself praying that it would be sooner. He knew that he could not stand the strain for long. the He was perfectly willing to admit | that Florian had at last struck the right course. But he loathed the arduous task which was his. He took stock of the situation and scourged | himself " into carrying on for another And that night he slept fitfully | day. —dreaming maddentng dreams of bar becued pork and rich Brunswick stew; of crumbly waffles and golden sirup; of—— He waked moaning. then lulled back into restless slumber. Somehow he managed to resist the breakfast: and marveled at the bridle which Ciarry had upon her curi- osity. At noon he again withstood the suc culent meal, but his eyes were pop- ping from his head and he felt weak and faint from the strain. larry must give in—he knew that no wom- an’s curiosity could much longer re- main unsated. And somehow, by dint of a physical effort of which he had | never dreamed himself capable, he de termined to fight away from the sup. per . to withstand it no matter what the shock to his digestive sys tem. And then if Clarry did not que: tion him he knew his cause was lost Clarry, too, sensed a crisis. She came home about 5 o'clock loaded down with bundles. She built a fire in the iron range. And then, to Privacy’s tortured nostrils, there came the odor of frying chicken; of sizzling bacon of pancakes singing on the griddle: of greens in the pot: of rich, steamy coffee. And as a final Machiavellian touch—a boy arrived from the corner grocery with a large watermelon, and Privacy saw Clarry make the inci- There is no evidence that her dec- laration greatly impressed Ossip’s par- ents in the beginning. But her inter- est in him had reached the point of a passion. She repeated her views Wwhenever the occasion offered. Finally she became almost frenzied in her demands. “I will drown myself if you do not make a planist of the boy!" she de- clared. The Gabrilowitsches probably took this threat with a grain or salt. Nev- ertheless they decided to find out if Mme. Theodorovitch was justified in her opinfon. Mme. Gabrilowitsch took the boy to the great Anton Rubinstein, who wave him a hearing. “He has a real gift.” was the ver- dict of the master. He advised that Ossip be entered in. the Petrograd Conservatory. ~ The parents hesitated no longer. Their son was now 9. At 16 he grad- uated with the famous Rubinstein prize—the most coveted honor the in- stitution yielded. He spent two years studying with the celebrated Lesehetizky in Vienna, After | | sion, heard the seductive cr-rir-runc h |as the knife sawed through and then the rich, juicy plop as the melon divid ed into halves. He felt that luscious, | erimson heart inviting him—luring— screaming a demand to be eaten! He turned his tortured eves away This was not fighting fair. Clarry was hitting below the sagging belt And she walloped him again when she piled a plate high with dainties and set them beside his washtub, then returned to the kitchen table and fell to with a relish Privacy was verging on_delirium The strain was horrible. But when Clarry came for the dishes he knew that he had almost won the battle Almost—but not quite. For several seconds Clarry hesitated . then | went off with tbe untasted food. O again, Privacy buried ach B . A’ ing head in trembling hands and | cursed himself for a fool. There had | been a meal fit for a king. For a pair of kings. And he had disdained it He watched Clarry place the residue | safely in the ice chest, pausing occa | stonally to glance wonderingly at her husband. The battle was not a fair one. Clarry had merely to comoat her cu- riosity; Privacy was tortured by his | appetite. The one was powerful, per haps; but the other was irresistible And Privacy had fought a good fight. Yet he knew that he was beaten. Remembrance of that ample | store of food in the ice box was too | | much for him . he became sick And faint at the thought of the viands waiting to be eaten. | He remained in h mi-comatose condition until 10 sck. At that hour Clarry came indoors. stood gaz. ing curiously at her husband—then entered her bedroom. Through force | of habit she locked the door. The| sound of the key grating in the lock | was like a kneli o' doom to Privacy | | | particular performance which broke | | the last struggling bit of his resist- | | ance. | For fitteen minutes he waited: a| half-hour—an hour. Then he rose, | staggering against the porch rail a he did so—staggering from sheer weakness. He threw his arms wide in token of utter surrender. .\nd‘ then, noiselessly, carefully. he crept | toward the ice box. He reached the door of the ice box, wrapped cold fingers about the handle, and wrenched it open— His fingers found the leg of chicken. Privacy uttered a cooing caressing sound as he raised it to| his lips. . . . Meanwhile Clarry Robson had dropped off into a deep, untroubled | slumber. She was puzzled and more | than a little worried. But she was | healthily tired, and sleep wooed and | won her in jig time. How long she slept she did not know. Then suddenly she found her- self sitting straight up in bed, every hair making frantic effort to stand on end: cold beads of perspiration glistening from her chocolate brow. leaving his studio with first honors. His first public recitals were given in 1896, when, he was 18. He first came to America in 1900. In 1309 he mar- ried Clara Clemens, daughter of Mark Twain (Samuel S. Clemens). The United States is now his home. Gabrilowitsch early desired to be an orchestral conductor. As a small boy he was fascinated by watching the conductor of a Summer orchestra in a suburb of Petrograd. At the Petro grad Conservatory he studied compo- sition under Liadow and Glazounow. He made friends during his concer: career with many great conducto among them Richter, Mahler and Ni- kisch. He took a regular course in conducting with Nikisch in 1905, and in 1906 made his debut as a conductor in Berlin, Vienna and Paris. He was long known to the Ameri- can public only as a pianist but in 1917 he conducted in New York, and again in 1918. Since then he has been the regular condugtor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He also is widely, known as-a lecturer. (Copyright, 1925.) “OLGA THEODOROVITCH WAS NOT LONG IN PERCEIVING THAT SHE HAD BEEN GIVEN THE DIRECTION OF AN UNUSUAL TALENT! 4 | tion | | | There was an air of finality about that | j; | “Oh, him? | promises T LT BESIDE HIS WASHTUB. She sat rigidly: nerves a-jangle, ears strained for itition of the sound Yes—there it was—again! A stealthy snooping noise from the kitchen A burgl There wasn't a doubt of it. Noiselessly bed. Quietly room door. 1 sound on the othe a sinister, crept le tensed chok for the 11 of te throat a from the the bed > feet made uncarpeted floor e of the kitchen she &: crouching, shadowy toward it, ever br con She lled hti she sh slipped opened On v ssive in her- musc short self A vac: sprar f | leaped upon him from long fingers clut Frgnzied with SR something. A It swished t was thu sound of heas Screaming f help. Privacy 4 match and lighted the lamp—the limp and lach: . turned to upon his handiwork He found himself gazi: unconscious face of his wife, adually there ca to him re th fact b he had cor quered her in physical combat. With that knowledge there was born with in him a new and g power: a paean his heart. Proud reached for chicken i consciousness. had caused knew he gripped by ‘larry raised glancing weapon! A poker rough the air. T chokir restoring ( He didn’t know what all the ouble, but he was victorious: he was a certitude of triumph terrified eyes. Pri affectionately _into i to see that her in were but temporary nd then, as Clarry glimpsed the face of her adored Privacy she clasped mus arms about his neck and wooned again cas but to bring her And her first vac the work back to words reassured of a minute consciousness ‘Where he is 'Wh-where w 'The burglar? Suddenly a great warm light burst upon Privacy. He understood 1 heard him jump on you an’ T chased him off.” “You chased him off She turned upon him eves in which there no sign of disbelief: merely a wondering ction 1 vacy—I never knowed man_you was.” N'r neither that ain't the on’ thing you mnever knowed, ‘ooman She warmed to the new, assertive nuance of his voice “Reckon T ain't ¢ good to vou. Oh! Privac: why ain't you be'n eatin’ what I be'n cookin’ fo' you?" “Them eatments enough, Clarry “Heney . if'n you on'y wa'n't gittin’ a divohce away fum me, 1'd show you how good I can cook 3 Somehow, the tide had turned: magnificent victory had been miracu- lously snatched from direct defeat Privacy ignored no scintilla of his triumph. “I done stahted that divohce, Clar- ry. Reckon I'd better go th'oo with at?” h is a wha wa'n't good Pléase, honev. please don't willin® to do anythin' you want. . Privacy appeared to consider willin’ to call off that divohce, you do sev'al things.” T'll do anythin’ you s Well,” he said magnanimously: “Fust off you gives yo' mutual con sent that the divohce gits called off. Secon’ you pays Lawyer Chew the fees which I owes him. Thi'd vou ain’t gwine hafter do no wuk not bein' fittin’ fo' a to what I is. Fo'th you € you ain’t gwine raise no mo’ rows ‘roun’ the house.” I promises all 1 Ev'y single 1i'l bit of it Inspiration came to Privacy. n fifth, you pays me alimonies of th'ee dollars ev'y week. Does vou say ves And Clarry, adorable in her utter surrender, agreed! Clarry walked down the street in quest of washing. She was radiantly happy—and Florian Slappey. sliding from behind a woodshed, scuttled into the shelter of the Robson home. He found Privacy in bed, a large tray, containing the remains of an enormous breakfast, beside him; a huge, black cigar gripped between his teeth. Florian's face broke into a wide, congratulatory grin. “Privacy—I tol’ You I was gwine fix things up fo’ you!" Privacy’s face twisted into a sneer of contempt. “Huh! You says! You ain't fixed nothin’ up.” And then Privacy told him just what had oc- curred the previous night. Florfan listened patiently. And when Privacy had completed his story, there was a large expression of bit- terness on the face of Mr. Slappey. “Dawg-gone, Privacy—if you ain't the ongratefullest man. “How come?” “Sayin’ I di'n't fix all this up fo' you.” “Reckon you di'n't.” Reckon 1 did. Now lis'en heah at me, Privacy. Trouble with you s you never has let me finish tellin’ you all the scheme I done schum. You listens at paht of what I has to sav an’ then runs off an’ does the thing Yo' ownse'f. “If'n vou had of let me finish the other day I would of tol' you what was gwine happen.'bout Clarry think in’ you saved her fum a burglar. I ‘nowed all the time it was gwine be that away.” Privacy’s eves popped wide with believing wonder. ““Honest, Flo'ian?" “Cross my heart. T schemed it all that way fum the fust.” Privacy extended the friendship. “Whyn't you tell me in the fust place, Flo'ian? Fum the bottom of my heart I thanks you. An I says this to the world—you is sho'ly the schemeiest man what is!" (Coprright, 1925.) Ise ‘Ise does Privac mo' wuk man like'n prom: sweetness. hand of