English
I
Shehurriedtothefirstmeetingoftheplay–readingcommittee.
Herjungleromancehadfaded,butsheretainedareligiousfervor,asurgeofhalf–formedthoughtaboutthecreationofbeautybysuggestion.
ADunsanyplaywouldbetoodifficultfortheGopherPrairieassociation.ShewouldletthemcompromiseonShaw—on"AndroclesandtheLion,"whichhadjustbeenpublished.
ThecommitteewascomposedofCarol,VidaSherwin,GuyPollock,RaymieWutherspoon,andJuanitaHaydock.
Theywereexaltedbythepictureofthemselvesasbeingsimultaneouslybusiness–likeandartistic.
TheywereentertainedbyVidaintheparlorofMrs.ElishaGurrey'sboarding–house,withitssteelengravingofGrantatAppomattox,itsbasketofstereoscopicviews,anditsmysteriousstainsonthegrittycarpet.
Vidawasanadvocateofculture–buyingandefficiency–systems.
Shehintedthattheyoughttohave(asatthecommittee–meetingsoftheThanatopsis)a"regularorderofbusiness,"and"thereadingoftheminutes,"butastherewerenominutestoread,andasnooneknewexactlywhatwastheregularorderofthebusinessofbeingliterary,theyhadtogiveupefficiency.
Carol,aschairman,saidpolitely,"Haveyouanyideasaboutwhatplaywe'dbettergivefirst?"Shewaitedforthemtolookabashedandvacant,sothatshemightsuggest"Androcles."
GuyPollockansweredwithdisconcertingreadiness,"I'lltellyou:sincewe'regoingtotrytodosomethingartistic,andnotsimplyfoolaround,Ibelieveweoughttogivesomethingclassic.Howabout'TheSchoolforScandal'?"
"Why—Don'tyouthinkthathasbeendoneagooddeal?"
"Yes,perhapsithas."
Carolwasreadytosay,"HowaboutBernardShaw?"whenhetreacherouslywenton,"HowwoulditbethentogiveaGreekdrama—say'OedipusTyrannus'?"
"Why,Idon'tbelieve—"
VidaSherwinintruded,"I'msurethatwouldbetoohardforus.NowI'vebroughtsomethingthatIthinkwouldbeawfullyjolly."
Sheheldout,andCarolincredulouslytook,athingraypamphletentitled"McGinerty'sMother–in–law."Itwasthesortoffarcewhichisadvertisedin"schoolentertainment"cataloguesas:
Riproaringknock–out,5m.3f.,time2hrs.,interiorset,popularwithchurchesandallhigh–classoccasions.
CarolglancedfromthescabrousobjecttoVida,andrealizedthatshewasnotjoking.
"Butthisis—thisis—why,it'sjusta—Why,Vida,Ithoughtyouappreciated—well—appreciatedart."
Vidasnorted,"Oh.Art.Ohyes.Idolikeart.It'sverynice.
Butafterall,whatdoesitmatterwhatkindofplaywegiveaslongaswegettheassociationstarted?
Thethingthatmattersissomethingthatnoneofyouhavespokenof,thatis:whatarewegoingtodowiththemoney,ifwemakeany?
IthinkitwouldbeawfullyniceifwepresentedthehighschoolwithafullsetofStoddard'stravel–lectures!"
Carolmoaned,"Oh,butVidadear,doforgivemebutthisfarce—NowwhatI'dlikeustogiveissomethingdistinguished.SayShaw's'Androcles.'Haveanyofyoureadit?"
"Yes.Goodplay,"saidGuyPollock.
ThenRaymieWutherspoonastoundinglyspokeup:
"SohaveI.Ireadthroughalltheplaysinthepubliclibrary,so'stobereadyforthismeeting.
And—ButIdon'tbelieveyougrasptheirreligiousideasinthis'Androcles,'Mrs.Kennicott.
Iguessthefemininemindistooinnocenttounderstandalltheseimmoralwriters.
I'msureIdon'twanttocriticizeBernardShaw;IunderstandheisverypopularwiththehighbrowsinMinneapolis;butjustthesame—AsfarasIcanmakeout,he'sdownrightimproper!
ThethingsheSAYS—Well,itwouldbeaveryriskythingforouryoungfolkstosee.
Itseemstomethataplaythatdoesn'tleaveanicetasteinthemouthandthathasn'tanymessageisnothingbut—nothingbut—Well,whateveritmaybe,itisn'tart.
So—NowI'vefoundaplaythatisclean,andthere'ssomeawfullyfunnyscenesinit,too.Ilaughedoutloud,readingit.
It'scalled'HisMother'sHeart,'andit'saboutayoungmanincollegewhogetsinwithalotoffree–thinkersandboozersandeverything,butintheendhismother'sinfluence—"
JuanitaHaydockbrokeinwithaderisive,"Ohrats,Raymie!Canthemother'sinfluence!
Isaylet'sgivesomethingwithsomeclasstoit.
Ibetwecouldgettherightsto'TheGirlfromKankakee,'andthat'sarealshow.ItranforelevenmonthsinNewYork!"
"Thatwouldbelotsoffun,ifitwouldn'tcosttoomuch,"reflectedVida.
Carol'swastheonlyvotecastagainst"TheGirlfromKankakee."
II
Shedisliked"TheGirlfromKankakee"evenmorethanshehadexpected.
Itnarratedthesuccessofafarm–lassieinclearingherbrotherofachargeofforgery.
ShebecamesecretarytoaNewYorkmillionaireandsocialcounselortohiswife;andafterawell–conceivedspeechonthediscomfortofhavingmoney,shemarriedhisson.
Therewasalsoahumorousoffice–boy.
CaroldiscernedthatbothJuanitaHaydockandEllaStowbodywantedthelead.SheletJuanitahaveit.
Juanitakissedherandintheexuberantmannerofanewstarpresentedtotheexecutivecommitteehertheory,"Whatwewantinaplayishumorandpep.
There'swhereAmericanplaywrightsputitalloverthesedarnoldEuropeanglooms."
AsselectedbyCarolandconfirmedbythecommittee,thepersonsoftheplaywere:
JohnGrimm,amillionaire....GuyPollock
Hiswife.........MissVidaSherwin
Hisson.........Dr.HarveyDillon
Hisbusinessrival.......RaymondT.Wutherspoon
FriendofMrs.Grimm......MissEllaStowbody
ThegirlfromKankakee.....Mrs.HaroldC.Haydock
Herbrother........Dr.TerenceGould
Hermother........Mrs.DavidDyer
Stenographer........MissRitaSimons
Office–boy........MissMyrtleCass
MaidintheGrimms'home ....Mrs.W.P.Kennicott
DirectionofMrs.Kennicott
AmongtheminorlamentationswasMaudDyer's"WellofcourseIsupposeIlookoldenoughtobeJuanita'smother,evenifJuanitaiseightmonthsolderthanIam,butIdon'tknowasIcaretohaveeverybodynoticingitand—"
Carolpleaded,"Oh,myDEAR!Youtwolookexactlythesameage.
Ichoseyoubecauseyouhavesuchadarlingcomplexion,andyouknowwithpowderandawhitewig,anybodylookstwiceherage,andIwantthemothertobesweet,nomatterwhoelseis."
EllaStowbody,theprofessional,perceivingthatitwasbecauseofaconspiracyofjealousythatshehadbeengivenasmallpart,alternatedbetweenloftyamusementandChristianpatience.
Carolhintedthattheplaywouldbeimprovedbycutting,butaseveryactorexceptVidaandGuyandherselfwailedatthelossofasingleline,shewasdefeated.
Shetoldherselfthat,afterall,agreatdealcouldbedonewithdirectionandsettings.
SamClarkhadboastfullywrittenaboutthedramaticassociationtohisschoolmate,PercyBresnahan,presidentoftheVelvetMotorCompanyofBoston.
Bresnahansentacheckforahundreddollars;Samaddedtwenty–fiveandbroughtthefundtoCarol,fondlycrying,"There!
That'llgiveyouastartforputtingthethingacrossswell!"
Sherentedthesecondfloorofthecityhallfortwomonths.
Allthroughthespringtheassociationthrilledtoitsowntalentinthatdismalroom.
Theyclearedoutthebunting,ballot–boxes,handbills,leglesschairs.Theyattackedthestage.Itwasasimple–mindedstage.
Itwasraisedabovethefloor,anditdidhaveamovablecurtain,paintedwiththeadvertisementofadruggistdeadthesetenyears,butotherwiseitmightnothavebeenrecognizedasastage.
Thereweretwodressing–rooms,oneformen,oneforwomen,oneitherside.
Thedressing–roomdoorswerealsothestage–entrances,openingfromthehouse,andmanyacitizenofGopherPrairiehadforhisfirstglimpseofromancethebareshouldersoftheleadingwoman.
Therewerethreesetsofscenery:awoodland,aPoorInterior,andaRichInterior,thelastalsousefulforrailwaystations,offices,andasabackgroundfortheSwedishQuartettefromChicago.
Therewerethreegradationsoflighting:fullon,halfon,andentirelyoff.
ThiswastheonlytheaterinGopherPrairie.Itwasknownasthe"op'rahouse."
Once,strollingcompanieshaduseditforperformancesof"TheTwoOrphans,"and"NellietheBeautifulCloakModel,"and"Othello"withspecialtiesbetweenacts,butnowthemotion–pictureshadoustedthegipsydrama.
Carolintendedtobefuriouslymoderninconstructingtheoffice–set,thedrawing–roomforMr.Grimm,andtheHumbleHomenearKankakee.
ItwasthefirsttimethatanyoneinGopherPrairiehadbeensorevolutionaryastouseenclosedsceneswithcontinuousside–walls.
Theroomsintheop'rahousesetshadseparatewing–piecesforsides,whichsimplifieddramaturgy,asthevillaincouldalwaysgetoutofthehero'swaybywalkingoutthroughthewall.
TheinhabitantsoftheHumbleHomeweresupposedtobeamiableandintelligent.
Carolplannedforthemasimplesetwithwarmcolor.
Shecouldseethebeginningoftheplay:alldarksavethehighsettlesandthesolidwoodentablebetweenthem,whichweretobeilluminatedbyarayfromoffstage.
Thehighlightwasapolishedcopperpotfilledwithprimroses.
LessclearlyshesketchedtheGrimmdrawing–roomasaseriesofcoolhighwhitearches.
Astohowshewastoproducetheseeffectsshehadnonotion.
Shediscoveredthat,despitetheenthusiasticyoungwriters,thedramawasnothalfsonativeandclosetothesoilasmotorcarsandtelephones.
Shediscoveredthatsimpleartsrequiresophisticatedtraining.
Shediscoveredthattoproduceoneperfectstage–picturewouldbeasdifficultastoturnallofGopherPrairieintoaGeorgiangarden.
Shereadallshecouldfindregardingstaging,sheboughtpaintandlightwood;sheborrowedfurnitureanddrapesunscrupulously;shemadeKennicottturncarpenter.
Shecollidedwiththeproblemoflighting.
AgainsttheprotestofKennicottandVidashemortgagedtheassociationbysendingtoMinneapolisforababyspotlight,astriplight,adimmingdevice,andblueandamberbulbs;andwiththegloatingraptureofabornpainterfirstturnedlooseamongcolors,shespentabsorbedeveningsingrouping,dimming–paintingwithlights.
OnlyKennicott,Guy,andVidahelpedher.
Theyspeculatedastohowflatscouldbelashedtogethertoformawall;theyhungcrocus–yellowcurtainsatthewindows;theyblackedthesheet–ironstove;theyputonapronsandswept.
Therestoftheassociationdroppedintothetheatereveryevening,andwereliteraryandsuperior.
TheyhadborrowedCarol'smanualsofplay–productionandhadbecomeextremelystageyinvocabulary.
JuanitaHaydock,RitaSimons,andRaymieWutherspoonsatonasawhorse,watchingCaroltrytogettherightpositionforapictureonthewallinthefirstscene.
"Idon'twanttohandmyselfanythingbutIbelieveI'llgiveaswellperformanceinthisfirstact,"confidedJuanita."IwishCarolwasn'tsobossythough.Shedoesn'tunderstandclothes.
Iwanttowear,oh,adandydressIhave—allscarlet—andIsaidtoher,'WhenIenterwouldn'titknocktheireyesoutifIjuststoodthereatthedoorinthisstraightscarletthing?'Butshewouldn'tletme."
YoungRitaagreed,"She'ssomuchtakenupwithherolddetailsandcarpenteringandeverythingthatshecan'tseethepictureasawhole.
NowIthoughtitwouldbelovelyifwehadanoffice–sceneliketheonein'Little,ButOhMy!'BecauseISAWthat,inDuluth.Butshesimplywouldn'tlistenatall."
Juanitasighed,"IwantedtogiveonespeechlikeEthelBarrymorewould,ifshewasinaplaylikethis.
(HarryandIheardheronetimeinMinneapolis—wehaddandyseats,intheorchestra—IjustknowIcouldimitateher.)
Caroldidn'tpayanyattentiontomysuggestion.
Idon'twanttocriticizebutIguessEthelknowsmoreaboutactingthanCaroldoes!"
"Say,doyouthinkCarolhastherightdopeaboutusingastriplightbehindthefireplaceinthesecondact?
ItoldherIthoughtweoughttouseabunch,"offeredRaymie.
"AndIsuggesteditwouldbelovelyifweusedacycloramaoutsidethewindowinthefirstact,andwhatdoyouthinkshesaid?
'Yes,anditwouldbelovelytohaveEleanoraDuseplaythelead,'shesaid,'andasidefromthefactthatit'seveninginthefirstact,you'reagreattechnician,'shesaid.
ImustsayIthinkshewasprettysarcastic.
I'vebeenreadingup,andIknowIcouldbuildacyclorama,ifshedidn'twanttoruneverything."
"Yes,andanotherthing,IthinktheentranceinthefirstactoughttobeL.U.E.,notL.3E.,"fromJuanita.
"Andwhydoesshejustuseplainwhitetormenters?"
"What'satormenter?"blurtedRitaSimons.
Thesavantsstaredatherignorance.
III
Caroldidnotresenttheircriticisms,shedidn'tverymuchresenttheirsuddenknowledge,solongastheylethermakepictures.
Itwasatrehearsalsthatthequarrrelsbroke.
Nooneunderstoodthatrehearsalswereasrealengagementsasbridge–gamesorsociablesattheEpiscopalChurch.
Theygailycameinhalfanhourlate,ortheyvociferouslycameintenminutesearly,andtheyweresohurtthattheywhisperedaboutresigningwhenCarolprotested.
Theytelephoned,"Idon'tthinkI'dbettercomeout;afraidthedampnessmightstartmytoothache,"or"Guesscan'tmakeittonight;Davewantsmetositinonapokergame."
When,afteramonthoflabor,asmanyasnine–eleventhsofthecastwereoftenpresentatarehearsal;whenmostofthemhadlearnedtheirpartsandsomeofthemspokelikehumanbeings,CarolhadanewshockintherealizationthatGuyPollockandherselfwereverybadactors,andthatRaymieWutherspoonwasasurprisinglygoodone.
Forallhervisionsshecouldnotcontrolhervoice,andshewasboredbythefiftiethrepetitionofherfewlinesasmaid.
Guypulledhissoftmustache,lookedself–conscious,andturnedMr.Grimmintoalimpdummy.
ButRaymie,asthevillain,hadnorepressions.
Thetiltofhisheadwasfullofcharacter;hisdrawlwasadmirablyvicious.
TherewasaneveningwhenCarolhopedshewasgoingtomakeaplay;arehearsalduringwhichGuystoppedlookingabashed.
Fromthateveningtheplaydeclined.
Theywereweary."Weknowourpartswellenoughnow;what'stheuseofgettingsickofthem?"theycomplained.
Theybegantoskylark;toplaywiththesacredlights;togigglewhenCarolwastryingtomakethesentimentalMyrtleCassintoahumorousoffice–boy;toacteverythingbut"TheGirlfromKankakee."
AfterloafingthroughhisproperpartDr.TerryGouldhadgreatapplauseforhisburlesqueof"Hamlet."
EvenRaymielosthissimplefaith,andtriedtoshowthathecoulddoavaudevilleshuffle.
Carolturnedonthecompany."Seehere,Iwantthisnonsensetostop.We'vesimplygottogetdowntowork."
JuanitaHaydockledthemutiny:"Lookhere,Carol,don'tbesobossy.Afterall,we'redoingthisplayprincipallyforthefunofit,andifwehavefunoutofalotofmonkey–shines,whythen—"
"Ye–es,"feebly.
"YousaidonetimethatfolksinG.P.didn'tgetenoughfunoutoflife.Andnowwearehavingacircus,youwantustostop!"
Carolansweredslowly:"IwonderifIcanexplainwhatImean?
It'sthedifferencebetweenlookingatthecomicpageandlookingatManet.Iwantfunoutofthis,ofcourse.
Only—Idon'tthinkitwouldbelessfun,butmore,toproduceasperfectaplayaswecan."
Shewascuriouslyexalted;hervoicewasstrained;shestarednotatthecompanybutatthegrotesquesscrawledonthebacksofwing–piecesbyforgottenstage–hands.
"Iwonderifyoucanunderstandthe'fun'ofmakingabeautifulthing,theprideandsatisfactionofit,andtheholiness!"
Thecompanyglanceddoubtfullyatoneanother.InGopherPrairieitisnotgoodformtobeholyexceptatachurch,betweenten–thirtyandtwelveonSunday.
"Butifwewanttodoit,we'vegottowork;wemusthaveself–discipline."
Theywereatonceamusedandembarrassed.
Theydidnotwanttoaffrontthismadwoman.Theybackedoffandtriedtorehearse.
CaroldidnothearJuanita,infront,protestingtoMaudDyer,"Ifshecallsitfunandholinesstosweatoverherdarnedoldplay—well,Idon't!"
IV
CarolattendedtheonlyprofessionalplaywhichcametoGopherPrairiethatspring.
Itwasa"tentshow,presentingsnappynewdramasundercanvas."
Thehard–workingactorsdoubledinbrass,andtooktickets;andbetweenactssangaboutthemooninJune,andsoldDr.Wintergreen'sSurefireTonicforIllsoftheHeart,Lungs,Kidneys,andBowels.
Theypresented"SunbonnetNell:ADramaticComedyoftheOzarks,"withJ.WitherbeeBoothbywringingthesoulbyhisresonant"Yuhain'tdonerightbymahlittlegal,Mr.CityMan,butyera–goin'tofindthatbackinthese–yerehillsthere'shonestfolksandgoodshots!"
Theaudience,onplanksbeneaththepatchedtent,admiredMr.Boothby'sbeardandlongrifle;stampedtheirfeetinthedustatthespectacleofhisheroism;shoutedwhenthecomedianapedtheCityLady'suseofalorgnonbylookingthroughadoughnutstuckonafork;weptvisiblyoverMr.Boothby'sLittleGalNell,whowasalsoMr.Boothby'slegalwifePearl,andwhenthecurtainwentdown,listenedrespectfullytoMr.Boothby'slectureonDr.Wintergreen'sTonicasacurefortape–worms,whichheillustratedbyhorriblepallidobjectscurledinbottlesofyellowingalcohol.
Carolshookherhead."Juanitaisright.I'mafool.Holinessofthedrama!BernardShaw!Theonlytroublewith'TheGirlfromKankakee'isthatit'stoosubtleforGopherPrairie!"
Shesoughtfaithinspaciousbanalphrases,takenfrombooks:"theinstinctivenobilityofsimplesouls,""needonlytheopportunity,toappreciatefinethings,"and"sturdyexponentsofdemocracy."
Buttheseoptimismsdidnotsoundsoloudasthelaughteroftheaudienceatthefunny–man'sline,"Yes,byheckelum,I'masmartfella."
Shewantedtogiveuptheplay,thedramaticassociation,thetown.
AsshecameoutofthetentandwalkedwithKennicottdownthedustyspringstreet,shepeeredatthisstragglingwoodenvillageandfeltthatshecouldnotpossiblystayherethroughalloftomorrow.
ItwasMilesBjornstamwhogaveherstrength—heandthefactthateveryseatfor"TheGirlfromKankakee"hadbeensold.
Bjornstamwas"keepingcompany"withBea.
Everynighthewassittingonthebacksteps.
OncewhenCarolappearedhegrumbled,"Hopeyou'regoingtogivethisburgonegoodshow.Ifyoudon't,reckonnobodyeverwill."
V
Itwasthegreatnight;itwasthenightoftheplay.
Thetwodressing–roomswereswirlingwithactors,panting,twitchypale.
DelSnafflinthebarber,whowasasmuchaprofessionalasElla,havingoncegoneoninamobsceneatastock–companyperformanceinMinneapolis,wasmakingthemup,andshowinghisscornforamateurswith,"Standstill!
Fortheloveo'Mike,howdoyouexpectmetogetyoureyelidsdarkifyoukeepa–wigglin'?"
Theactorswerebeseeching,"Hey,Del,putsomeredinmynostrils—youputsomeinRita's—gee,youdidn'thardlydoanythingtomyface."
Theywereenormouslytheatric.TheyexaminedDel'smakeupbox,theysniffedthescentofgrease–paint,everyminutetheyranouttopeepthroughtheholeinthecurtain,theycamebacktoinspecttheirwigsandcostumes,theyreadonthewhitewashedwallsofthedressing–roomsthepencilinscriptions:"TheFloraFlandersComedyCompany,"and"Thisisabumtheater,"andfeltthattheywerecompanionsofthesevanishedtroupers.
Carol,smartinmaid'suniform,coaxedthetemporarystage–handstofinishsettingthefirstact,wailedatKennicott,theelectrician,"Nowforheaven'ssakerememberthechangeincuefortheambersinActTwo,"slippedouttoaskDaveDyer,theticket–taker,ifhecouldgetsomemorechairs,warnedthefrightenedMyrtleCasstobesuretoupsetthewaste–basketwhenJohnGrimmcalled,"Hereyou,Reddy."
DelSnafflin'sorchestraofpiano,violin,andcornetbegantotuneupandeveryonebehindthemagiclineoftheproscenicarchwasfrightenedintoparalysis.
Carolwaveredtotheholeinthecurtain.
Thereweresomanypeopleoutthere,staringsohard—
InthesecondrowshesawMilesBjornstam,notwithBeabutalone.Hereallywantedtoseetheplay!Itwasagoodomen.Whocouldtell?
PerhapsthiseveningwouldconvertGopherPrairietoconsciousbeauty.
Shedartedintothewomen'sdressing–room,rousedMaudDyerfromherfaintingpanic,pushedhertothewings,andorderedthecurtainup.
Itrosedoubtfully,itstaggeredandtrembled,butitdidgetupwithoutcatching—thistime.
ThensherealizedthatKennicotthadforgottentoturnoffthehouselights.Someoneoutfrontwasgiggling.
Shegallopedroundtotheleftwing,herselfpulledtheswitch,lookedsoferociouslyatKennicottthathequaked,andfledback.
Mrs.Dyerwascreepingoutonthehalf–darkenedstage.Theplaywasbegun.
AndwiththatinstantCarolrealizedthatitwasabadplayabominablyacted.
Encouragingthemwithlyingsmiles,shewatchedherworkgotopieces.
Thesettingsseemedflimsy,thelightingcommonplace.
ShewatchedGuyPollockstammerandtwisthismustachewhenheshouldhavebeenabullyingmagnate;VidaSherwin,asGrimm'stimidwife,chatterattheaudienceasthoughtheywereherclassinhigh–schoolEnglish;Juanita,intheleadingrole,defyMr.Grimmasthoughshewererepeatingalistofthingsshehadtobuyatthegrocerythismorning;EllaStowbodyremark"I'dlikeacupoftea"asthoughshewerereciting"CurfewShallNotRingTonight";andDr.Gould,makinglovetoRitaSimons,squeak,"My—my—you—are—a—won'erful—girl."
MyrtleCass,astheoffice–boy,wassomuchpleasedbytheapplauseofherrelatives,thensomuchagitatedbytheremarksofCyBogart,inthebackrow,inreferencetoherwearingtrousers,thatshecouldhardlybegotoffthestage.
OnlyRaymiewassounsociableastodevotehimselfentirelytoacting.
ThatshewasrightinheropinionoftheplayCarolwascertainwhenMilesBjornstamwentoutafterthefirstact,anddidnotcomeback.
VI
Betweenthesecondandthirdactsshecalledthecompanytogether,andsupplicated,"Iwanttoknowsomething,beforewehaveachancetoseparate.
Whetherwe'redoingwellorbadlytonight,itisabeginning.
Butwillwetakeitasmerelyabeginning?
Howmanyofyouwillpledgeyourselvestostartinwithme,rightaway,tomorrow,andplanforanotherplay,tobegiveninSeptember?"
Theystaredather;theynoddedatJuanita'sprotest:"Ithinkone'senoughforawhile.
It'sgoingeleganttonight,butanotherplay—Seemstomeit'llbetimeenoughtotalkaboutthatnextfall.Carol!
Ihopeyoudon'tmeantohintandsuggestwe'renotdoingfinetonight?
I'msuretheapplauseshowstheaudiencethinkit'sjustdandy!"
ThenCarolknewhowcompletelyshehadfailed.
AstheaudienceseepedoutsheheardB.J.GougerlingthebankersaytoHowlandthegrocer,"Well,Ithinkthefolksdidsplendid;justasgoodasprofessionals.ButIdon'tcaremuchfortheseplays.
WhatIlikeisagoodmovie,withautoaccidentsandhold–ups,andsomegittoit,andnotallthistalky–talk."
ThenCarolknewhowcertainshewastofailagain.
Shewearilydidnotblamethem,companynoraudience.Herselfsheblamedfortryingtocarveintagliosingoodwholesomejack–pine.
"It'stheworstdefeatofall.I'mbeaten.ByMainStreet.'Imustgoon.'ButIcan't!"
ShewasnotvastlyencouragedbytheGopherPrairieDauntless:
...wouldbeimpossibletodistinguishamongtheactorswhenallgavesuchfineaccountofthemselvesindifficultrolesofthiswell–knownNewYorkstageplay.
GuyPollockastheoldmillionairecouldnothavebeenbetteredforhisfineimpersonationofthegruffoldmillionaire;Mrs.HarryHaydockastheyoungladyfromtheWestwhosoeasilyshowedtheNewYorkfour–flusherswheretheygotoffwasavisionoflovelinessandwithfinestagepresence.
MissVidaSherwintheeverpopularteacherinourhighschoolpleasedasMrs.Grimm,Dr.Gouldwaswellsuitedintheroleofyounglover—girlsyoubetterlookout,rememberthedocisabachelor.
ThelocalFourHundredalsoreportthatheisagreathandatshakingthelightfantastictootsiesinthedance.
AsthestenographerRitaSimonswasprettyasapicture,andMissEllaStowbody'slongandintensivestudyofthedramaandkindredartsinEasternschoolswasseeninthefinefinishofherpart.
...tonooneisgreatercredittobegiventhantoMrs.WillKennicottonwhosecapableshouldersfelltheburdenofdirecting.
"Sokindly,"Carolmused,"sowellmeant,soneighborly—andsoconfoundedlyuntrue.Isitreallymyfailure,ortheirs?"
Shesoughttobesensible;sheelaboratelyexplainedtoherselfthatitwashystericaltocondemnGopherPrairiebecauseitdidnotfoamoverthedrama.
Itsjustificationwasinitsserviceasamarket–townforfarmers.
Howbravelyandgenerouslyitdiditswork,forwardingthebreadoftheworld,feedingandhealingthefarmers!
Then,onthecornerbelowherhusband'soffice,sheheardafarmerholdingforth:
"Sure.CourseIwasbeaten.
Theshipperandthegrocersherewouldn'tpayusadecentpriceforourpotatoes,eventhoughfolksinthecitieswerehowlingfor'em.
Sowesays,well,we'llgetatruckandship'emrightdowntoMinneapolis.
Butthecommissionmerchantstherewereincahootswiththelocalshipperhere;theysaidtheywouldn'tpayusacentmorethanhewould,noteveniftheywasnearertothemarket.
Well,wefoundwecouldgethigherpricesinChicago,butwhenwetriedtogetfreightcarstoshipthere,therailroadswouldn'tletushave'em—eventhoughtheyhadcarsstandingemptyrighthereintheyards.
Thereyougotit—goodmarket,andthesetownskeepingusfromit.
Gus,that'sthewaythesetownsworkallthetime.
Theypaywhattheywanttoforourwheat,butwepaywhattheywantustofortheirclothes.
StowbodyandDawsonforecloseeverymortgagetheycan,andputintenantfarmers.
TheDauntlessliestousabouttheNonpartisanLeague,thelawyersstingus,themachinery–dealershatetocarryusoverbadyears,andthentheirdaughtersputonswelldressesandlookatusasifwewereabunchofhoboes.Man,I'dliketoburnthistown!"
Kennicottobserved,"There'sthatoldcrankWesBranniganshootingoffhismouthagain.Gosh,buthelovestohearhimselftalk!Theyoughttorunthatfellowoutoftown!"
VII
Shefeltoldanddetachedthroughhigh–schoolcommencementweek,whichisthefeteofyouthinGopherPrairie;throughbaccalaureatesermon,seniorParade,juniorentertainment,commencementaddressbyanIowaclergymanwhoassertedthathebelievedinthevirtueofvirtuousness,andtheprocessionofDecorationDay,whenthefewCivilWarveteransfollowedChampPerry,inhisrustyforage–cap,alongthespring–powderedroadtothecemetery.
ShemetGuy;shefoundthatshehadnothingtosaytohim.Herheadachedinanaimlessway.
WhenKennicottrejoiced,"We'llhaveagreattimethissummer;movedowntothelakeearlyandwearoldclothesandactnatural,"shesmiled,buthersmilecreaked.
Intheprairieheatshetrudgedalongunchangingways,talkedaboutnothingtotepidpeople,andreflectedthatshemightneverescapefromthem.
Shewasstartledtofindthatshewasusingtheword"escape."
Then,forthreeyearswhichpassedlikeonecurtparagraph,sheceasedtofindanythinginterestingsavetheBjornstamsandherbaby.
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