Show I Proof of the Pudding o o 6 o o o-o o o By 0 O. O Henry I Spring winked a I vitreous optic at Editor of ot the Minerva p Magazine and him from t his Ills course lie had lunched in his favorite corner of or a n Broadway hotel hold I and was ws returning to lo his office when his feet became ent entangled in the lure of or tho the vernal coquette Which Is ItS byway by byway wa way of oC saying that he hc tUrn turned d eastward eastward east east- ward word on Twenty sixth street safely 0 forded lorded the spring freshet of oC vehicles on Flit FIrth avenue and meandered along the Iho walks of or budding Madison Square 0 The lenient air nil and the tho setting Betting of or orthe the tho little park almost formed a a. pas pas- total the color motif was WM the green the presiding shade at tt t tho the creation of ot otman man and vegetation n. n I rho The callow grass griss between the walks walles was the color of ot verde a n poisonous green reen ent of or the tho the horde o of at I derelict hum humans that had breathed upon tinon the soil during the Iho summer and autumn The Tho bursting tree treo buds bud looi-cd looi ed strangely familiar to lo those who had among the R of nr th the fish course of oC a forty-cent forty dinner din din- lii- lii I ner ncr The sky sley above was wa-s of or that pale palt aquamarine tint that ballroom poets I rhyme with true tiu and Sue am and coo The The- Theana ono ana natural and frank franl color visible was the ot ostensible green greer of the newly painted a benches a shade shad between the color of or a pickled cucumber ber and that of ot a u. la last t years year's fast black tte raincoat t But to the thc city bred eye of or Editor Westbrook tnt tee appe appeared a n masterpiece And now whether you jou are of ot those who rush lush In in or of oC the concourse con tm course that thai fears to tread you mus must follow in n a brief brier Invasion of or the edItors edItor's editors editor's editors editor's ed ed- ed- ed mind Editor Westbrook's spirit was contended contended con con- tended and serene The April number of or the tho Minerva had hati old Hold Its Us edition before the Iho tenth day of ot th the month month month-a si In Keokuk had ha I written that he could havo o sol sold 1 flU fifty Pt I I copies more if it he ho had hl had em cm Th The t owners oWner of the the- m magazine had raised his the editors editor's salary he had just Installed in hi his home a Jewel of or r a recently Imported impelled d cool cook who was was was' ca afraid of ot policemen and ond the morning papers had published in full tun a speed speech he had hat made at nt a publishers publishers' banquet ban han Also there were echoing in ir hi his mind the thc Jubilant notes of or a n. splendid splendid did son song that his hii charm charming in young oun wife wiCe hall had sung to him before ho he left lefi I his ul uptown town apartment that morning She was taking enthusiastic interest In her music of late laie practicing early carb and diligently When hen he lie had compU- compU her on the improvement in ir her voice she had tl fairly I rl hugged binfor him bin for tor ju joy nt ot hi his He lie C felt ll too toc th the benl benign n. n tonic medicament of ot the trained nurse Spring softly the wards of oC the convalescent city cit While Editor Westbrook was Vo sauntering satin satin- between the tho rows of oC park b benches nhE already alread filling illing- with vagrants grants and tho the guardians of or lawless childhood childhood childhood child- child I hood he lie foil felt hl his sleeve slee grasped and held Suspecting cUng that he was about I to be panhandled ho turned a n cold coldI t I and unprofitable to fate face e and saw that his cap captor tar was Dawe was Dawe Dawe dingy almost rag rag- ragged raged ed the gen gen- en- en teel ted scarcely visible in him through h the tho deeper leeper lines Jines of or tho the shabby While hUe the tle editor i is pulling puUing himself out of or his his his' surprise a flashlight ht blog- blog raphy of ot Is offered He lie was a fiction writer and anti one ono of or old acquaintances At one ont time lime they might have called each other old friends had some somo mone money in those days and lived U In ina a decent apartment house houge near West West- est brooks brook's The Tho two families families often orten went to theatres and and dinners together Mrs Mis Dawe and Mrs Westbrook became became be be- came caine dearest friends Then one day dar a little tentacle of the octopus just to amuse itself Dawe's Dawes capital and nd he moved mo to the tho Cramer y Park neighborhood where one oneo for tor a few groats per week ma may sit upon ones one's trunk under eight eight- branched chandeliers and opposite Carrara marble m mantels and watch I the thc mice pin play upon the tho floor Ioor Dawe thought to live lire b by writing fiction Jetton Now ow and then he sold a a. story He i submitted man many to Westbrook The 1 Minerva a printed one or two of them th the rest were returned Westbrook I I sent a careful and an conscientious personal personal per per- letter with each rejected manuscript manu- manu per per-I script pointing out in detail his reasons reasons reasons rea rea- rea- rea sons for Cor considering it unavailable I I Editor Westbrook had his own clear conception of ot what constituted good I fiction So had Dawe Daive Mrs Dawe J was mainly concerned about th the constituents con- con of or the scanty dishes of ot food tood 1 j I 1 that she managed manag-ed to scrape together Ono One day Dawe had been spouting to i I I her about aboul the excellencies of ot certain French writers At dinner they sat down to a dish that a hungry schoolboy schoolboy school school- boy hoy could have ha encompassed at a R. gulp Dawe Dave commented 0 Its Hs hash said ald Mrs Dawe e It may not be art but hut I r do wish you vou would do a five course Marion Marjon Cr CI tord serial with nn nl Ella W VII co x sonnet for dessert fm rm Hungry J 0 As far tar as this thi from Crom success was Shackleford Da Dawe we when he he plucked Editor Westbrook's sleeve ve In Madison Square That was th the first time thE eltor had seen Dawe in several Jc months h Shade Shack I is This thle you OU 7 said Westbrook somewhat awkwardly awkward for tor forthe forthe the form arm of oC his phrase sc scented to touch upon the others other's changed ap- ap S Sit down for tor a minute said Dawe I tugging at his sleeve This Is my office I cant can't come ome to yours looking I I as I do Oh sit down you down you wont won't bo be I disgraced Those half halt plucked birds birdson on the other benches will take you I for a swell porch climber The They wont won't know you ou are arc only an editor Smoke Shack said Editor W Westbrook Westbrook West West- brook sinking cautiously I upon the tho st-I st virulent nt green bench He always alwn's yielded gracefully when he ho did yield Dawe Daw I snapped sn at the cigar as a I kingfisher darts at I t a or a I girl girt necks nt at a n chocolate cream I 1 have ha just just- began the editor I Never mind the regrets said ald Dawe grimly Theres Theros neither salve salvo 1 nor sting sUnS In em cm nn any more marc What Whit I r I j want tb know is wh why Come now I out with the good points first I The Tho story said Westbrook I after aCter a 1 suppressed sigh Is 1 written around nn an almost original plot Characterization the tho h best st you ou I have done Construction Construction almost almost as asgood good except for tor a few rew weak joints I which might be strengthened b by a afew few tew changes and touches It was was' a 01 good story except except- I II I 1 can cnn write En English cant can't I t interrupted inter inter- Inter Inter-I Dawe I have havo always told you OU said th the I II editor that you had a a. style I IThen I Then tho the trouble is the the the- I Same Sante old oM thing said Editor West West- West West-j I brook You work up to your climax I like Jlko an nn artist And then you OU turn yourself Into a n. photographer I dont don't know what form torm of oC obstinate madness a apo po possesses vou ou Shack but that is II what you ou do with everything vory that t you write I No o. o I t will retract th the comparison with j I tho the photographer No Now and then photograph photography pho pho- in spite spile of or its Impossible per pcr- manages to record a fleeting glimpse of truth But Bat t yoU ou spoil every I denouement lJ by those flat fiat drab S j I cratin orating crating strokes of ot your our brush that I j ha have hae e so often orten complained of or If It you Ou I j i j would rise to the literary pinnacle of ot your dramatic scenes and paint them 0 in the high colors that are arc required tho postman would lea leave t fewer bUlk bulky S self addressed envelopes at your door i Oh fiddles and footlights footlights' cried i i Dawl Dasse derisively Youve YOU got that old j 1 sawmill drama dramn kink in your our brain yet S j j When the man with tho the black mustache mus mus- j tache tactic kidnaps haired golden-haired Bessie Dessle you you are aie bound hound to have the mother j kneel and ral raise e her hands In the spot spot- S j light and ga say Ma May high heaven witness witness wit wit- S I ness that I t will rest neither night nOlOI not nor I cIa day till the heartless villain that has hat s i stolen me roe child feels the w weight of at a a mothers mother's I Editor Westbrook conc conceded a n. smile a-smile of ot Impervious Iou complacency n I think said he that in real life Ute the woman would express herself herselt In those words or In very cry similar one ones Not In a a. six hundred nights' nights run i anywhere but on tho the stage said Dawe hoU hotly Ill ln tell ten you OU what shed she'd say in real life Ute Shed She'd say What Bessie led Jed away by hy a strange man Good GoodLord GoodLord Lord Its It's ts t's ono one trouble after another I Get m my other hat I must hurry lUrry around to tho the police pollee station Why hasn't I somebody been looking after aCter her Id I'd like to know For Gods God's Godske sake ke get out outI j I of my wa way or Ill I'll never ne get ready reach Not Nol that hat the hat the brown one with the vel- vel clI elvet vet ivet I bows Bessie must have been I I I crazy she's sho's usually shy of ot s ers S Is that too much powder Lord How I Im I'm upset the way shed she'd talk continued con con- 0 Dawe People In real life lite dont don't fly Into heroics and and ancI blank verse erse at emotional crises They simply cant can't do it If It they talk at nil all on such occasions occasions oc occasions oc- oc 0 they draw from the same vocabulary vo- vo that they use eyer every ery da day and anci 0 muddle up their words and ideas a 0 little more that's all Editor Westbrook looked at his I watch with an affected show of ot leisure Tell Ten me asked Da Dawe Dae e with truculent truculent truculent lent anxiety what hat especial faults In inThe i The Tho Alarum of ot the 1 Soul caused you OU i to throw throw- it down 7 When Gabriel Murray said WestI West West- Westbrook West West- S brook goes goc to his telephone and Is 19 I told that his fiancee has been shot h by bya I I a burglar he says says sl'S I do not recall the I exact words but butI butI but but- I I do said Enid Da lawe c He says s 's Dawn i I j Central sho always cuts me off oCt And nd then to his friend Say SM Tommy does docs I j a two thirty bullet make a 11 big hiS holo hole l I tits tit's Its It's kind hind of oC hard luck Juck aint It Could j I you ou get me a 0 drink from the thc s1 sideboard Tommy No straight nothing on the I side I And again continued the editor without pausing for argument when I I Berenice opens the letter from her husband husband hus- hus j i band informing her that he has fled I with tho the manicure girl Irl her words word arc are i I I let let me mo se see see see- I I I She Sho says interposed the th author I 4 Well Yell what hat do think you OU of ot that thatA I A Absurdly y Jn Inappropriate I words 5 81 said Ie j i i I 0 S I Westbrook presenting an anticlimax plunging the story into hopeless pathos Worse yet ct they life liCe S falsely No 0 human being ever uttered 0 0 banal colloquialisms when confronted by S tragedy Wrong said Dawe closing his unI un unshaven unshaven un- un 0 I shaven sha jas Jaws Isa Isay no man manor or woman ever spouts high t talk lalk when the thc they go up against a real real I climax They talk naturally and iah a little worse The editor rose from crom tho the 1 bench with with 1 I his air all of oC Indulgence and inside In iri S formation f r t 1 Sa Say said bald Dawe pinning pin pin- ning him by hy the lapel would you ou have haie S I accepted The Alarum of ot the Iho Soul I I y you u had bud beU believed ed that the acU actions ns and andI i I words of tho the chara characters w were re true to 0 i me In the parts at the story t tY ry that we I discussed I J 4 41 4 I 1 I It is very likely that I r would If Jt I 1 I believed cd that that way said the editor But I 1 have h explained to you OU that i do not nol I I If It 1 I T could prove to you Ou that I am right Im sorl sorry Shack but Im I'm afraid I I haven't enl time to argue any further just s. s now no I don dont don't want to argue said Dawe I I I I want to demonstrate to you ou from froma i a life lite itself that m my v view ew I Is the correct one one How could you do that asked d I j I Westbrook ook In a surprised tone I II I Listen sal said the writer seriously I I I I have thought of ot a L wa way It is Important important im- im 1 to me that m theory of oC my trueS true- true i i S 1 to life fiction be he recognized as correct b by the magazines Ive I've ought fought for it I I for Cor three years and Im I'm down to my I I I last dollar with two months' months rent due I I have applied the tite opposite of ot yourI your I theor theory said sald the Iho editor in selecting i I tho fiction for tor tho the Minerva Miners Magazine I j I 1 The circulation has gone up from I I ninety thousand to to- to I I Four Tour hundred thousand said Dawe i Whereas it should have havo been boosted I I i ito to 10 I to a a. million I I I I i I I 1 I You s said ld something to lo mo me Just now about I about aboul demonstrating your our pet theor theory I I 1 will it If you'll give I c me about bou 1 haltan halt half jan an hour of or your time Ill I'll prove it to toj toI j I you OU that I 1 am right Ill I'll prove pro it by Louise I Your wife wICe exclaimed Westbrook How S. S I I Well not nOl exactly b by her but with I her said Dawe Now you know how 1 I devoted dc and loving 10 Louise Louisa has always been She thinks Im I'm the only JenuIno genuino Jenu- Jenu ino inc preparation on the market marlet that i bears the old doctors doctor's signature Sho's She's been fonder tonder and more more faithful than ever I ever since Ive I've been cast for tho the neglected nei ne- ne i J genius part Indeed sh she Is a a. charming and admirable ad admirable ad- ad mirable life liCe companion agreed tho the I editor I remember what inseparable I friends she and Mrs once were We Ve aro are both bolh lucky chaps Shack to lo have havo such wives You must bring brin I Mrs Airs DaWe up some even evening In soon toon and well we'll l have o a ono of oC those informal chatIn chat chat- In Ing dish dish suppers that we used to cn- cn Joy Jo- Joso so much I Later said ald Dawe When I got get an- an other otner shirt And nd now nowr Ill I'll tell toll you my scheme When I was about to leave lea homo home after breakfast it If you jou can enn call J tea and oatmeal breakfast Louls c Louise told tolt me she was going to visit her aunt In Eighty Eighty- ninth street She Sho said she would return home at nt three o'clock She Sho is Js always on limo to a H minute It IB le now now now- glanced to toward ud the editors editor's watch pocket Twenty seven minutes to three said ald I t I j scanning his |