Show - - -- - ' - - - ' "a - aa'a“'aaan'aVaPa"a'' "4 - - t (4t: -- greoldrra 11112e Se 1711ing Or tiVriioguill t( --- TO j Ttlie Salt gake rtibutte Tr e 1111 g 5ttonoy - 170)L12 'A pro pie Chicago tgo --- fhr 45 I lt ' M - - c i A o ' I iced :5 : (il A I el Itill 1:- oio lit t 1 11 ' ed h yp r 9 two-edg- ed —" flat-topp- ed red-viol- ets " tow-head- ed Cha racterizatton mmlállo By Enviromnent d ed s of enjoy m an tha serv Dd In :e 1 t i'- Yo at Co fur-nitu- re - - i " ' t 0 i ' 4i t 1 v By Professor I A Quivey It always interests us very much when one of our amateurs uses some one method of characterization almost to the exclusion of all others as has the writer of today's story The Method used is the full liresen- tation of a person t- - eilas 11'1'4‘ I v ( Stronger Role' esults From Iiect Method I registered filling requirement in a grand class in stage design It was a stimulating experience but as September moved into October and November ambled in their wake I began to longer for something and the indefinable-hungtook the edge from my delight in the new contacts I was forming The days were so much alike only the ocean was restless and changing As often as I could afford it I went to the beaches I didn't realize then that the thin air of the high valleys and the deep silences of the mountain wintera were calling me home It was the middle of Decemher The ache inside restress well-meani- ng -- kiti ice -4"- I MEN and folks no longer compared us I went to California to school last — year d I puttered around with courses-I'wanted to take in col lege but hadn't because of group- ' tl ' ' ' ' "-14 V k't iii:sy ' 1 ' -- v t40 - 1 34I f 1 ' - ' By this is meant not only the influence which the character has era" - ng pine-scente- j r 4) "Oerl qt1' -1 eciedfi®flll "Mimi this is Penelope I've been telling you about Penelope ber MeriamBishop?" Cal Streeter smiled his wide lazy grin that included N44 both of us and a stretch of the Pacific 1) "How do you do I'm sure" said Penelope with detached politeness '' jot e "How do you do" I said inanely just like that and it was over (1 tlik 0E4- Penelope! At last—Penelope in the flesh! I was suadenly far from 1 lire-ithe lond curious docks where all sorts of folks sit for hours in the Cali"toe"' achieve a contented bite IA1fr when contented fornia sun patiently fishing they 1 I ' moo: urtr on on the docks only increased my end hours sit to waiting just 0' A memory of the smell of thin mountain air washed out the fish and impatience and the dank churning 00(0 sea made me remember the frantic - the Pacif tic and the warm wetness and the indifferently bathed humanity 4 sweet-smellilittle streams we had 01 ' ' and I saw the uneven skyline of a 'hilly country Most of us who are born- fished as kids I was so preoccuin the shadows of the mountains and breathe firstt the thin air of the high Jo( ' 4 pied with my thoughts that Cal 40'1"valleys feel ourselves forever set a little apart Many of us break away Streeter had hammered my shoulder and live our lives in the towns of the river and prains states or in the 1 to splinters before I could recover 11! feel of the nostalgia 4 ' compelling throngs of coastal cities but we always myself and fend the blows of his k i that we may return or''''' itit 4 the wanderer and there are some of us who travel clumsy paws "Mimi Bishop" he was shouting canyon again and feel the dry keen air and breathe the N the wide Pacific "wouldn't I s winds and know that we have come back to our own 4 I'l I know I'd find you in some spot like 4 ' I was born in one of the little f : this Are you inviting your soul?" t looiif14 valleys that nestle at the foot of ) t t'''N Re held his nose in an elegant geshad to worry about her at all How c0 the lofty Rockies another was the : ture of invitation are you getting on? l'ifad any trou- location of the college that gradu- "Shut up Cal you'll scare away ‘11‘ ' ated me with no honors but much ble? Let me know if I can help the barracuda or whatever they for' do can I to the Glad In still anything t conceit and more humility 1 I begged I was really pleased ! are" I teachers hated new By George another similar little valley I taught as punch to see that lazy loudsee to Wonderful be0 and there Penelope go my education really mouthed pal of my pigtail days teacher that girl Splendid per-fo- re gan There Penelope had been be- "What are you doing in Los AnGood luck Keep the sonality And there I found the me geles? Given up the orchard?" $' In- Don't hand them let get upper of thistles Penelope's strewing "Yes I gave that up three years Arid from the away principal she how you" roughnocent Penelope but Cal's voice had taken oh its ' ago" out bustled now even ened up the way I can confidential tones that were like Sometime in the first week one feel the soggy pillow made wet thunder "Nobody of the speech students a small with tears shed in the safe confines thought the orchard was a good idea I know now why undernourished boy with freckles of the night but you and me And when you the - and a great earnestness told me preciousknowledge pains so atcornwanted to spend your youth bendcan't time even that Miss Gill had never asked them getting but ing somebody else's twigs the way It to keep it speech journal I suppletely obliterate the memory should go I couldn't hold out IC'o-they pose it was the way he said it— something else than time that '' alone" ' as if since Penelope Gill hadn't 4 does the trick "I'm sorry Cal you have a way asked for a speech journal it was with trees" I remembered the Torthree days I had been search- k to so do heresy The hotel — Ing for a place to live I1111' a li peaches and apples and dusty purple 1 it I lost my head for I fairly barked 111 plums that had paid Cal's way though pleasant ate into my capital iil 1 "Is that so? Well I am not Miss as loneliness ate into my vitals through agricultural college 4I is h My Gill!" mouth watered for one of his big School would start on Monday and I after1 late Sunday It was already and I Afterward I couldn't remember if green winter pearmains a noon The two days of institute 1 thought of the woody substances I I had imagined hearing those star-ti0V 0 otrAtarl AlillttfriNrS had tired and thrilled me to nervous II i 1011 paid 10 cents for children say they knew I was "I've gone into the store with So it was with a reso- distraction not Miss Gill or if I had actually if t dad We're doing swell too" luteness to be pleased at almost any heard it "You'd do all right I know Cal cost that I rang the bell of the neat By the second week of school I two-stor- y rock house the last ad- Every kid in town loved you" was beginning to feel less strange dress on the list given me by the "With each switch of the willow I told her what I thought of ornery cay"Every kid in town but one did" and could identify many of my stuCal grinned looking at me There tuses with tricks" high school principal dents The small freckled lad was was no trace of hurt so I grinned "Miss Gill lived with me for four Soren Miller one of a large and too landlady was maddenbrilliant was The Miss It years" my might-b- e "Yes he said "there strangely family boy Bishop" "I'm married now you know" came in to tell me he was sorry for saying after she had ushered me of in these parts ing is a lot acorns said Cal "We're here on our way "Do into her immaculate hallway Autumn that year was bewitchhaving angered me and remained They fatten up a hog beautiful to to Honolulu She reminded me a me a little You her? know to put tell me that Penelope Gill was you see ing seductive enchanting It seemed Say Miss Bishop you pig little bit of you so I said 'Will was a she of her mind in though me in mind o' someone I used to that every force of nature conspired responsible for his being in school you?' and here we are Oh here really: pretty- girl" to adorn the face of the land in its know" "You know Miss Bishop Miss she is now—been buying souvenirs most canwas The There it could feel I Al a sensitive child I had wept Gill inspired me right out o' the transcending beauty again and junk" ' were such riotous with It at color and compliyons hall I was in right into school" coming bitterly pool Somehow knew I Even before ments but now I only smiled somethe naked expanse of blue slate rock "I 'don't think you exactly look Soren confided "I never cared Cal said to me I 'knew anything beabove the scrub oak and aspen that what wearily I think "I don't much for school until Gift looked just likelier but something only "Mimi this is Penelope I've been nestled at its base made our grand lieve I know Miss Gill" at me with them limpid brown eyes Tilly Gill was--uhtelling you about Penelope reold mountain breath-takin- g "What was that name again in its "I called her Penelope She asked o' hers and here I am I flunked member Meriam Bishop?" Cal loveliness Across the canyon the was rne to said it made her feel less In chemistry and physiology so I please?" Curiosity overcoming Streeter smiled his wide lazy grin Gill Miss showed better after high being could come back and have her for my plateau judgment spinsterish that included us both and some of every shade of the spectrum through all day Not that anyone ever would Guess I'll graduate "Tilly We always called Gilly speech again the Pacific " yellow of aspen leaves to the deep have thought of Penelope as a spincome spring and shock or Free'Tilly' "How do you do I'm sure?" said of oak leaves in the ster This is her bedroom Nice mont int' a collodial solution" I "Why?" Penelope detached and polite shade And In the valley the rip"You know 'Tilly the Toiler'? think I wept unto the baggy conbig windows plenty sunshine" "How do you do?" I said inanely ened grain heads gossiped with the Well Gilly always wanted every"How is it heated? I'll have to ' just like that and it was over fessor Jen's Pete called my pillow autumn she wind bendand and to saw she toiled a 'til and have for the first time that night I really swayed study evenings" thing place Well almost over What I called ed as the breeze whispered through she got it so we called bet 'Tilly' don't know why I couldn't see myself accomplish"ironical justice" kept muddling me stalks the and the yellow of the Simple?" ing much sharing a work table on Friday of the second week up but we conversed with respectfields deepened into gold and amHere was a new angle on a curiwith my companion her meek little able deportment student body gave a Cal completely the ber In the shadows of the drifting ous coincidence that had so afhusband whom I had glimpsed as oblivious to the chilly atmosphere dance Mr Bernsen clbuds I fected couldn't life Alta we climbed the stairs and the two in my He told me that I was expected to obviously enjoyed having Even with Penelope haunting me or three decide what Emmet Peterson really youngsters I attend all social functions and to brought together two girls he really a like or of and But I in wraith the yard lovely hopeful good thought Penelope passed We liked see thid sucthe with was a help parted polite and party was happy Some of my students bad my slight resemblance hung "Penelope had this other room feminine mutterings about getting cess So I lined up with the girls were to albaabout like the neck her my responding she used as a sitting room Come my teaching the and rest of the faculty women sometime Cal's such together and one or two of them offered shy tross see it It has a stove I have to on one side of the gymnasium and grand company in small doses I remind of Miss were that friendships "SQI you very charge extra for it though Twentysevprecious marched around the room to meet a forgot to be properly obsequious to me Several times I would meet do I?" for the bedroom and en-fifty abbut Honolulu similar line of boys and men until one or two of them walkor went on the T'Yep" board and two and a half extra if groups "Tilly boy Time needs a little help in some the music changed from march to hills toward a we and the too She bedroom rode Your room her temper would ing Baldy you want this cases to heal old wounds but I waltz time was a My partner on to once and she took a club go her and Is right above ours Penelope was together and my satisfaction still think I'll do Penelope some of teacher whom I had met very swore like a trooper It was sure deepened when I learned that Penelreal considerate Just as quiet and that bodily harm I contemplated at a institute whirled Wei briefly beautiful to hear 'Tilly' made a ope never walked where she couldn't ladylike all the time You do put few times before he said "Penelope early in my pedagogical career if ride If mistake she kicked when that me some in mind of Penelope nag she isn't decent to Cal Streeter that Gill any relation of yours?" on Saturday afternoon a group in the belly though 'cause Baldy's your hair was brighter and curly good egg she married I al"No" said I But of "Why?" on rode so awful horseback ticklish brushed thin She wasn't young people and your face 'Tilly' you'd ready knew before he answered to the elk pens which had been Off right in front of the high school look like her What did you say "You built like look on that low branch that hangs over her high up in the hills In the something your name is?" winter the elk were driven into Great girl Penelope She was the block 'A' on the lawn There "I'm Meriam Bishop Mr Bernthese corrals and fed to keep the was one teacher I really didn't sen didn't tell me tour name" I plenty fun I've been missing her herds from starving when natural but if you're as much like her as mind" spoke a bit sharply as I felt a little I was just a little desperate in you look at times maybe it won't grazing was Impossible due to heavy nettled at the slight emphasis on be so bad" He gave me an exsnowfall It was the first riding I an amused sort of way Every "Penelope" and "ladylike" as if A subtle and difficult mode of had done since college and I was ploratory but definitely enthusiastic this woman were judging me to right thing I did recalled Penelope characterization is the presentation as little squeeze Just then the music and who could do them just a little eager as a kid at my discredit simply because I hapChristmas The horse I had howbetter I made a fool of myself changed to a march again of a person bymeans pf his intimate pened to remind her of Penelope ever was almost blind in one eye I was a little bewildered Peand still I reminded people of Pebut I also 'felt if she were as honest surroundings and belongings Proand she had a way of favoring her In everything as she was in speaking' nelope was to say the least getting nelope She could even "cuss" betL A Quivey tells short story fessor bad I of am in at hair one I ter sure the than I could the' I me her of had my eye rider expense her opinion Only thing nothing people I met That old writers mean to didn't would be unkind in sidle up canny nag to lose and I was anxious to be had done that bested her and that ' letting me know that in their opinto a low hanging branch and sudwas to stay on Baldy That worthy settled It is said that a wealthy man ion I was a pale shadow beside was acting like a cherub and she: denly dart under it and then act "My name's Petra Jensen but upon being begged by his twin 15- for all the world the part of girlish this girl I so slightly but unfortubehaved herself like a lady from folks call me Jens Pete I've got d children a boy and a girl year-olinnocence I was some way behind I had already two cousins named Petra Jensen" then on For the rest of the trip I nately resembled to and furnish rooms for sithe rest of the party: One-eyformed an opinion of my late partEmmet tactful with assign she went on to explain "though encouraged ner and it wasn't complimentary lences in the right places I guess not one of us married kinfolk They Baldy had very nearly brushed me them in his largeitosse assented 0' off a half dozen times "Finally4 to him That he so obviously hoped that would be called sabotage now call Petra Hansen Jensen Han's and proceeded to choose two rooms in exasperation I snatched a willow I'd be like Penelope wasn't exbut I learned a few bits about PePete and Olin Jensen's wife Hay-bo- w approximately the same in all parfrom a hanging limb and proceeded Jen's Pete sometimes just nelope that Jen's Pete couldn't have actly complimentary to her Conto lay on my wily mount With ticulars to redecorate them alike fusion was getting all mixed up known And I justified myself Haymow Pete" as nearly as possible to buy each switch of the willow I told with that other green-eye- d emotion Rolph Willy gave me the last Suddenly I lost my sense of loneI wouldn't admit rugs etc exact duplicates her what I thought of ornery cayclear picture I had of Penelope I liness Here in Alta men and womand in every way to make the uses with tricks Three other partners that evening I wai neither— never quite placed Rolpiu He was en earned a nickname and carried He proudly' rooms also twins delicate nor ladylike and certainly commented on my likeness to it through life just as they did at just a kid sensitive maladjusted turned them over to the two chilhandsome and curiously-youn- g and home I felt one with these Petra my vocabulary was unbecoming to a Penelope All of them let me feel I wasn't quite so much of every-- Old Baldy looked school ma'rm old for his years He was much too dren very well satisfied with his Jensen& Myown mother has been success to back over her shoulder in dumone of two Hannah Bishops and taste in suit masculine thing as she but that there was a my pretty Several months later an old resemblance founded astonishment When Mrs Bernsen attractions even if he'd been of an But she it seemed natural that mother was friend was visiting with him and told me on the way home that I "Brook Hannah" because of the tiny wasn't any more nonplused than I age to be interesting to me Rolph he boasted of the great similarity didn't look so Well in blue as Penelhad fancied himself in love with when to my horror I heard perstream running through our land of the rooms Calling the children Black Hannah has the blackest hair ope she fanned a slight smoldering fectly untoly shrieks of mirth Penelope and from the rather disinto flame from the thicket behind connected and affected phrases he Ilk directed them to put their rooms and eyes of anyone in town and coming : in order and remove all signs of That night ' as I hung my sudme used when he spoke of her she one of the kindest hearts sex such as skirts trousers and When the witness to my undoing Grandmother had been High Ellen hadn't completely discouraged his denly odious blue dress away in the back of the closet I accidentally other intimate belongings Then he because she 'was tall' I began to caught up with me I didn't know fancy To me Rolph was at once and the friend inspected the rooms knocked a small box off the shelf if I should feel relief or greater ridiculous and pathetic I reminded wonder how Haymow Jens got his Without hesitation the friend said I brought it into the light to exhim of the "woman of his dreams" name I smiled and told Jen's Pete chagrin to discover be was a boy which room belonged to the boy who had been graduated from high amine it It was empty but for but I'm sure he didn't realize how I'd take the rooms which to the girl some torn shreds of a letter The school two years before One-eye- d much he revealed in his effort to If there were ever a teacher whose This is a very elementary exammake me understand his blighted largest piece a triangular fragment aldy belonged to his father Emfirst day - were not a nightmare Wherever the Portions and met Peterson was a bright youth of very good stationery bore these life and embryonic tragedy and ple rising to haunt the serenest dream brash and pleased with himself words "Beloved Penelope—Adora-blwhat an angel Penelope was fittings of any environment can be I'd like to look on her' in wonder moved changed or molded in any "Miss Bishop" he said "you- cuss In the years that followed I often one—I kiss-- -" e In a shock of Mr Bernsen my principal was kind manner the person living inlike a gentleman" einbarressment for the author of it thought of Penelope Gill She was but harrowed When'Monday mornthem is bound to is surely a lot of said I'd to "There I among onto over I he tossed dashed down the timately many was many people things epistle revealing nearly ing on that environhimself which to acorns these was liked have in emulated a that ashes Emmet still red little in the little imprint potand roont my parts" whispered to my ment as a whole and so vividly a bright boy and after a minute she was to some ot them I loathed bellied stove I went to sleep with breathlessly gnd not a little audibly: After a that it takes very little discernwhat she was tb others he grinned and played up to my the clock ticking over and over "Miss Bishop I forgot you Miss ment to read the clues while I earned a place for myself lead cl11had these classes and I never - )ur - - - ir- - ! rho ' --- - remem- equ - - Tribune Short Story By Marie Call Webb yll t- Penelope the and rigl I') f - ‘-- Nol II —August 25 1940 - i r-- ‘ r-- -- 6 Suaay Morning - 1 1 p 1 P 1 It t on those with v whom he associates but also all of the reactions which cc-cur in others men or animals' in con- sequence of con- - tact with the char-t- o icter which is be- - ing drawn 74" This kind of char- ' Prof Quiviy acterization seems to us one of the most economical of all which are commonly used Not only is the main character very clearly drawn by showing how others act and talk because he is present but also the secondary characters are qUite vividly shown by the difference in their reactions to this Some people will principal actor fall for the wiles of a skillful boaster and acknowledging his preeminence will become his abject followers while others will be disgusted and will go so far in the opposite direction as to avoid doing things which they would normally do just to show that they are not Influenced by him In these extremes the sort of peoplewhich each Is is clearly indicated as will also be those of the persons whose reactions 'lie in between these two limits Consequently in using "effect on others" one always is characterizing at least two people and thus saving a great deal of space in his story for otherpurposes so have the In this story we-alvery interesting thing of not only being giving copious examples of the effect of Penelope on the yeti- ous people of the school district into which Mariam goes to teach but we also have the reaction of Mariam to these reactions which is really a very much worthwhile extension of this form of characterization and which adds that much credit to the author In fact we think that this author has shown considerable subtlety in managing the two characters and in getting across an interesting love story in addition to giving us the conflict which is aroused in Matlam's breast by the false influence which Penelope has exercised over the patrons of her school This does bring up the subject of the management of subtle suggestions in story work We have had enough contact with beginners many story years of teaching the that we have come to know that remarkable to us quite a large proportion of the people attempting the short story have pretty good command of the subtle We have also found however that a good majority of those who can be subtle are quite inclined to be too subtle In other words to overreach themselves in trying to put over an idea to the reader by suggestion With all due respect to the people at large we do have to remind our writers from time to time that they are writing for a mass of beings whose average education does not pass eight grades for every college graduate reader whom we have we have ten who have finished only the eighth grade and one or two who stopped anywhere from the fourth Also grade on to the seventh there comes the question of mental capacity and it Is always wise for any writer who desires to attract a large following to adapt himself to the lower grade of readers whom he will have This is more possible II in story work than in any other form of cpmposition because there is or should be a very large emotional element in any story and there is no fundamental difference between the emotions of the savage the moron and the normal adult civilized man where the difference lies is in the inhibitions Now the inhibitions arise out of intellectual culture and it is in this field that the possibilities for subtle suggestion arise It is therefore very wise for the writer to be slightly obvious in 'his use of these knowing that even if he is quite obvious there - is going to be a lower stratum of his audience to which the suggestion is going to be more or less obscure There is a very subtle handling of the subtle which we want to recommend to the study of our authort: that is the presentation of the hints and suggestions so that they will seem to those who cannot ' get the meaning to mean just what the words literally say as in the rather obvious example "You thing that Hank Wise is a pretty fine man don't you? Well you didn't see him where I saw him last night" Now there is a portion of a normal reading audience which would not get the innuendo in this yet it whuld still have left the fiat statement that it did not see Wise where you saw him last night and there would break be no clan of obscurity-tIt is in this way that the interel uid he mpnarled so the that an 01e would grt something without any feeling of bafflement l' - 1I - "- intr o r" 1 1 r ) ‘ k - 6 i i ( ) I 1 ) 'r 41 |