Motion Picture Classic (Jan-Dec 1920)

CLASSIC The Silken Gloria (Co)itinued from page 17) up against the subject of marriage and divorce, tliose Gold Dust twins of discussion. Miss Swanson believes thoroly in marriage. Indeed, we strongly suspect she is about to try the problem personally. "One of the biggest fallacies of marriage," philosophized Miss Swanson, "is the idea that a couple should be of opposite temperaments. In reality, they must have similar interests, desires and hopes. "Ea«h must give and take. "There must be a basis of companionship when the glamor begins to wear thin. "Each must allow the other plenty of leeway. "Those are my ideas today. Of course, I revise my ideas daily. Indeed, I might have entirely different ones if you interviewed me tomorrow. You never can tell about me," admitted Miss Swanson. All of which goes to prove that she is typically feminine above all else — feminine from the tips of her dainty slippers to the glistening hat setting at just the proper angle of effectiveness. Woman is woman — and Gloria is Gloria. MINSTREL'S LAY By Walter E. Mair Sing mc a song of the high road. And the best road to go. From the town with its empty laughter To the land that I used to know; To the land full of sun, where the meadowlark's call Like to silver-sweet rain on my heart used to fall. Sing me a song of the far road, And the road fair to see, From the place of unending striving To the haunts of the droning bee; To the vale where the autumn gold gleams in the sun. And the twilight brings peace when the day's work is done. Sing me a song of the old road. And the one road I know, Where every traveler's a comrade, And the goal of his path is the glow Of home-keeping hearts that are waiting to give Their love to his longing, to help him to live! Aye, sing me a song of the high road. And the best road to go. HIS HERO By Minna Irving Our Buddy-boy is ten years old. His hero used to be A private w-ith a big black flag Who sailed the stormy sea, And made his captives walk the plank. And scuttled ships, I trow. But Buddy's changed ideals — it Is Charlie Chaplin now. He thought a bold bad bandit's life Was something very fine ; I took him to a movie show — This little chap of mine. With smudges on his tiny lip, A derby o'er his brow. He imitates his hero — it Is Charlie Chaplin now. /T'.inlii.ii-ihri'p 1 Millions oP People C3an Write Stories and Photoplays and Dorit Know It/ THIS is the startling assertion recently made by E. B. Davison of New York, one of the highest paid writers in the world. Is hir; astonishing statement true? Can it be possible there are countless thousands of people yearning to write, who really can and simply haven't found it out? Well, come to think of it, 'most anybody can tell a story. Why can't 'most anybody write a story? Why is writing supposed lo be a rare gift that few possess? Isn't this only another of the Mistaken Ideas the past has handed down to us? Yesterday nobody dreamed man could ^y. To-day he dives like a swallow ten thousand feet above the earth and laughs down at the tiny mortal atoms of his fellowmen below ! So Yesterday's "impossibility" is a reality to-day. "The time will come," writes the same authority, "when millions of people will be writers — there will be countless thousands of playwrights, novelists, scenario, magazine and newspaper writers — they are coming, coming — a whole new world of them!" And do you know what these writcrs-to-be arc doing now? Why, they are the men — armies of them — ycung and old, now doing mere clerical work, in ofilices, keeping books, selling merchandise, or even driving trucks, running elevators, street cars, waiting on tables, working at barber chairs, following the plow, or teaching schools in the rural districts; and women, young and old, by scores, now pounding typewriters, or standing behind counters, or running spindles in factories, bending over sewing machines, or doing housework. Yes — you may laugh — but these are the Writers of Tomorrow. For writing isn't only for geniuses as most people think. Don't you believe the creator gave yoti a story -writing faculty just as he did the greatest u*ritcrT Only maybe you are simply "bluffed" by the thought that you "haven't the gift," many people arc simply afraid to try. Or if they do try, and their first efforts don't satisfy, they simply give up in despair, and that ends it. They're through. Thfy never try again. Yet if, by some lucky chance, they had first learned the Bimple rules of writing, and then given the Imagination free rein they might have astonished the world! But two things are essential in order to become a writer. First, to learn the ordinary principles of writing. Second, to learn to exercise your faculty of Thinking. By exercising a thing you develop it. Your Imagination is something like your right arm. The more you use it the stronger it gets. The principles of writing are no more complex than the principles of spelling. arithmetiC( or any other simple thing that anybody knows. Writers learn to piece together a story as easily as a child sets up a miniature house with his toy blocks. It is amazingly easy after the mind grasps the simple "know how." A little study, a little patience, a little confidence, and the thing that looks hard turns out to be just as easy as it seemed difHcult. Thousands of people imagine they need a fine education in order to write. Nothing is farther from the truth. The greatest writers were the poorest scholars. People rarely learn to write at schools. They may get the principles there, but they really learn to write from the great, wide, open, boundless Book of Humanity! Yes, seething all around you, every day. every hour, every minute, in the whirling vortex — the flotsam and jetsam of Life — even in your own home, at work or play, are endless incidents for stories and plays — a wealth of material, a world of things happening. Every one of these has the seed of a story or play in it. Think! If you went to a fire, or saw an accident, you could come home and tell the folks a 1 I about it. Unconsciously you would describe it all very realistically. And if somebody stood by and wrote down exactly what you said, you'd be amazed to find your story would sound jus; LETTERS LIKE THIS ARE POURING IN! "With this volume before him, Uio vtTiest novict) should bo alilo to tnilJd Btoriee or pholoplaj'a that will OdiI a ready market. Ttie best treatise of its kind 1 have «ucountered in 2A yean of newspaper and literary work."^U. FIKRCB W E L L B B, JlANAGIN^i Eijitok.TueBinijhamton I'iiKsa, "I sold my first play In less than three weeks a/ter setting your book." — T H E L M A A L M Bit, Helena, Mont. "Mr. Irving has so simplified story and photoplay writing that anyone with ordmajy intelligence ouglit to master it Quickly I am having no trouble In selling my atoriea ajid plays now." — B, M. James, Dallas. Texas. "I have already sold a synopsis —written according to Mr. Irvtng'fl InstrucUons— for f5nn oo, and some short sketches for smaller siuna" — David Clahk, Portland, Orb. "Tour book opened* my eyes to great possibiUtiL-s. I recoiviid my first check t o d a y— $175.00." — H, Barlow, Lodisvillb, Ky, "It Is the most complete and practical book ever v^rilien on the subject of writing." — HaRky ScHTLTZ, Kitchen ED, Ont. "Th© book Is all, and more, than you claim It to be."— W. T Watson. Whitehall, N. Y. "1 am delighted vHlh the book bpyond the power of words to express." — Lade a Davis, Wknatchkb. Wash. Copyright, Lumlere Miss ITelena Chadwlck, versatile screen star, now leading lady for Tom Moora of Goldwyn Film Compajiy, says: Method of Hi plays with ea as interesting as many you've read in magazines or seen on the screen. Now, you will naturally say, "WcM if Writing is as simple as you say it is, why can't / learn to write? Who says you can't? Listen! A wonderful free book has recently been written on this very subject— a book that tells all about a Startling New Easy Method of Writing Stories and Photoplays. This amazing hook, called "The Wonder Book for Writers." shows how easily stories and plays are conceived, written perfected, sold. How many who don't drean\ they can writCj suddenly find it out. How the Scenario Kings and the Story Queens live and work. How bright men and women, without any special experience, learn to their own amazement that their simplest ideas may furnish brilliant plots for Plays and Stories. How one's own Imagination may provide an endless gold-mine of Ideas that bring Happy Success and Handsome Cash Royalties. How new writers get their names into print. How to tell if you arc a writer. How to develop your "story fancy," weave clever word-pictures and unique, thrilling, realistic plots. How your friends may be your worst judges. How to avoid discouragement and the pitfalls of Failure, How to winl This surprising book is absolutely free. No charge. No obligation. Your copy is waiting for you. Write for it now. Get it. It's yours. Then you can pour your whole soul into this magic new enchantment that has come into your life — story and play writing. The lure of it. the love of it, the luxury of it will fill your wasted hours and dull moments with profit and pleasure. You will have this noble, absorbing, money-making new profession! And all in your spare time, without interfering with your regular job. Who says you can't make "easy money" with your brain! Who says you can't turn your Thoughts into cash! Who says you can't make your dreams come true! Nobody knows— 6»f the book will tell you. So why waste any more time wondering, dreaming, waiting? Simply fill out t!ic coupon below — you're not buying anything, you're getting it absolutely free. A book that may prove the Book of Your Destiny. A Magic Book through which men and women, young and old, may learn to turn their spare hours into cash! Get your letter in the mail before you sleep to-night. Who knows — it may mean for you the Dawn of a New To-morrow! Just address The Authors' Press, Dept. 53, Auburn, New York. The Authors' Press, Dept. 53, Auburn, N. Y. Send me absolutely free "THE WONDER BOOK FOR WRITERS." This does not obligate me in any way. Name Address. City and State.