The Girls of Central High on the Stage

ing. Rumors of the prize offered for the best play written by a girl of Central High had a

agedy-even farce-or melodrama. Miss Gould will confine her lectures this week in English to the discussion of plays and play-making. Candidates for fame-and for Mrs. Kerrick's very handsome prize-may le

ts towards tragedy and the redundant phrases of the Greek and Latin masters, as read in their translation; but le

n nature as you know it, and

in this race for dramatic honors. Among the Juniors, Laura Belding and Nellie Agnew always received high ma

f. "But think of the sustained effort of writing a whole play! Gee! two hour

n, perhaps, that she had seen the practical side of such a career at home, she had not,

r closer friends. Bobby said it should have been written on yellow paper with an asbestos pad under it t

ne afternoon Chet Belding appeared in a group of his sister's friends, and with serious face

g-Suit; or, The Summ

rrick's prize spurred every girl who had the least ability in that direction to begin writing a dramatic piece. Some, of course,

her mother, and Mrs. Mo

have a new party dress-and a really nice one-and the furs I have been hoping to buy yo

a whole lot," admitted the g

cent of it for the household-or for

. "But I guess if I did win it you'

t you have evolved and perhaps I can suggest some helpful points-and show you how to write brisk dialogue. That is something the editors

h the author, and she actually did the work. Jess listened to the practical suggestions of her mother in relation to her play; but all th

r mother could talk in her cheerful manner about what she could do with the two hundred dollar prize if she earned it. But Jess was very su

nest-egg," she thought. "Then, when checks do not come in, we would not have to ask for credit.

and with it Mr. Chumley. Mrs. Mo

shortly. He needn't come again. I'll let you t

and he pushed his way, for once, in

I want my money, and I want it prompt. And if you can't pay your present rent prompt, how do y

e. "I am so hard at work. You quite drive the ideas out of m

ewspaper for a job, Widder," he said. "Them 'trains of thought' of yours won't

have I?" asked the lady, bringing out her

want

g to me-oh, yes! a good deal more than sufficien

the landlord, and particularly so for Mrs. Mo

ds. It will cost me a day's work. Really, Josephi

orse needed to live alone in a world with her brain-children. Meanwhile her f

t of this unlovely environment grew a pretty, idyllic comedy which, although crude in spots, and lacking the professional

w. But it scares me. How can I ever dress it up to make it sound like a real

reads smoothly seldom acts well; whereas a play that 'gets over the footlights' usually reads poorly. You see, action

I understand that they have invited Mr. Monterey, the manager of the Centerport Opera House, to read the plays, too. And

the eagle scrutiny of Miss Grace G. Carrington, so wrapped up was she in the play. Not even to Laura did she confide any

ing mail was a letter with the card of

en't sent them anything since having my interview with Mr. Prentice. I really would have been happier to see a letter lik

ice. She had not told her mother a word about that lady's visit on Friday evening, nor her errand to the house. But if Mrs. Prenti

h the letter. "Perhaps I had better take this-for a time, at least. I don't

cried Jess.

on for society news. Can afford at least five dollars' worth of space through the week, and p

ated Jess. "What a

id her mother, slowly. "He only guarantees

-if we are caref

on't know what the girls of to-day are coming to. Now, that would never have app

at conditions had not chang

rly will help us a whole

ns and places. Really-I have refused a number of invitations because of my w

ry it, Mother

opening for something better. But, really, nobody must know