The Quiet Corner
THE QUIET CORNER / counsel thee, shut not thy heart nor thy library*—C. Lamb. "Oh, Doctor," gasped Miss Anonymoncule over her morning mail, "I see I will have to rearrange all my ideas of...
...The result is a play one cannot recommend.' Alexander Woollcott writing, 'let it be written large on the walls of this town that a beautiful play now awaits the civilized few among the wayfarers within its gates.' Oswald Garrison Villard stating, 'with the exception of certain decadent plays, which I had the misfortune to see in Berlin some years ago, I have never witnessed anything so degrading and vulgar, so common and low, as The Glass Slipper;' while George Jean Nathan describes it as 'one of Molnar's best plays.' "I finally gave up in despair and ordered tickets for the Hippodrome—but the result of these diverse views so confused my mind that I could not sleep...
...I have never noticed that my hat felt tighter on Friday, though I have noticed that something else felt emptier," declared Angelicus...
...I should like to have participated...
...You're spoiling my appetite for dinner...
...Knut Hamsun also would be a topic when the menu is to be supplemented with pork, while a learned discussion of Sir Francis Bacon's theories should accompany the breakfast order, and"— "Don't," begged Miss Anonymoncule...
...What did I find...
...Naturally, the Essays of Elia should be discussed on the day lamb chops or pork roasts are selected...
...The Spectator in the days of Addison, I know, carried such advertisements, Highly flavored with the personal attributes of the advertiser, but I thought today's publicity ethics had displaced all that...
...How dare you say 'I...
...I think if we looked into the matter we should find that he carries sea-food as well...
...All intellectual people and housewives everywhere are respectfully implored to buy meat at this young man's store, for there you will undoubtedly find the best and the cheapest meat conceivable...
...The Librarian...
...You interrupted," replied Britannicus, who is a rapid thinker...
...Lamb Chops, $.40...
...He therefore plunged in the commercial field by opening the above mentioned meat market in the hope of making an honest living...
...But don't you see," said Miss Anonymoncule, "that housewives now will have to read all sorts of things besides cook books, and supplement their domestic science lectures with current topic talks at the Town Hall, and perhaps even take a degree at Columbia, before they will qualify as chatelaines...
...Dear Doctor," said Miss Anonymoncule with concern, "you couldn't have slept well last night...
...Taking the leaflet, the Doctor began— " 'Intellectual Meat Market—The owner of this butcher store is a young man, college graduate, well educated and speaks English, Italian, French and Spanish...
...Why should he qualify as a judge of The Glass Slipper...
...Well," said Miss Anonymoncule defensively, "he did have a glass-bottomed boat on his expedition...
...Therefore, when she suggested the Guild production, I went through various back issues of publications to see whether it was a fit play for her to see...
...How can you say such a thing...
...But don't hurry me...
...Allow me to finish the quotation I was just saying aloud to refresh my memory...
...My poor child, don't you yet realize that some of our most important dramatic critics write of plays which they have left half-way through the first act...
...Angelicus, "that in such an order a certain fitness will have to be observed as well...
...Come, give Him a trial and at the same time have a conversation with him on any question involving scientific, philosophical, artistic and literary consideration.' " The Doctor rubbed his eyes...
...I didn't, as a matter of fact," replied Angelicus...
...Molnar, the cheap showman, has tried to efface Molnar, the tender poet...
...He could not succeed in the intellectual world because this is mostly a business age...
...The butcher and I had such an argument about it yesterday.1" "I suppose," ruminated Dr...
...Why this advertisement that came in the mail," said Miss Anonymoncule...
...Think of the horror of it...
...You see my niece asked me to order tickets for The Glass Slipper for some evening next week...
...Can't you see I have to finish this chapter of Nietzsche first...
...Speaking of hats," said the Editor, "did you see a despatch from England in the morning paper, to the effect that the latest slogan of London flappers is—'Hats off in restaurants?' The item states—'Morning, noon and night young girls remove their hats when they are eating in public...
...demanded Miss Anonymoncule indignantly...
...Milk Fed Spring Leg of Lamb, $.34...
...Had Hawthorne wanted another title for his Feathertop, he could have called it, Flapper...
...For fish is reputed to be the real brain stimulant...
...Read it...
...The flappers say it is because they feel better with a light head.' " " 'Lighter head,' it should be," growled Angelicus, "though I don't see how that's possible...
...he demanded...
...I," began Britannicus from the furthest alcove, "I"— "Ingrate," said Miss Anonymoncule...
...And who shall say it was not good tea...
...Beebe is an explorer...
...I was even so agitated that I found myself regretting that I had not gone to the open forum debate on The Glass Slipper held under the auspices of the Guild on Sunday afternoon...
...But why," asked the Editor, who had entered during the discussion, "why does this intellectual shop-keeper advertise meat alone...
...Now I never take a young person to the theatre without first reading what has been said of the play in the press...
...Dana Skinner declaring that 'what should be restrained background becomes blatant foreground—or, if you prefer, what should be an insistent, perverse but subdued accompaniment, ends by nearly drowning out the melody...
...Yes, cook, I shall stop at the market and select the chicken myself...
...I,1 quoth the sparrow, with my bow and arrow, 'I killed Cock Robin.' " "What is this thing that is going to change your ideas of housewifery...
...Why shouldn't I be equipped to speak of one I haven't seen...
...Porterhouse Steak, $.35...
...Roasting and Fricasee Chickens at a stupendous low price...
...Sirloin Steak, $.34...
...That is, if he's very intellectual...
...But, Doctor, you haven't seen the play," objected Miss Anonymoncule, an admirer of the Guild...
...You always took two cups and five lumps...
...Pork Chops, $.30...
...Haven't I even on occasion, though under pressure, it must be admitted, brewed you tea here in this very library...
...All kinds of soup and chopped meat, $.20...
...Doesn't it run this way...
...I observe that the meeting included among other speakers, William Beebe," said the Editor...
...The advertisement stated that several prominent speakers would attack or defend the production, and that there would be discussion from the floor...
...Are we in the eighteenth century, or the twentieth...
...I didn't know you had any," grumbled the Doctor, annoyed at the interruption of his own letters...
...asked the Doctor, resignedly leaving his letters...
...Let me see...
...Oh, Doctor," gasped Miss Anonymoncule over her morning mail, "I see I will have to rearrange all my ideas of housekeeping and cookery...
...Veal Chops, $.30...
Vol. 3 • December 1925 • No. 4
