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AUTHOR - TALKS OF FICTION AT CLUB MEETING MODERN METHODS SHOWN Clements Ripley, Successful Writer, Explains How He Develops Plots How the present day writers of popular fiction go about the develop ment of a short story was explained to the Press club last Wednesday night by Clements Ripley, author, who has sold a great number of stories recently to well known magazines. Mr. Ripley was introduced to the club by Dr. W. W. Ball, his father-in law, with whom he is visiting. He re sponded to the club's request for a talk by telling first hand the methods he and other modern writers use in working up an idea for a plot into a salable article. He has spoken once before to the Press club. Last year before a gathering he told of the way college publications were organized at Yale University at the time he was connected with the Yale Record. Talks Informally Mr. Ripley's talk last night was giv en informally. He remained seated and the members of the club present, who were few because of the dress rehearsal of "Romeo and Juliet" and the final night of grand opera, were circled about him. He spoke in a natural slow smooth voice. "The first rule in any fiction," he be gan, "is to let your character work out the plot ; not aimlessly, for you must first have a plot germ. Give each a trait, even the minor characters. Let them want to do something. Among the characters there must be opposites, for it takes a fight to get drama, tho only the master will be able to get the terrific clashes of which we sometimes read." To Work Plot In the working out of the plot germ. Mr. Ripley showed how he had built a story which sold ior pi3U out of an inciuent which had happened here in Columbia two years ago. 'i wo men he said, had carried the body of a man they had murdered down Mai street propped up .n the back seat of an au comnobile as if he were alive. The act, wmnch called for a certain amount of earng, struck the writer's fancy with the result that he wove'a story around the happening. "The man who would do this," sa.d Mr. Ripley, "would naturally be cool and cahn-coldblooded. I imade iy man typical, dark, thin and swarthy. People, regardless of what they inay say, want something they are sure of and not something new. The ass stant in cr me was heavily built just for the sake of contrast." Detectives' Character For the "detective" character the characted the writer said lhe used one of his favorites, Dr. Piper, a snmall town physician. He opens the story with the occurance of an accident which lie had caused to allow the mur (lerers an opportunity to dispose of the body. The car has been run off a cliff and( the dead mian's body' is found nia ngled. For the means usedl to murder the mcan, shooting is barred for it would have left marks upon the body, said .\r. Ripley, and so poison wvas decided upon as it is not likely that an autopsy wo'uld have been held and an internel examination made. At this po'.nt the speaker advised that it is not a good idlea to dlraw~ a doctor whlo is unethical, a judge who is unjtust, or sometimes, a harsh schoolmaster. The dead man lhe continuedl was well liked about town. Arouses Suspicion To arouse Dr. Piper's suspicion that sonmething was wrong Mr. Ripley be lieved that it would l)e b)etter to use character and not mechanical meanis. Hence, he let the automobile run over a (log breaking the animal's leg. The doctor to have its limbs set anid tells him that the murdered man was seen in the guilty car. The doctor reasons that this mani loved (logs and would ave stopped the car. His suspicion been the motive. Jealously, sudden aroused, he considered what could have passion, robbery, and revenge are thrown aside and fear decided upon as the most logical. Dr. Piper recalls a fourth member of the crowd who was muurdered four years ago and sees that the recently murdered man must have known something of it. Mr. Ripley commented that the necessity of in troducing another person weakened the story, but that it could be gotten away with if it was hurried over and slurred. Doc. Piper Suspicious Dr. Piper goes to see the two, figur ing that if they are guilty and thinks he knows something, they will try to kill him. He accuses them but they deny and invite him to a soft drink, which they have poisoned. He is con vinced of their guilt when they will let him go out to speak to the sheriff, and jumps on him. He grabs an amm - nia bottle from the shelf winding the story up by knocking one upon the head and suffocating the other. As to the correct way to prepare manuscript, Mr. Ripley said, the name and address should be placed in the upper left hand corner and the number of words in the corner across. All ar ticles should be typewritten and a half page left on the first sheet for the title and other data. Other pages are only numbered. It is best to make no men tion of rates or to send a letter with the story. He believes the manscript .s best mailed flat. owner, a child, brings her pet to the GROUP, ENJOYS PLEASANT TRIP TO "GOODWILL" SHERRY DAY LEADS TALK House Party Guests Indulge in Fishing, Boating and Swimming Friday afternoon th'rty Carolina men went to 'Goodwill.' Mr. Buck McMaster's plantation, for the purpose of facing-up to' reality in religion. Be side the Carolina men, including R. G. Bell and Mr. \an Meter there were three men frot the east who had come to share with the boys their own ex perience. Sherwood S. Day. graduate of Yale, who has been several times around the world, one time missionary to India and who for four years has been spending his time visiting such houseparties, became known to all the men as "Sherry" in just a little while. A man front Princeton was there, Chauncey Gleason, who gave won derfully of his personality to the group. Then. there was Jim Hardwicke who 's working in the graduate school at Yale this year, and what a tremendous hel) he was. The first mteeting was held FridayI night arouind the camp efire, and wvas onte of the most important and htelpful of the conferences. The boys all be camne acquainted with each other and with the leaders, and came to knowv them in a wonderful way. Their prob lemts were shared and dliscussedl frankly andl iniformally. The other meetings, held morning andl night were of the sanme type. and together the problems were thtought through,. in a way that caused matty men to come away with the conv'ctiont thtat thtey had seen somtethting new in life. As for the other side of the party. it was enjoyed b)y all. "Goodwill" is a wonderftul place and everyone w~as glad to get outt of the city atnd into thte woods and hills. The lake served as a never-ending source of joy. Fish inag, boating and even swimmating were indulged 'n, with much pleasure._ For Sun-Kist Drinks - VISIT - HAMPTON'S FRUIT DRINK H ome-Made Candies 1218 Main St. Columbia. S. C Only Place of Its Kind in the City JUNIOR CLASS MEETING The Junior Class will hold an im portant meeting Tuesday, April. 20, at chapel period, in the law building, for the purpose of election of the class officers for the ensuing year and to discuss final arrangements for the Junior-Senior Banquet. The Dean will excuse all Juniors from chapel to attend. Everything de pends on titis meeting. Build New Driveways at Woman's Buildings'. After a whole year of existing right" out in the middle of a bare field the Woman's Building is at last begimiing to take on something of the look of be longing to a state University. For several weeks, there has been a crew of workmen laying out and build ing a gracefully curved driveway in front of the building coming into the quadrangle from two directions and forming a circle beyond the building for turning. The driveways are to be gravelled and the plot between the tennis courts and the roadway beveled with grass. These improvements add immeasure ably to the appearance of the building. and it is hoped that before long there will be other buildings to make the quad rangle even more attractive. -USC Guy L,ipscomb, son of Professor C. F. L,ipscomb, won the first prize in the U.D.C. essay contest and was awarded a watch fob with a memorial coin in it. It was presented by Mrs. Swindell. -USC Cecil Scott finished dinner in an hour. - "Skinny" Smith was a three pound dingle. No other cigarette In she world is hi gain the choicest Turkish and Domes blend is she triumph of expert ble cigarette paper is the puest -made e~ this one brand of cagarettes is cone and skill of the largess tobacco orj 0 1926 The METROPOLITAN CAFE "The Old Reliable" Established 1900 1544 Main St. Columbia, S. C. BILLY BULL'S A Meal a Minute ! "An American Restaurant" 1211 Gervais Street REGULAR DINNERS, SHORT ORDERS, SANDWICHES AND WAFFLES Sweet Milk--10c Per Pint "It's a Nice Little Place" Well I Reckon $7 t< Saxon-Cullu Balloon Type Oxfc Ballooi atronize Our Advertis w day of days you know at the top ---have 4 WHEN c that can ~.And as a reached y - top o*f the .Camel! For Ca its own en: life's men 6 tobaccos t tire the ta cigaretty gardless you pay mellower, better ci than Camr So this %safely pi n hazards to moment the contei the due< 1 experience Have a e Camels. Camels con 'ic tobaccos. T he Camel ,ders. Even the Camel pecially in France. 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