The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 16, 1926, Page PAGE FIVE, Image 5
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
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