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The Floating Press - Edith Van Dyne

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126 pages

English

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Part of the "Aunt Jane's Nieces" series written by Wizard of Oz creator L. Frank Baum (who used the pen name "Edith Van Dyne"), this novel has the girls visiting California and getting a crash course in the ins and outs of movie-making and the pleasures and pitfalls of celebrity.

Sujets

Children's

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Publié par	The Floating Press
Date de parution	01 juin 2014
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781776537778
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0134€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

AUNT JANE'S NIECES OUT WEST
* * *
EDITH VAN DYNE

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Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West First published in 1914 Epub ISBN 978-1-77653-777-8 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77653-778-5 © 2014 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Chapter I - Caught by the Camera Chapter II - An Object Lesson Chapter III - An Attractive Girl Chapter IV - Aunt Jane's Nieces Chapter V - A Thrilling Rescue Chapter VI - A. Jones Chapter VII - The Invalid Chapter VIII - The Magic of a Name Chapter IX - Doctor Patsy Chapter X - Still a Mystery Chapter XI - A Damsel in Distress Chapter XII - Pictures, Girls and Nonsense Chapter XIII - A Foolish Boy Chapter XIV - Isidore Le Drieux Chapter XV - A Few Pearls Chapter XVI - Trouble Chapter XVII - Uncle John is Puzzled Chapter XVIII - Doubts and Difficulties Chapter XIX - Maud Makes a Memorandum Chapter XX - A Girlish Notion Chapter XXI - The Yacht "Arabella" Chapter XXII - Masculine and Feminine Chapter XXIII - The Advantage of a Day Chapter XXIV - Picture Number Nineteen Chapter XXV - Judgment Chapter XXVI - Sunshine After Rain
Chapter I - Caught by the Camera
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"This is getting to be an amazing old world," said a young girl, still inher "teens," as she musingly leaned her chin on her hand.
"It has always been an amazing old world, Beth," said another girl whowas sitting on the porch railing and swinging her feet in the air.
"True, Patsy," was the reply; "but the people are doing such peculiarthings nowadays."
"Yes, yes!" exclaimed a little man who occupied a reclining chair withinhearing distance; "that is the way with you young folks—alwaysconfounding the world with its people."
"Don't the people make the world, Uncle John?" asked Patricia Doyle,looking at him quizzically.
"No, indeed; the world could get along very well without its people; butthe people—"
"To be sure; they need the world," laughed Patsy, her blue eyestwinkling so that they glorified her plain, freckled face.
"Nevertheless," said Beth de Graf, soberly, "I think the people havestruck a rapid pace these days and are growing bold and impudent. The lawappears to allow them too much liberty. After our experience of thismorning I shall not be surprised at anything that happens—especially inthis cranky state of California."
"To what experience do you allude, Beth?" asked Uncle John, sitting upstraight and glancing from one to another of his two nieces. He was agenial looking, round-faced man, quite bald and inclined to be a triflestout; yet his fifty-odd years sat lightly upon him.
"Why, we had quite an adventure this morning," said Patsy, laughingagain at the recollection, and answering her uncle because Bethhesitated to. "For my part, I think it was fun, and harmless fun, atthat; but Beth was scared out of a year's growth. I admit feeling alittle creepy at the time, myself; but it was all a joke and really weought not to mind it at all."
"Tell me all about it, my dear!" said Mr. Merrick, earnestly, forwhatever affected his beloved nieces was of prime importance to him.
"We were taking our morning stroll along the streets," began Patsy, "whenon turning a corner we came upon a crowd of people who seemed to begreatly excited. Most of them were workmen in flannel shirts, theirsleeves rolled up, their hands grimy with toil. These stood before abrick building that seemed like a factory, while from its doors othercrowds of workmen and some shopgirls were rushing into the street andseveral policemen were shaking their clubs and running here and there ina sort of panic. At first Beth and I stopped and hesitated to go on, butas the sidewalk seemed open and fairly free I pulled Beth along, thinkingwe might discover what the row was about. Just as we got opposite thebuilding a big workman rushed at us and shouted: 'Go back—go back! Thewall is falling.'
"Well, Uncle, you can imagine our dismay. We both screamed, for wethought our time had come, for sure. My legs were so weak that Beth hadto drag me away and her face was white as a sheet and full of terror.Somehow we managed to stagger into the street, where a dozen men caughtus and hurried us away. I hardly thought we were in a safe place when thebig workman cried: 'There, young ladies; that will do. Your expressionwas simply immense and if this doesn't turn out to be the best film ofthe year, I'll miss my guess! Your terror-stricken features will make aregular hit, for the terror wasn't assumed, you know. Thank you very muchfor happening along just then.'"
Patsy stopped her recital to laugh once more, with genuine merriment, buther cousin Beth seemed annoyed and Uncle John was frankly bewildered.
"But—what—what—was it all about?" he inquired.
"Why, they were taking a moving picture, that was all, and the workmenand shopgirls and policemen were all actors. There must have been ahundred of them, all told, and when we recovered from our scare I couldhear the machine beside me clicking away as it took the picture."
"Did the wall fall?" asked Uncle John.
"Not just then. They first got the picture of the rush-out and thepanic, and then they stopped the camera and moved the people to a safedistance away. We watched them set up some dummy figures of girls andworkmen, closer in, and then in some way they toppled over the big brickwall. It fell into the street with a thundering crash, but only thedummies were buried under the debris."
Mr. Merrick drew a long breath.
"It's wonderful!" he exclaimed. "Why, it must have cost a lot of money toruin such a building—and all for the sake of a picture!"
"That's what I said to the manager," replied Patsy; "but he told us thebuilding was going to be pulled down, anyhow, and a better one built inits place; so he invented a picture story to fit the falling walls and itdidn't cost him so much as one might think. So you see, Uncle, we are inthat picture—big as life and scared stiff—and I'd give a lot to see howwe look when we're positively terror-stricken."
"It will cost you just ten cents," remarked Beth, with a shrug; "that is,if the picture proves good enough to be displayed at one of those horridlittle theatres."
"One?" said Uncle John. "One thousand little theatres, most likely, willshow the picture, and perhaps millions of spectators will see you andPatsy running from the falling wall."
"Dear me!" wailed Patsy. "That's more fame than I bargained for. Domillions go to see motion pictures, Uncle?"
"I believe so. The making of these pictures is getting to be an enormousindustry. I was introduced to Otis Werner, the other day, and he told mea good deal about it. Werner is with one of the big concerns here—theContinental, I think—and he's a very nice and gentlemanly fellow. I'llintroduce you to him, some time, and he'll tell you all the wonders ofthe motion picture business."
"I haven't witnessed one of those atrocious exhibitions for months,"announced Beth; "nor have I any desire to see one again."
"Not our own special picture?" asked Patsy reproachfully.
"They had no right to force us into their dreadful drama," protestedBeth. "Motion pictures are dreadfully tiresome things—comedies andtragedies alike. They are wild and weird in conception, quite unreal andwholly impossible. Of course the scenic pictures, and those recordinghistorical events, are well enough in their way, but I cannot understandhow so many cheap little picture theatres thrive."
"They are the poor people's solace and recreation," declared Mr. Merrick."The picture theatre has become the laboring man's favorite resort. Itcosts him but five or ten cents and it's the sort of show he canappreciate. I'm told the motion picture is considered the saloon's worstenemy, for many a man is taking his wife and children to a picturetheatre evenings instead of joining a gang of his fellows before the bar,as he formerly did."
"That is the best argument in their favor I have ever heard," admittedBeth, who was strong on temperance; "but I hope, Uncle, you are notdefending the insolent methods of those picture-makers."
"Not at all, my dear. I consider the trapping of innocent bystanders tobe—eh—er—highly reprehensible, and perhaps worse. If I can discoverwhat picture manager was guilty of the act, I shall—shall—"
"What, Uncle?"
"I shall hint that he owes you an apology," he concluded, rather lamely.
Beth smiled scornfully.
"Meantime," said she, "two very respectable girls, who are not actresses,will be exhibited before the critical eyes of millions of stupid workmen,reformed drunkards, sad-faced women and wiggling children—not indignified attitudes, mind you, but scurrying from what they supposed wasan imminent danger."
"I hope it will do the poor things good to see us," retorted Patsy. "Tobe strictly honest, Beth, we were not trapped at all; we were the victimsof circumstances. When I remember how quick-witted and alert that managerwas, to catch us unawares and so add to the value of his picture, I canquite forgive the fellow his audacity."
"It wasn't audacity so much as downright impudence!" persisted Beth.
"I quite agree with you," said Mr. Merrick. "Do you wish me to buy thatfilm and prevent the picture's being shown?"
"Oh, no!" cried Patsy in protest. "I'm dying to see how we look. Iwouldn't have that picture sidetracked for anything."
"And you, Beth?"
"Really, Uncle John, the thing is not worth worrying over," replied hisniece. "I am naturally indignant at being drawn into such a thing againstmy will, but I doubt