50,000 Words Without an "E"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 101, 15 May 1937, Page 16

50,000 Words Without an "E"

LOS ANGELES. Ernest Yincent Wright, 66, sat down to write a novel that would be different, tiejd down the "E" bar of his typewriter, and completed the job — 50,110 words. , Let's tie down the "E" bar and tell about it! - ■ Author Wright is'a kindly, vivacious chap in Company D at National Military Barracks in this city. A World War musician, his. hobby always was to do unsual things. Alumnus 'of a f amous Boston campus, class of 1889, Wrigth's classical foundation is-thorough. Publication of a f our-stanza composition without a common fifth symbol, and acclaim of it as most odd, got him to thinking. And so Wright got to it, writing this unusual fiction composition. It was-difficult-at first. Most pronouns would not do. "Just try it," W.right said, grinning and pulling at the gray hairs of his trim, triangular growth on his chin. Four months and 30 days it took to do it all. It is amazingly smooth. No halting parts. A continuity of plot and almost classical clarity obtains. Try a snatch-grab at his manuscript, at random, say a fourth down, about 14,000 words from his introduction, and find this typical: j "Now I think that you shouid know this chariuing Gadsby family. So first ! I will bring fortk 'Lady Gadsby,' known ias such through Mayor Gadsby 's inauguration, a most popular woman — taking .part in many a city activity, such as clubs and social affairs — also a *oyal church woman with vocal ability for choir work and good capability on piano or organ. No woman could fil! in in so many ways; no woman was so willing and quick to do so." Wright calls the book 4 Gadsby — Champion of Youth." It is about a mayor who consults youth in his administration. 1 On and on it flows. No short cuts of words or phrasing is found, wWch in full would contain taboo symbols. First "Bob" was Wright 's romantic swain, but a kibitzing champion said Bob was short for a word containing a taboo symbol, so it is "Frank" now, not Bob. Now that it's down to that point at which authors . say /'finis" Wright ought to wiu an "E" on it.