Document text
Approximately 4000 Words.
i
SOUTH CAROLINA WRITERS' PROJECT
LIFE HISTORY
TITLE: THE STORY OF ELLEN.
Date of First Writin6 Dec. 30, 1938
Name of Person Interviewed Janie amith (White)
Fictitious Name Ellen Parkhurst
Street Address 160 Ashley Avenue
Place Charleston, S. C.
Occupation Librarian in charge of Children's Roma.
Name of Writer
Name of Revisor
Rose D. Workman
State Office.
PROject #.1658
Rose Do Workman
Chai-lesion, S. C.
Dec. 30, 1938
ovis STORY OF ELLEN.
It was a very shabby house that must have been brown
Renoe upon a time,' but the brass knocker was quite the
shiniest I had ever seen. I almost hated to lift it, know.
ing my touch would dim its shining lustre.
Ellen opened the door, and in reply to my request for
an interview, parted her lips in a friendly smile that show-
ed fine, salt.white teeth in a tiny heart...haped fez..
'Give you an interview? Why, that would be delightlial.
Come right inlet
We sat down in a little parlor, with creamy yells and
woodwork, and darkly -shining floors, all so clean and highly
polished you saw yourself refected everywhere. Through the
door.way one caught a glimpse of a fine, mahogany staircase
and paneled walls of the entrance hall, while dusky damask
curtains parted slightly to reveal tall walnut bookcases in
the study beyond.
I sat on a hard brown plush sofa. Ellen sat an an equal.
ly hard little chair. Like Ellen herself, the whole roam gave
an impression of austerity. But at the bright smile now and
again lit up her small brunette face, so the gold colored mus-
lin curtains lightened somewhat the severity of the room.
Large jars of evergreens stood in the open, otherwise
empty fireplace, while from many well vases graceful sprays
of ivy trailed, intermixed with an occasional festoon of
Project .61653
Rose D. Workman
Charleston, S.
TUE STORY OF ELLEN.
Page 0. 2
Wandering Jew.
Above the severely beautiful, handcarved mantle hung a
large oil painting in a massive gold leaf frame.
"Great...grandfather James Parkhurst." she explained, catch..
ing my upward glance at the portrait. "Jamie, my nephew who
lives with me, is the fifth James Parkhurst in direct descent."
That Ellen herself was a Parkhurst was plainly evident, for
the same high forehead, with its crisp, upspringing dark hair,
the same Roman nose, and thoughtful brown eyes of the portrait,
were reproduced in miniature on the living, breathing canvas of
Ellen.
"I love being interviewed," she began, "It makes me feel so
distinguished. And I have always wanted to be distinguished.
"Ever since I can remember (and I am almost forty now),
have rebelled at having been born a woman. For a woman can't
be distinguished. She kas to be a lady.
"And if I had married," she went on gravely," would have
been terribly disappointed if my children had been only mediocre.
I'd have wanted them to be distinguished, too." She gave a omtle
little sighs
"Maybe it's lust as well my engagement didn't turn out the
way engagements should."
"You'd like to know something about my engagement? Well..."
her fine eyes took an a fars.away look. "Looking back, it seems
to me that I've gone through life rather vaguely. Although I've
Project #.2.855
liose D. Workman
Challeslon, S. C.
OM omt, MC
Page
T4A STORY OF ILI44.
excel in mental things, until lately I never
seemed to know exastly how this was to come about. I last
wanted to be distinguished," she repeated musingly. "A being,
rather than a doing. And yet, you have to do to be.
"But about my engagement. I didn't go with boys very much,
and I was just a little bashful. One night I was invited to a
party. There was the usual group of medical students and high
school girls who always want around together.
"But there was a strange young man at the party %hat even*
ins. He sat beside me And when refreshments were served he
wrote on the paper napkins
'May I see you home?'
"And I just said, 'yes.'
"Do you know, I was really much more attracted to the young
man sitting an my other side than by the ape who had asked to see
me home. But in those days what could a young girl do? She went
with the man who asked her, and the other man faded out of the
picture.
"Almost before I knew it, I was engaged to the medical
student who had taken me home that night. And for the four years
of his college work, and the remaining years of my high school
life, we went together constantly.
"X had a glorious time at school. I enjoyed it all tremendous.
ly. Our high school was then outstanding. It was a normal school,
Project ii..1855
Rose D. Workman
I.
THE STONY OF ELLEN.
Page 4 is
too, and it took six years to complete the curriculum. We went
out into the city schools and observed the methods of the best
teachers and then put what we had learned into practice, so
that by the time our graduation day finally arrived, we were
really full-fledged teachers.
"But when I had graduated, there didn't seem to be any Imo
mediate plan of life for me. There wasn't any use foP me to
start teachina, for I was engaged to be married, So I just
atyed at home and waited for my wedding day to come,
"That was the way girls did in those days," she explainr,d.
"Oh, when I think of the wonderful use I would have made
of those years had I lived just a little later! Youhcsters
crowing up here today don't realize how fortunate they are in
being able to go all the way from kindergarten through collets
without cost in Old Town, I wish I had had that opportunity
when T was growing up! Girls couldn't go to First Col:ecre
then, you know.
"But I expect, even if the could have, it never would
have occurred to ne to co. I was thinking only of marriage
and settling down, and raising my family of little Ellen and
Tommy, Japes, and Junior.
"But our engagement didn't turn into marriage the way all
good engagements should. won't tell you about the quarrel
Project #4655
Rose D. Workman
Charleston, S. C.
THE STORY OF ELLER%
Page 41 5 O.
that altered all my life; only that at intervals he wVuld come
back and try to maks it up again. But I had changed. I could
never again have that first, blind faith, or that first, trust..
Inc love.
"Then through the years that followed, the family circle
was broken. Father died first. One brother married; then my
sister did the same. Next God took my brother's wife away, and
left a little son in her place. That little boy, Jamie, came to
live with Mother, Brother and me, and became the sunshine of our
lives. Then God called Mother. And after that, for a long time,
Brother, Jamie and I :Lived together in this little house that I
love so well.
"After a while Brother became an invalid. He was sick for
years before he died, and I nursed him, and tended the house, and
eared for little Jamie, and made the few pennies Brother had
managed to hold onto through the bank failures go as far as I
could. Finally pennies got so scarce I started tutoring high
school students to help out.
"I was thankful then for my teacher's training1 At night
I took courses at the college. Oh, do you know, I feel that I
was a really worth while person then* But the world didn't think
so. I was just little staymat*home Allen Parkhurst, and after a
Project #44655
hose D. Workman
Charleston, S. C.
XIII, STORY OF ELLEN.
Page 6
while, Ellen Parkhurst, Spinster!
"Now that my name is in the paper every week, heading my
column, and I'm invited to speak to the most select groups in
the city, I'm in the limelight. People say to me:
frfltry haven't I met you before? Where have you been all
this time that I've never seen you anywhere?'
"Naturally I don't go around explaining that I diftilt have,
nor have I now, the money it is necessary to possess in order
to move within that circle of society to which my blood entitles
me
11Y, family? Well, Grandfather Parkhurst," she said looking
up at the portrait over the mantle,"started the family in America.
There's been a James Parkhurst in the family for five generations.
On that side of the family we are of English and Dutch descent
and have been in Old Town since the beinninL of rid Tcrin itself.
"On Mother's side my ancestors are English. One of them
came over in the Mayflower, and settled in New Enaand. Later
the family came South.
"Dut after the war I mean, of course, the War Between the
States our family seemed to go in for second marriages. I'm
not the product of one of these, but one of its victims. This
second marriage habit left us absolutely Impoverished. What
little we had managed to salvage from the wreck of war was eaten
Project #-1655
Rose D. Workman
Charleston, S. C.
TliN STORY OF ELLEN.
Page 7
up in the education and clothing of the little 'steps.'
'Sc when I was rowing up, there wasn't any money for
soming*out parties and dancing frocks for Sister =due.
Theme was barely enough to send the Boys through college.
'But going back to the subject of family, as you see, I
had as much right to make my formal debut as any girl in Old
Town. But lack of money barred me from it.
'Not that I oar., My two outstanding interests in life
4
are my home and my work. I can be busy for hours at a time
with an oil mop, one wall vase, and a spray of ivy. Itm per
featly happy polishing the floor and arranging my spray of
ivy artistically.
'Nothing means as much to me as staying at home and being
with my books.'
She paused a moment as if considering what to say next,
and then ramarkodg
'Perhaps I should tell you how I happened to chose juvenile
literature as my vocation.
*When Brother died, there was scarcely anything left ex-
cept this ouse. About the only bill we didn't have to pay was
rent.
"I managed to get a pupil or two, but still there wasn't
enough to feed and clothe Jamie and mo. He was still at col-
Project #.165Z-;
hO56 D, Norknan
Challeston, C.
THE STORY OF ELLEN.
Page 8
lege then, and I wasn't willing to let him leave without getting
his degree.
"I knew what it meant to be asked: 'What degrees do you
h21d, Yiss Parkhurst?' For T Lad tried in vain to get a position
to teach in the city schools. The Suporintandent of Education
had said to me in his fatherly manner he had taught me Pedagogy
and had read Shakespeare with me in my senior year at school:
'It isn't that you are not well educated, my Dear. It is
merely that when almost every applicant for a teaching position
today has not only one, but several degrees, you are overehelming.
ly outclassed. You haven't a chance to break into the teaching
profespion.'
"So in Oesperation I tried the ERA. They had just begun a
project for increasing interest in reading among children, and
I was assigned to work on it. Out of that ERA job grew my real
life work*
"Lack of a degree was, of course, again a stumbling block
in securing a permanent position in the literary field in which
I found myself* But I worked very hard and did my level best
on every task that I was given, and at the end of two years I
received my appointment on the regular staff of the institution
in which I work today.
"So completely happy am I in my work, that so tar as work
Project #-$135Z'
Ho -e Workilin
Charleston, C.
THE A.' EL. EN,
PaEe 9
itself is concerned, I can ask for nothing better in life. But
hope that eventually my salary will be raised to one hundred
dollars a month. I feel that I could live very comfortably on
that sum in Old Town. I'm making $80 now,
"lio, I don't let Jamie spend his money in the house," she
said. "I want him to save as much of the $76 he makes as colleco
tion clerk in a down -town bank, as he can," she went an to explain,
"for I think that savinE is a good habit for a young man to form.
"And of course, he has his personal expenses to meet. He
buys his own clothes, and .,ays for his lunches, and any other
meals that he gets down town, And of course, he has to have
money to take his girl to dances and shows* and bLy her flowers
and candy occasionally,
"V.That do I do for amusement? Well, as I said, I find so much
happiness in my work, that I really need very little outside
pleasure, but I do Est invitations sonetimes.
"The other day a cosf.n called me on the phone and invited
me to an oyster super with the family at a fashionable restaurant
that night. But, oh, it was•so coldl "Here Ellen drew up her
delicate shoulders in a realistic characterization of someone hay..
in a hard chill, "I thouLht of in; nice, warm fires and the lovely
first editions of children's stories that had came in that day.
Project .1,-1U55,
Rose L. 1:orkman
thaleston, 3. C.
Thh STORY ':)1.? LLTIX.
Page 0, 10 w
I thanked elie for the invitation, but made an excuse, and hung
up.
"The irl at the next desk was watching me queerly. I asked
her what was the matter.
'Why don't you Lo, Ellen?' she asked.
I told lier about the wonderful evenin3 I was looking forward
to, curled up before the fire in my room, reading my children's
stories, and she looked at me still more oddly', shook her head,
and re:larked:
Metre all in ruts here.' And that was the end of that con-
versation. But I stayed at home, and the books were much more
enjoyable than oysters would have been. And if it is a rut, it
is a ice rut, and I like beini, in it&
"Oh, I almost for6ot to tell you what I really love best of
all. The Poetry Society! 40 hear some splendid lectures there,
you know. I liked Aedraic Caum best of all last year. And the
Littlo Theatre Group I belonL to that too. And I simply adore
the beautiful inusic of the 6trinteC Symphony.
"2eople in Old Town are lucky," she added enthusiastically.
"We have so ianr opportunities for culture. I try to take advan-
tage of as many of them as I can. but often I'm very tired when
ni6ht comes. So tired sometimes that I draw the curtains and
don't open the door if anyone knocks
Project -1655
Aose D. orkamn
"harleston, S. C,
TH1- STORY ()T'
Page 11
"I never discuss politics," said Ellen, changing the
subject abruptly. "But I will say that I vote according to my
convictions. That is a point upon which I feel very strongly."
she continued, setting her lips in a thin, straight line. "1
vote for the man, and not for the party, Indeed, I bolted the
Denocr--tic ticket once, and voted for Hoover a ainst Al 3Mith.
"1 haven't the slightest idea how Jamie votes," she added,
"I've never questioned him on the subject.
"What would I like beat in life? Well, if I have to make
a statement just at this moment I would say to have, someone to
love pie, and belonL to ne entirely. 1 don't mean a Man.* if
Jamie were, say thirteen, he would fill the bill. but he isnot
thirteen. He's twenty-three. He's just as sweet as he can be,
but he has a different life altogether from mine. fel belongs
to thl young life of the city. I want sopiebody to belng en-
tirely to me someone I can think for, and plan for, and work
for.
"ell, yes, I clo work for Jamie. As I said, he's so Tweets
I 1--ve to wait on him. Rut before we talc any ore, suppose we
have a cup of tea. We can chat so cozily over the teacups."
Soon we were siping 74.1r steaminL cups of delicate fragrant
Chinese tea from fragile egg -shell china cups that had once
been Ellen's grandmother's.
Project #-1655
ftose D. '!:orkman
.Chculeton, Li. C.
TTI;r7o1,:y LL-LN.
Faes 12
"The tea is a gifts" said Ellen, in her straightforward
manner. "I can't afford to buy this kind for myself. But,
oho I love itl".
"Give you a sample of how I spend my days? Why, yes,
I'd like that. I get up at 6130 unless I oversleep Say
it's summertime. I ,et my coffee and toast, and maybe eat a
banana. Then I put on the hominy to cook for Jamie's break-
fast. While it's cooking I go outside and sweep and rake the
garden and polish the braes knocker. By the way, did you
notice my knocker as you came in?" she interrupted herself
to ask with her eager, glancing smile. "That's my one grand
claim to gentility.
"Then I come in, and go ui)stairs and study for about
twenty minute* that's the time I put in on my own works
writing. You didn't Xhrw i wrote? Well, I do, a little, and
hope to do more some day. I've had one article published by
a really outstanding literary magazine. You won't think I'm
boasting? And I'm planning another that I hope they will ac.
°opt.
"But to go back to my day. Next I feed my dogs, Dick and
Dolly. Maybe you'd like to sec the?"
Disappearing with her last work in a moment she returned
accompanied by two small, stout dogs, who, leapint, upon her,
Projeot #-1655
Hose D. Workman
Charleston, 3. C.
TEL STORY OF ELLEN.
Page 13
literally showered her with caresses. Ellen is a slender wand
of a girl. The dogs were like fat, greedy old ladies, with
little ruffs of ft around their chubby chins. Ellen fondled
them for a moment in silence.
"When I got back from a course at Columbia University last
summer," she continued, "I found Dick sick. He was paralyted
the night after I cot home, and Jamie and I sat up working over
him one whole right. But he's all right now," she said. Then
she went on to tell of the next event in her daily routtno
the serving of Jamie's breakfast. After he has left for the
bank Ellen throughly cleans the hall, for as she quaintly re.
marked: "Those first impressions are everything."
Next she makes the beds
"And then I go to work, carrying a pint bottle of milk
and two pieces of zwiebach in a little box, for Dr. Green says
milk is necessary. If I don't drink milk every day my teeth
won't hold cut," said Ellen.
"I work in the ehildren's department of a large, cultural
institution," she went on, "and there I toil until one o'clock,
only stoppinL to drink 2/1,/ milk and munch my zwiebadh. Then I have
an hour off for dinner. I rush home, open a can of either Heins
or Campbell's soup, and drink a (sup of tea.
"I lie down for ten minutes before I go back to the office
'rapist #4686
Rose Do Workmen
Charleston, S. 0.
THI MORT OF mug%
Page 14 4*
again, to work until six, when I hurry home and prepare and
serve the real meal at the day. I span a oesPis at miss of
volmtables, and perhaps another can at soup, olioe some bread,
and broil a steak.
"Ws hard when one has to earn one's living and keep
house both," she remarked, "but one simply has to manage the
best one elm.
or drink about a quart of milk a day, too, so I'm sure
that I get the proper nourishment'
"After supper I mai the dishes. Jamie goes out about
sight, usually to see his girl, and I go to my room and read
or vivito for an hour or two.
"And then," said Ulan, like a good Willa, "I wash my
fase„ and brush my teeth, say my prayers, and go to bed,
'y prinelpal drombask, "Illen went on, "is getting tired
so easily. 'Shen night comes I'm simply exhAusted. And its
hard to do *restive work when you're all worn out. rem have
to be fresh to think well.
"But I haven't been sink enough to stay in bed for years,"
she tiontimed„ "So I =pest IN prettip illekr after all. my
eyesight almost failed ma last winter, though, and my bifocal
glasses east twentr-five dollars just at a till when was
saving every penny to co to summer sehoolo
Project 0•1665
Ross D. Workman
Charleston, S. C.
TEA sTou OF ULM%
Page -15.
'Yes, I manage to saws a little," she said. "Every month
I put aside tea dollars for a Baby Bond. I saved enough to go
to Columbia Vnivoreity,e she boasted, gin spite of buyi,g; m7
glasses.*
"But going bask to the way I spend my day,' Ulan took up
the story again," Sundays are a little different. Oa Sunday I
stay in bed until seven; then I straighten the houswand prow
pare dinner, and carry Jamie his breakfast upstairs. If I
take it to him, he oats every UMW, but if he comes down to
the table, he lust nibbles a bite or two, and dashes off.
"So I take him up the paper, dross, and rush off to Sun-
day School. I toot* fifteen boys between ten and twelve yams
old, and they're all livo wires. Then I aime home and finish
preparing dinner, which is really a well-balanced, and well
cooked meal. Jamie and I both look forward to Sunday dinner
all the week through.
"Sunday afternoons vary. Sometimes friends come in, and
we have a cup of too, just as 'Oro doing now. I love that
best. Sometimes, though not often, I go out. Or I talc* a long
nap, and road or write thou I wake up. Supper, and ohurch again
in the evening.
'Church work? No, only my Sunday School class. But can
assure you that it alone takes up most of my leisure time pro.
Pro jest #4666
Ross D. workman
charleston, S. C.
Zg; STORY OP BI•1.1144
Pa 16 0.
paring loosens that will be interesting as well as instrustive•
alwayi give Saturdareveminga to this work.
eensider that gaibling and drinking are dangerous for
young men,* the went an gravely. II eendema then both very
bitterly. sometime tremble fer young James. But all that I
san do is to let hint", and pray Oat to take save of bin..
'Us, I suppose I do lead a strernaawallreo pet I dealt
have a maid, bombe Psi saving up to repair the little home.
It needs a new kitighem for one thing, and a froth seat or paints
'Let se tell you something funny; Per years and years I've
been paying storm insuranee an this plass. Then an the tornado
eane it scald se easily have done a little demo to the house.
It even eould have blown the Wishes etf entirely. It wouldn't
have mattered at all, if it had Shown some noneat when I
wasn't in it. Then I Gould have built ens of those splendid
modern kitehens with the insuranee money. But nel I beep an
paying insurance, and nothing ever happens!
"NowI want to say one more thing, and I expeet that vill be
about all of sly story." Ellen was speaking with deep grevitY
ROW
"Sines I've started working and writing, I have at last
learned what unbitten is in lift. It is to write a bort, a
really beautifnlly written children's book, similar to 1Littls