Trenna Ruffner, Michigan
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(Sorry to be so tardy to offer this on the topic that was discussed last
July but it took me awhile to find the book!)
I was reminded during the discussion of lacemaking on the stage that
is also is mentioned in the movies. Lacemakers who are also old movie
fans have a giggle when they watch Betty Davis declare that she was
"busy with her lace ", while crocheting right up under her nose in "The
Letter" It is the story of a nasty lady who kills her lover in a
jealous rage and is only saved when her husband bankrupts himself to buy
back an incriminating letter. One time when I was watching it I managed
to pay attention to the credits and saw that is was adapted from story
by W. Somerset Maugham.
I went looking for the original story, only to find out to my
surprise that it had originally been written as a stage play presented
originally in 1927 starring Katherine Cornell as Leslie,. And these
are the scene setting directions "The room is lit by one lamp and this
stands by a little table on which is Leslie's pillow lace. Wow - I guess
Miss Davis just couldn't get the hang of it so they had to substitute
crochet. One sample line: "I had dinner rather late, and then I started
working on my lace. (she points to the pillow on which a piece of lace
half made is pinned with little pins) Crosbie(her husband) "My wife is
rathe a dab at lace-making"
Whatever, her explanations don't hold up and her husband loses his
rubber plantation to save her .- Miss Davis chews the scenery quite a
bit. I wonder how Miss Cornell managed the lacemaking.
