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ERB 100-Word Drabbles
APRIL 2019 Edition ~ Days 16-30
by Robert Allen Lupton
Back To Days 1-15 HERE
GOD OF THE DAY
April 16,: On this day in 1938, Argosy Weekly published part five of Tarzan and the Forbidden City as Red Star of Tarzan. Rudolph Belarski drew the cover of the issue to illustrate the story, Pardon My Glove by Judson P. Philips. The cover is great even though it doesn’t illustrate the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel.
Today’s ERB inspired drabble is “God of the Day.”
GOD OF THE DAY
Tarzan struggled against his bindings. “I’m not sure.”
“Does Brulor live inside the diamond or in Lake Horus
like the priest said?”
“Gods live where they choose.”
“Does every city in Africa have their own god?”
“Men want their own god. They want him close enough
for the priest to control, but far enough away that he doesn’t interfere
with the private plans of the priest and king.”
“That’s a scam.”
“Oldest one in the world.
WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE
April 17: On this day in 1932, the last episode of the Hal Foster and George Carlin Tarzan Sunday strip Hulvia the Beautiful appeared. The art is, of course, by Hal Foster.
Today’s drabble is “We Gotta Get Out of this Place."
WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE
Hulvia, a blonde castaway worshiped as the Al-Alba’s high priestess, intervened and saved Tarzan.
“Why help me? You don’t know me.”
“I don’t need to know you. I know the Al-Alba and
I know my parents were Vikings.”
“What can I do?”
“Being a captive priestess is not unlike slavery.
I don’t know your world, but it must be better than this one. Take me away.”
“Hulvia, I’m married.”
“I don’t seek a mate. I seek my father’s people.”
FOOL ME ONCE
April 18: On this day in 1942, the Rex Maxon - Don Garden Tarzan daily comic strip “The Path of Lions” concluded.
That story is the basis for the April 18th drabble, “Fool Me Once.”
FOOL ME ONCE
Others asked Tarzan to relent and the apeman did.
Jagger feigned gratitude and inserted himself into
the tribe’s daily life. He did chores, hunted, cooked, and submitted to
the tribe’s elders. One day he contacted his fellow pirates and together,
they raided the castaways.
After a great battle, Tarzan and the tribe prevailed. While the elders debated Jagger’s fate, Tarzan killed the scoundrel. “I don’t let a scorpion sting me a second time.”
IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING
April 19: On this day in 1968, the Russ Manning Daily Tarzan strip “Tarzan and the Renegade Part One, Chapter Two, Tarzan and the Tyrannosaurs” concluded in 1969. How’s that for a long title. Bet you can guess who did the artwork. No clues.
The drabble today is “In Sheep’s Clothing,” based on that story.
IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING
Tarzan said, “These are my people. I’m one of them. I’d don’t profit from their labor.”
“No, you’re like all English lords. You work them to death for personal gain.”
Auric addressed the Warziri. “I offer you freedom and modern civilization.”
Muviro said, “We are free. Want nothing from your civilization. We know your kind, you’re another would be king clothed as a freedom fighter. Release Tarzan. We won’t obey you and we’ll fight you to the death.”
April 21: All-Story Weekly published “The Mad King” on this day in 1914. The cover art was by Fred W. Small and the interior headpiece was drawn by Modest Stein.
The drabble for today is “Robin Hood of Lutha.”
ROBIN HOOD OF LUTHA
“Are all loyal citizens, highwaymen?”
“I’ll contact the regent, Peter of Blentz, and arrange
for your safe return. A little ransom money for my men, of course.”
“Once a thief, always a thief.”
Peter sent word he’d only pay ransom for a dead king.
Who’s the bigger thief, Peter who robs the whole kingdom, or me, a poor
highwayman who only takes what crumbs needed to survive?”
April 22: On this day in 1916, All-Story Weekly published part three of “Thuvia, Maid of Mars.” Thuvia didn’t make the cover, that honor went to “When the Devil was Sick” by E.J. Rath, the pseudonym of J. Chauncey Corey Brainerd and his wife Edith Rathbone Brainerd. Chauncey and Edith, who were both writers, went on to collaborate on a number of stories together under the pen name E.J. Rath. Chauncey was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. At the time of his death he had been the Washington bureau chief for the Brooklyn Eagle for over ten years. They were married on June 4, 1903.
While watching a movie one snowy night in Washington, DC, Chauncey Corey Brainerd and his wife Edith were killed when the flat roof of Crandall's Knickerbocker Theatre collapsed under the weight of over two feet of heavy snow.
The drabble today is “Wish in One Hand.”
Carthoris asked the guard, “Where are the people? There were thousands of bowmen.”
“This city is empty. Our Jeddak’s mind makes the warriors."
“But thousands of dead lie outside."
“Belief in illusionary arrows can kill.
“If I believe a flyer waits for me, will it be there?”
“As the Jeddak wills.”
“What about as I will?”
“You were raised not believing your wishes come true,
and your doubts are too strong. If everyman’s wishes were flyers, the sky
would be full.”
PLAIN SIGHT
April 23: On this day in 1927, Argosy All-Story Weekly published part two of The War Chief. The cover was painted by C. Clyde Squires and illustrated the story, Forged Faces by John Wilstach. Wilstach had over 100 stories and novels published in the pulps and Squires supplied more than fifty covers. Squires specialized in romance covers. Wilstach wrote four circus related novels for Argosy, Circus Blood, Circus Revenge, Circus Runaway, and Hey, Rube. He also wrote the short story, Circus Clean-up. Gotta love the Big Top.
The Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired drabble of the day is “Plain Sight.”
PLAIN SIGHT
Geronimo didn’t yell fire, he chirped and the Apache’s opened attqacked.
By nightfall, half the army lay dead. Geronimo left Black Bear with three warriors to keep the soldiers pinned down while his main force retreated.
Black Bear rejoined Geronimo two days later. “Why are
the soldiers so easy to kill?”
“They have eyes, but do not see. Ears, but do not
hear. We hide in plain sight and move silently as the coyote.”
“So we’ll win.”
“Maybe not. They are relentless as falling water.”
JANE FROM NEBRASKA
April 24: On this day in Wisner, Nebraska, Virginia Huston, Jane in "Tarzan's Peril," was born in 1925, just about 150 miles north of Beatrice, where ERB's longtime friends Bert and Margaret Weston lived. I have it on good authority that the Hustons and the Custers were not acquainted.
Today’s drabble is “Jane from Nebraska.”
JANE FROM NEBRASKA
“Why will I be perfect?”
“Jane’s the ultimate good girl. You’ve always played good girls. You were a shining beacon in those 1940’s film noir movies.
“Is that a compliment?”
"Absolutely. Nothing sells tickets like a good girl in danger. Your wardrobe’s in this suitcase.”
"Small suitcase. Are the costumes few in number or skimpy in coverage?”
“Skimpy. That a problem.”
“Not as long as I don’t watch the film with my parents in Wisner, Nebraska.”
“Virginia, Nebraska’s dress code doesn’t play on the big screen.
PAY ATTENTION
April 25: On this day in 1997, to quote Danton Burroughs, “Hugh Munro Neely approached me with the idea of The Palmdale Playhouse, of the Antelope Valley Community Arts Center, Palmdale, California producing the play, You Lucky Girl. I enthusiastically gave my permission and on April 25th through May 4th, 1997 "You Lucky Girl!" was performed on stage for the first time.”
Today’s drabble is “Pay Attention.”
PAY ATTENTION
”
The woman answered. “That’s your takeaway. Burroughs couldn’t have written a play where a woman isn’t subservient to her husband and isn’t the happy to be barefoot and pregnant. Have you read any of his books?”
“Well, she seemed unhappy?”
“Her mother-in-law was a witch and her husband a clueless
buffoon.”
“I didn’t think they were that bad.”
“You’ll have plenty of time to think about it while
you sleep on the couch.”
DAGGA RAMBA
April 26: On this day in 1942, the Burne Hogarth and Don Garden Tarzan Sunday strip Tarzan Against Dagga Ramba concluded.
Today's drabble is Dagga Ramba.
DAGGA RAMBA
“You remember the lost Viking tribe, the Ibeks, in northern Africa. A man named Dagga Ramba attacked them.”
“What a strange name. It sounds like some strange tribal
dance.”
“He was African, but he dressed like a Foreign Legion
officer. He assembled tribes of nomads and unhappy soldiers. After the
Vikings, he turned on the Bedouins, his former allies."
“What did he want?”
“He wanted everything. I stopped him, but he escaped.
I think he’ll return.”
“No doubt, bad men turn up like distant relatives
at a rich man’s funeral.”
REST IN PEACE, ASHTON
April 27: On this day in 1942, Ashton Dearholt died. Dearholt was ERB's Partner in Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises Inc. and the producer/director of The New Adventures of Tarzan and former husband of ERB's second wife, Florence Gilbert. He was also a veteran film actor, having starred in dozens of silent movies.
Today's drabble is "Rest In Peace, Ashton."
REST IN PEACE, ASHTON
“How sad. We were married for eight years. He was a good teacher and friend. I’ll miss him.”
“I’ll miss him too. He taught me a lot. He worked hard, but in vain, to make Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprise Inc. a success.”
“Ed, I liked “The Phantom of Santa Fe” and “Thunda”.
Flo, he did a great job with “New Adventures of Tarzan.”
His portrayal of the villain, Raglan, was amazing.”
“Be nice, Ed. He wasn’t the best husband, but he was
well-intentioned.”
“Intentions don’t produce films on budget.”
GOLDEN MARMALADE
April 28: On this day in 1934, Tit-Bits Magazine, an English magazine, published Tarzan and the Lion Man.
Today's drabble is "Golden Marmalade."
GOLDEN MARMALADE
“Well, my story blurb is above the masthead. It would have been nice to see my name somewhere on the front.”
“The Golden and Silver Spread Marmalade advertisements cover half the front page.”
“I know. As long as their check clears and they don’t edit my story or have Tarzan and Jane sit down for a spot of tea and marmalade covered crumpets, what they do is their business. File the copy.”
COME BACK WHEN YOU GROW UP GIRL
April 29: Some sources report that it was April 29, 1935 rather than March 29, 1935 as the date that Argosy rejected the story, "Tarzan and Jane", aka Tarzan’s Quest.
Exploration of various websites reveal contradictory information, sometimes on the same site, but at different locations within the site. Nevertheless, the story was rejected by Argosy in early 1935 and purchased almost immediately by Blue Book Magazine. Blue Book produced some outstanding covers and the cover for this story was no exception.
The drabble today is "Come Back When You Grow Up Girl."
COME BACK WHEN YOU GROW UP GIRL
The Princess was helpless and required her maid, Annette, to wait on her hand and foot.
Jane said, “Everyone must take care of themselves.”
The Princess said, “Of course, I plan to terminate Annette. I haven’t had any tea and my clothes are filthy. She’s been entirely too lax. I shan’t give her a reference.
Jane said, “I’m amazed that a woman as stupid as you survived to grow up. No doubt the jungle will rectify that oversight.”
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