PHtfA' wwppjB F r ; 3LPHIA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1022 ' '' . 'g - i , J :;! EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER PfiirADELPHI A mtt - ''ma AUGUSTUS THOMAS, ONCE RJILROJD LABORER, ' V , 1 u T.fr. S ' va IS NOW DICTATOR OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE i T ' Frem the Baggage Roem of a Little Missouri Read te the Highest Single Power in Stage World 9 Such Is the Rise of the Auther of Sixty-three Plays; Was Once an Usher. POSITION HE NOW HOLDS COMPARABLE TO THAT OF LANDIS AND WILL HA YS Mr Themas Is Net an Academician in Attitude Toward Theatre; Doesn't Believe That Because a Play Is Pep- . ular It Is Badly Written; Th inks Mere of Average Theatre Geers' Opinion. FROM a checker of freight te the dictator of the stage! Frem the baggngeroem of n little Missouri railroad te the office of ihe highest single power in thentrcdemt A long, hard read, through countless experiences, disheartening defeats, stimulating victories te the position of arbiter of all matters of policy pertaining te the production of plays in this country. Augustus Themas, railroad man, reporter, editor, cartoonist, stage manager, producer, playwright, en August 1, in New Yerk, opened the afflce of executive chairman of the Producing Managers' Association. As executive chairman, the new position created for him, he is the' guiding head of the largest, in fact the only, important organization of legitimate plnyniakcrs in thi3 country. His new position in the theatre is comparable te that of Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis in baseball and Will H. Hays in the movies, nd the power he wields is the cumulative influence of fifty-three of the meat influential producing managers of the land. Mr. Themas' commanding ability f md success ns a playwright, His I whero I de my writing. That bench fimflinritv with, all departments of vcr in the corner is wher.-I tinker with ,, ., , ... ' .. 4.i. ii mere meeiinnica things, for recreation. the theatre, literary, artistic, inter- ... , i , . .. pretive, prometive and managerial. Ml. Temn penlw, t,i(,s( e,u ,n kis sympathy and personal acquaint-i n ln nl room T, , 1P nee with all members of, the pre-j hjZP 0f nn er(i,mry house itself. Along fessien, make him the only logical one wall is n Inrge tireplnce, with two choice for the position which carries lounges stretching toward it. On the with it, it is rumored, the largest , opposite wall hnngs a fifteen-feet sca- melument given te a single person -"cape by Lionel Nalden by the producing interests. "Ne, I can't say hew rfluch it i," I lays Mr. Themas, "but I am quite satisfied with it." Mr. Themas, during his long ca reer, has written sixty-three plays; H. Thenmi. Ills father wns associated j with the tlicatie. bcltiR director for n time of the old Hi. Charles Theatre in i New Orleans. "ion See. I wns hreurdit III) ill th" atmosphere of tlin theatre." Mr. Themas said, as he swutit a hefty blew at the deemed tree. "We talked about It at breakfast, dinner nnd supper. And it whs most natural fnr mv mind te be directed thentrewnrd." He was educated in the public schools of Ht. Leuis, wns n pnge in the I-erty-first Congress, und up te the period of I lils twenty-second jenr wns in the freight department of various 1-allreatK . i.. n.., .i. nn.i uinl... i' ..j inn. 1'iu,, us: cuill'll ilium-. II was u sentimental little thing. I begun it when 1 was about futirteen years etd." Mr. Themas was inked wlien he wrote the first play that was produced. "That one was produced," replied the author of "The Copperhead," and with the suggestion of a question in his werdB nn intimation of surprise that any one should suppose he would write n piny that wasn't te be pro duced. Thii surprise did net mean that Mr. Themas believes lie couldn't pos sibly write a piny that wouldn't be geed enough for production. His sur-1 prise merely signified wonder that nnv I one should want te write a play If it I couldn't be produced. It is very significant of Mr. Themas-" healthy conception of what a geed piny should be. He Isn't en nc.ulemlclaii In his attitude toward tie thrntre. lie is ery piactical. lie dot m't believe that1 because a play Is popular It is a badly I written play. In I'nct. lie has a suspi- I den that the amount of money a, piny three plays te his credit, but he is un doubtedly the only Amerlcnn play wright, If apt the only playwright in the world, who has managed te fell 800 dead pine trees In the spare moments when he wasn't writing plays. He directed his attention te the tree again. Ills ax sang out, the groove ln the tree wcarlnu deeper and deeper. "In my twenties I eiileied the law nflice of .lean ;eiuy, intner or uuni bridge Celby, and studied law with him for two years. But' I didn't like It very much and nt every opportunity I hur ried te sonic theatre or ether. "About thnt time Charles Pepe built a new theatre in St. I.euis, and 1 be came his oeslstont treasurer. Ter two years I sold and took in tickets. And net enlv wns that part of my Jeb, but I had cither duties. I looked nfter the r.,11... iw.l.lti.1 tk. Mpptirn. imhprivl n hit. pasted up billpesters, nnd was a kind of general esthetic adviser. I was n man of all jobs, in ether words nnd it wns the best sort of experience." All during this period Mr. Thntnns was wilting nnd drawing. He used te draw pictures en boxwood ln these duys. "In '8-i nnd '85 I was part owner and manager of the Dicksen Sketch Club, niimcd nfter William Dicksen, one of the owners. Edgar Smith, luter the well-known phiymukcr, was the ether owner. We traveled about In llie Middle West nnd East mid produced most particularly two of my own pluy-. 'Iallthu's Hurghir,' adapted from the story bv Frances Hngdsen Harnett, ami 'Combustion.' n two-act seng-nnd dunce fm-cc. Delia Fex. later one of our lending comediennes, ,daed 'Combustion.' " "We'll come back here Inter." he said nnd made for the deer. "Com ing Lux?'' Up called te a large brown wolfhound, which pattered up te his legs. "This Is I.ux, slieit for Luxem being. My ten brought li tin from ever- seas. A (,erman police deg. He nc- It leihappens, one for each year that ! cemnnnles me whenever I co out for ... . . i - --- lie has lived. His ftrst play he fin- my exercUe. Jshed when he was sixteen years eld. And he has just completed a Mr. Themas led the way along the back of ills house. He pointed te lit- play in collaboration with Jehn ' th' cxtemnens built te three windows Tainter Foetc, adapted from Feete's of ,lie upi"'r Merll's of llls UeU8- Itery, "The Seng of the Drngen." "I bfRtin te wiite plays." Mr. riiemas Fnhl the ether daj , "bi'cuusp lit nrrcr occurred te me that one heuldn't ' "They are my evwi Invention. Sleep- ing perches, entered through the win dew. My wife, Incredulous at first, was se delighted by the one I built for injbcll" I had te build one for her I und one for my daughter, tee." He picked bis way along n nnnew footpath under the thick pine trees i warding off from his fnce the ihert! or low mancnes which Heme Rambling Heuse Surrounded by Pines He was sitting en the wide nerc klj reillltl'i home, two miles out of 'drunk nt him ns he went lEast Hampton, Leng Island, and In , 'cisurelv bv. tie depth uf the pine weeds. His home "Loek out for that I" a green frame, rambling building, l branch I The smaller terioeklng the (..cerglac Klver. One trees make my exercise kumlred frit fiem the house, the house ! rather dlluVuh. They knnet be seen for the luxuriant growth catch the n when I Pi pine tiers nrimnd it. Mr. Themas Is swing it. I luuc te cut Hardeman, with a round, jovial face, them down when they're Dn his grnj luud slouched a worn felt In the vaw" i ii aaKw 3HHv I mm0mMfk Hii inHfiHliBKz uHHH9f&S sHeAs $& i'V.. w Csw ?(' '1Wk' " - i&mamKmiZf?xr:..-tvsmwBnmm(rj mrr tii iwhim m i m i n mr.v: ;-.v 'P.xammBOHBi&mmvmm hi mme?1- wmasiim.usf'ciats. X KR?QHHrc??Si3IK WM iimi23nKWBWHtt3BtiKMm-&"-mm7 deun tlu er. HHHi i mr i l& immmx B y VOX. ! p&m&jbifpt fit p Mr. 'Ihe'mas ready for M I 't cJHh if ' n,erninB 8tre" .'jwem ki? vu LW I A. - "Ji 11 1 1 i ' ' IBMI1II an i1 ' i I BBHWMBBiBml ' JWMBilBMiMli3iifi .remr 4il; BIHBHHIflBIBt'!HHHi9l9BflHHVHflHBflKc?y ,Isa rLsfHHBh'LjHBCS mM iIiBpK.9KliIilH M1BB1bBBBHWKSi8I;BHBbBBBr H wIMi BBHBIIBBWlll Ww..1"1 ihi'iii Ji'ilillMilBilBr'lff ''-maKfflfflttBKSBEwMi)KD2EHKEi BHgWWWK s. N. HBHBSlPiBwHnilBuciHlH Y(J I -' ...".. t . . i i . ... .,-1 &$f',C' ''.' Augustus Themas' after-dinner diversion is his book and pipe Kp ""V ? j ar ,,,a,, . nrite. nnd I wiite tin- 'believes that Government censorship RHH ., u,.,.. , tx-rU Play. And there are ether jears when the imposition of unclean btage produo preduo produe V&Qgm III can stage at went u i,nif OTl,lc tOT;. i ,,.,, til 11 o'clock. I find that I can de u ' of the stiiEi- is the surest and ciulckcst geed daj's work ln thnt time. There way of obliterating the dramatic art in : uis nuuii.- war wilt'il i uu iiim uiiisu it uii t'Ulllliry, Art uc iixuiis u iipiwu n, play. And there are ether jears when the imposition of unclean btnge produo preduo produe ll line written two." ' nun. ) itecentlv u jeung woman asked the . . -r . .. Iplajwrlght whkh was the play he him-, I l"' A Of a I'UMtin, m-ii linen ui'st. iiic ur.'imatisi iiesiiiiieu , :i moment, arid said, with feigned he-d Itnnc, "Of course, it is a difficult mat Iter te decide, I hae written s ninny "That Isn't a new ioke." he lnuched It i it s Oscar Wilde's erlclnallv De I Loek Like One?" "Certumly I am net going te bring nn l'uritanical inilui'iice te hour upon the matter. I am net u l'uritan. De I leek like one'" he asked. lie is iiariiai ie a sj iieni ei voluntary Seme one nskeil him te niuke a number I ceusershii. "I de net think that. s f.ir of corrections m 'Lady Wludcmere's I as the managers nre concerned, ihe ran.' nnd he demanded. 'Who nm I i voluntary censorship will fail. I think that I should tiille with n clussic?' Hy this time Mr. Themas had sep arated a portion of the tree trunk into three fire legs about three nnd a half feet ui'lengtli. The perspiintien poured fiem him. He whistled for his deg j.uv. nut im una deserted him. that whn any one of ihe manager is reminded that he has presented a play that has Niiiifthing outrageous in it, lie will de his best te remedy the matter." It i hoped that the appointment et Mr. Themas for three jmrs will eveni- him. j u, illy figure largely in preventing nni Inuise." he' repetition of the actors' strike of JPlii commented. "And new we'll go back since he rnjejs the centuleuce of both nnu i ii taKe n shower and chut for a ' sides, and was ilecl'ledU the iiiniivnic , while en the perch." ! which prevailed upon both the pros nnd The drnmntlst. ten minute nfter he1'1" cons te tigu a peace ngrctmeut for hnd again entered liis studio, appeared I've jenrs. en the penh in n dnz7llng white jinlr "The managers- have paid me the of trousers, n white shirt, white shoes compliment of putting r.i" In a plan;." anil black tie. He mndi a wither im- I he suid, "where J am enabled te present posing figure, standing there with the fairU the interests of ether elements wind from ever the (ieergiac playing m the theatre with whnh manngei manngei manngei obeut him. He pointed out his ".ill- come into eentuct, such as dramatists, beat, lu which he gees te the son each actors, musicians, mechanical hands, ns morning after bin work is done, ami, well as with the public My hope tv Ethel Barrymore, for whom Mr. Themas wrote "The Xightin- gale," the first ".screen story" written in the United States I bathes. i "When I found myelf in New Yerk 'there were a number of intrretiug names ln mv chosen fiild Hronsen Heward, author of '.SnraieKn' was then the biggest of them nil; Dien Heuclcaiilt was just quitting and Clyde Pitch. Henry Tie Mille, father of the two Pe Mille boys of today ; William lilllett and one wemnn, Martha Morten were the big names." i Movies and Speakies Xet , at Loggerheads, He Says I Mr. Themas does net believe that the te be able te offer suggestions which will command their respect and make fur team weik net only between pro ducer themselves, but among all the diluents Involved." Mr. Themas premises that he is net going te fester any particular kind of piny. He intent,-, te try te the best e! his ability te be enuful net te lean un duly in any one direi tien. with the in direct eflei t el standardizing the thea tre. He belli cs that plays are stead ily improving in quality. "Cempnratixelv. America has mere dramatists nf merit tinu nn ether movies 4nd the bpeul.ies aie at logger- country In the world, and happily, the g heads. They can't hurt cadi ether, he believes. "Playwrights nre still going te write plays, nnd scenario writers are going te write mown, pictures." he said. "It's an entire inherent neld the held of faction, bent ever and took oil his int. He drew his lingers across his leieiiemi. -wcii. wnai nave wc nere; i , . . ,, ,i,ur :- ,. ,n jl-n, i..,t I, ,l .. .... ff "' i......-.- .. .... ..Miih'-i tl-Ulll llHllll.1l 4111 'M till 1 '(, chiinie, jhe casual observer might have said. "Yeu have there, sir, what was once Hid pounds or mere of surplus flit n liquidation " "The rest of the weik is eay " Mr. Themas observed. "Once the tree is i the uiiti"M pnture. And just as there lis no ilnngir of poets spoiling the work of novel i there is no danger of scenario writers ruining the chances 0f the plav maker. "1 have written but one screen sterv It was the first one written In Ameneu directly for the screen and ter a great actor, if was calieu "ine Mgiitiu- genrral condition of tin stage tedj is healthy," he believes "The best plnvs are written In men familiar with the theatre. The two most successful plnvs ln the history of the theatre were writ ten bv men who acted ln them. The sneers-, of Plank l'ticen's 'Lightning anil Prank t luven's 'The First Yeui ' is phenomenal. "Cven Sliakespenir himself was nn icter. lie knew his theatre lirst hand It is said that Shakespeaie is uu.ip prnuclmlili ami that the plavs of ted.iv are net in nnv wnv ( niiiparable vit'i loose ei ins nnv n s ansuril Ne art stars themse'ves slst the hewer of weed I mip the ax, and specific gravity helps me bring it down sharply. I'll cm tome of this fellow tl) In small piei es. i "Where, was i : in, yes. .mm aner (n n " (ITU i.pite?, tur l.tliel llnrpi n. ...- ... .i . .. -.., , ...."" " ........ .,.... ul (,i wenu is e sensitive te t nt. that surrounds it a that of in nu:i There 1ms lieen considerable specula tien ever ju-r what work Mr. Themn will de, In lu.s new capacity ns evec.i five chairin iti of the Producing Sl.ni ngers' Assn, i it ten. inesnliere the theatre ' Think of etir own tnte. See hew it vnrlei. Times change and taste ihcngi's There wns ft period In up life when 1 never wanted nny piny her "uggest that in all likelihood, were he living tedav. he would write like a contemporary play w light, but bringing te his pluys tint profound understand ing and conception of life nnd people which wcie distinctly his Emotional Reaction Is Criterion of Play "Literature is a transcription of iti tune. And In the pluy, the emotional reaction is the criterion. Pirst, last nnd all the time a pluy i mndc te b played. It is possible te overwrite u pipy. Plays that aie feed reading mny really net be geed plays nt all. And then, are pluys which can t possibly be read, but which are cxtiaerdinary thing te see. "A strong act will leave a man stirred te the very roots, whether what the dramatist writes is literature ac cording te the academician or net. What can be sail bv indirection today had te be written fully in the day of the I.liynbethan " ,.. Th" ery iact that theatres today are in cities, ami sin rounded bv suburban cuuiuiliuiti) s. ch mgcs fhc type of the medi rn play. It must net be much longer than two benis and n half. Otherwise, fnlks haven't t line te sec, It. Cciiisequi ntly . the play must be. pared down te its merest essentials. Purtl crmeie, according tn Mr Thomes, the pluy must be m-cii at one sitting; uulertuiiately , it must be plnyed indoors where the ventilation is often bad. "And bad air and bud eutilutien have spoilt d mere plavs than bad third acts, " is the manner In which Sir. 1 bourns puts it. And with the cemplev stage accom modations, there are innuy mere chances of failure te co-ordinate. The moon doesn't come up at the right time, the daylight fails, or the electric bell re fuses te ling nt the critical moment. ' And If one thing happens that way, there are nlvvays ethers te fellow," said Mr Themas "I hnve seen a great scene ruined because u cat get out en the stage and slowly wnll.u! across It." New, Mr. Themas is certalnlv net :eillJ te see te it ui hi., mm imklilnn that cats keen off the stores of Ainrr. ten It would be iisluiit; tee much te evpect him te de that Hut he Is geln te attempt te meet the problems that i nn lie lenieilled, wh.-tinr the drill with Play writing or play producing, that will advance the steady growth of the art of the theatre in America. That thcte are problems u man of his iperienie is enlv tee poignantly hurj -that tbev i an be solved te the ''Hfi-v faction of j i,i, in -ictep .im producer la t'e job wlii, h tests largely m Sir. 1 hiiniM- i npulilr I ands Dr. Quinn, of Perm. Praises Mr. Themas U sold the play 1 did some newspaper 'Mm of all. he said. "I am net ,er tm Wlllnni ( 11, 1 1. nl,. .,', ' work. t was a reporter en tl.r St. R C te be u ,ar I don't mind folks 1 1" , " t t 2 l.euls Pest Dispatch; some time fter- 'calling me a ,vt,r. because theie are m ,M,t , , , u n .1nrUUJ,',1m,r .nurd I ran a little paper called the evv of ,hein lat these days, and I like .e,,c, tn , for ,, tme th a P ter'e Kansas City Mirror. 1 Illustrated it te.l,e different Hut I am really net ,..,!,, ' l " " l "lnr" s ii tlruiiiii'i assured "He lr Aiibtir II sllv et Permsv v nm. i t Mi '1 humus p nt, g 'amis in driunn "' snya Jiiinn, of il.e I nivci - in Ins book en and edited It Prem ' te S!I Mr Themas took ehnrge of Julia Marlowe's first tour I Mie was a yeuiiK gin men, nnu iiiavea "Pdithn's llurglar," Juliet. Ilenallnd and Li Item's "Lady of Lyens " Subse quently she includeil Clyde . "Ilarbarn Prictchle," nnd Knighthood Was lu Plewcr" irperteire. With the close et Miss Marlowe's tour Mr. lliemas became bufcinci-s man Pitch's "When n her going te be one. "The work will be mere in the nature of lohisery service. It w i ;s- sery te have some one who is net espe cially resjMtnsible te uny particular I field of the piotessien, one who is free te decide, und who enn decide d'sln teresitedlv ." .lust nfter Mr Themas' mveptnne of the position, a btatement was made by Sam II. Harris, piesident of tin nssieiatien. which sums up the need aini me nuMsnuiniy et unvitig such an ager for Washington Irving HUhep, a etliclnl co-eidiniuor the statement said Julia Marluvve, whose theatrical tour late eighties I', a cinss i. ..i.. , i . I derl iii 'e a Miiuiireie nun ., " , ' ""'' a leiign tune slilit. L ,:' rellc'1 '" ""' clhevvH, worn gruy P-r. flii i, i , ii) orevvn saees, "Tht. i a, " J""1 "if "me of the day xerei "custemed te tuke my ,. ' ,J" J en mind coming along "mej j,m ,fllV( J0ur,.ent lcrUM , ,DD;, , er,,f "' Pitching Heur" , vvta ln(e the corner met rnl.lin.il ar. .......sv "Tn.. . , . I ,., lrl B8 well Bec fcemcthtng 'rudle, s m e out. UertU ' Thumas managed in the Mr Themas mstled about leukiug at the tops of the trevs Cuts Down Dead Pines Fer Weed in Fireplace "Ah! here's a dead one!" lie placed his hand cm Ihe trunk of a foet-thnk pine tnc. "I nil down the dead ones and I chop 'em up and use the w I ter my lliepliice The exercise is much better than golf. "I'll talk vvhPc I weik a pleasant combination, ler then the work becomes elew and amiable." Mr. Theiiins wns born in fit, 1iuis, Me,, January 8, 1850, the bob eXKIlhu .util It was plan I in Mobile nnd in St, Leuis I have lest the iiiiinu seiipt. It wus in sciipt." He pausi-il in his hewing of weed, "There, leek at that! Weed-i hop ping makes me pci spite, and it brings me ceiclse nnd kindling, in the hai galu. Soen I'll be wringiiu; wet and quite ready for a shower. My pieb- Iciii," and he pointed te his girth, "is one of diminution. And I always wel come the pcispiiatieu, I have been here lu this home for twenty -two years. I built it myself. Lvety year I cut down about fifteen of these tiers en this' ten-acre plot 1 own Just count that up!" Has Chopped Down .WO Trees Since the Year 1900 In all, it makes njipiexiiualdy '!(M) pine inch, and it adds an additional item te ihe noteworthy fuels of Mr, Themas' tutcreMliuf life; he is net only . the dean et playwrights, with sixty ih) or e Hut the traveling company made very Utile money. The players loamed from 'I'm p'y' '" ""ether, te Chicago, te Milwaukee, New Orleans und ninny smaller cities. The thcnties were second-story theatres, net eiy coiufeit- ante, and as like as net ever a goods store, or a meat tuatke. hardware! shoe. 'Ne, second-story theatres were lulte the thing iu these dnya, even later. Old Daly's of New Yerk was a secotul-stery theatre, the Princess and the old Lyceum were second -story theatres, tee. Hut what Is most slg nlllciint about this company Is that It bieught te the attention of young Charley Prehman "Kditha's Hurglar," which he bought for laldy Nethrrn. It netted me n very small royalty Loek out !" With a crunching, crackling sound, the pine tree at llrst slevvlv. and then very quickly, tumbled tn the ground, tiiinBhlng down the undergrowth Mr. Themas, with a grunt of satis- .T plieuenienal thought -reuder "He wus a great man," mused Mr, Themas. "In Ibv.i, while giving n few experiments at the Lambs' Club, he died suddenly. I hurried te Philadel phia te get his wife, who lived there. In my absence n physician held nn au tepsy und loeu out Hisiiep s brain Tin' memeeis el the P M . recegnuing the benefit similar oigani-.utleii-i hope for In the concentration of executive activity and its delegation te il single representiitle informed nnd ImparJHJly situated, have tsked Mr Angus Themas te serve m sin h cupnr fei them under the title of ud because he did it without nnv one's ' cxecifttP- chuiimuii consent, mid within an hour after the "Mr. Themas' place In the opinion 1 ileum, lie was cunrgcu with innnsinugli ter. He was tried, but acquitted. Ut trunrillnury, wasn't It?" "And 1 believe that if n plnv of Shnkespenrc tisbu does net stu the emotions of nn average audience and if tbev don't leave the theatre -.avin,' 'That's a great plav,' thru that pluy of .Shakespeare, se far ns today is ,on ,en 'ernwl. is net a grent play." In the bard's geneinlinn the theatie hnd net the ndvuntnge of the modern Inventions in stage lighting nnd scnic nccommo nccemmo nccomme dntlonN. If the scene was nt night Shnkcspcnte had some one snv : " 'When von same stnr that's west- wnrd fiem the pole Hnd mnde his course te illume thnt part of heaven Where new It burn ' or something like it i when it is cold and biting und Hamlet snv- " 'The ale bites shrewdlv , it Is very cold." "And Horatio unswns: of both the public nnd the profession , '" is u nipping and nn eager air.' i Ills familiarity with all departments of "De you see what I menu- Shakes. I Iho theatre, literury, artistic, in- peare hud te write his scenerv ; teduv , terpretive. prometive nnd managerial, wn have nn electrician, a luilntci, ii his pcrsennl nciiualntanee with iu fore- mush inn te irct the effes-ts for ns. ,..., ,, . , , . ,, ,np!;t men and women, his sympathy "If it is cold and snowing, the actor 'Edithtt's' Burglar,' Inte Feur"UU their hopes and ambitions, all . , no longer has te sav s0. but he simph ""- ""'" "ii.i iu no- Kiiiisc's Henipuiing i ii ii i leniis like ' He Extended One-Act Play, in 'Si. the pfnyvvrlting btisinesVnn;;, ro.epern Ien Vnrd hie, w (Z In X , Z"" , '.l TH Z? M'am.J'naVrwistuVrt.ile,,: K.!"'0 "" "" ""' m' -L? f f V" V " 'i" "w iiiik litia Ml'iiu ur ixillllir uinuili I III IIIMIIll tlT tlin I i,ll.mlii. nl.., 7'. a buslness.wlth .iff-T iKach day I get up about 7 o'clock. HyivTch could possibly give offense. e '-He'had thffh of genius, but I ' IJepleseniiitive no ruiin i'lays." "for litnarv i riiftsinaii-hlp cemblne.l vvlth pr.'llUilll kll iWlclge of the stngr and for a serious inteifst m -h,, furthr iiinr of dramntn pn griss. Hm work m net the result of nuidiutnl inspiration, but he bus pre) eedeil en u basis of Ioj,'i Iej,'i nil dedmtleii from observed fnctn te nn istiiblishnient of tundninriiial prim iples in drnni'iiii i enstrm turn "Ills nit isnilive te.., his first sig nitiiint ilnv, lnbnmii piedurcd April 1. iv.ii t ,,,. M,immi Squiire TheiitH'. New erk. had us its tlieiilH tie reunited cetititiv 'In AIi.eur ' IMC, pil Hired III l.e les SUflilficunl. l heugh nmusiiii;, ti.aiiin r the . iistems of that Suite Aiienn.' produced Inst June l'J lyili, ,n 11,,,,,1,,,'h (;I1U Oprn Heuse I'hbnge Is ii better play than any of the ones pic. ding it, anil Mr Thmnis may be sanl te hnve en tend upon his most fcii,iln nut period ' with this piny r Themas pro pre dm ed in x r some rhurmihg comedies, i'ithir. like 'tiivr (leldsinith.' 1S0II llll tlliagllintive tie, nn, rut ,f liliriirv ,1. story, or 'The p.,rl of I'nw tucket.' 1HH.J. or 'Mis l.elliiiifwell's its ' P.HI.i i lever tli'ltiiirnts of uieilern life. ' Perhnps his best-known plnrs art. "The Witching Heur." which In. wretfl for Jehn Masen, "Ah a Man Thinks" also for Jehn Masen, nnd "The Cep. pcrlieiid. for Lionel Hnrrymere. Ills Inst plnv te dnte wns produced In New erk lust srnsen under the title Ncrnc'ls (),,e enn rendlly under" siiind .Mi lliemas versutillty from a,, incident which einiurl tilth the pro duction of tilt- plnv On a few hour.' notice it wns lien snrv te secure n man te fill the pun of th lending character 111 llll! (llll. M.. '11 .-. . ft . ... .... i"-j ! i nenius Hirpiiea in in ipin.ii-ii me mm te tn aatisraci ei every one cencernad. l V.. f i i v. ilr '.i'I .O.n .tf 1 i M " -. fe fl ,n f. MfPf'i - e .R. 1 WJ i J- -I ' fth A
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers