The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-20
MR. BERGn's iMERICAN PLAr.
Conversation with Him about This aud
HIs IreNiona " ork as a PlnNwrlght.


His Previous " ork as a Playwright.
There were posters and circulars from
the Prevention OF Cruelty to Animals as far
away as Alsiers upon the desk at which Henry
Bcreh sat yesterday when no was asked about
tbs rumor that he bad written play.
IL do not understand how the rumor got
abroad" was the reply, "but have written a
play, and 1t has beeu read by the msnager OF one
ofthe theatres In this city"
." Ex-Nayor Halls experience has not al all in
undated your"
"Oh, no, not az all. He was not punished be-
fore he made the venture. as 1 have been.
have done great deal OF that kind OF literary
work. The Christening 1 received from the
critics who read my efforts In London was so
severe that | concluded there was one or two
things left for me to do-either to abandon
dramatic literature. or continue writing until
succeeded m evadlng those faults which my
works possessed At the same time the plays
which wrote were approved for many Of their
qualities Tom Taylor read play of mine once
ana judged II with all his ability. lie Is one OF
the ATTEST dramatists, you know. STILL he said
u was good play. Tho only thing lie was IL
doubt about was whether the comedy part or
the dramatic portion was most Interesting"
Mr. Bereh opened closet In his desk and
taking from It a printed pamphlet, said, There
torinus II was written lust before | went To-
-. Petersburg, and was Lrinted in Paris The
pamphlet was entitled Loves Alternative-a
serio-comic drama in five acts, bv Henry Bergh.
Bergh was asked.
YES. a play ~ mine met with some success
In Philadelphia nut II WAS a little thing
used TO have a strong desire To succeed
IA playwright. | somewhat Of a
traveller. and | wrote a great deal. | wrote a
book once and mad II published In London.
W men II appeared the newspapers. with one ac-
cord. assaie II with adverse criticism. The
book did not deserve this. 1t was local-Amcr-
iCan-in it, character, ana the English critics
were not able to comprehend II or to Judge IL
fairly. j was verv much disconcerted at the
time, and when / went to my publ sher. with
the newspaper notices In nv hand he noticed
said. said he: There are two things TO be de-
sired from the press: hearty approval UNI
| s9ariug criticism. The worst an author can fear
| Il that his work viii not be noticed at all
" How did YOU come to write this last play p
have been very much occupied by my
| duties here" Mr.. Bcrch said, referring TO the
management Of the society OF whcn ne Is Pres
! IN Russia left me hut little opportunity to en-
! gage In Ork of the kind. Recently theatri-
| cal manager asked ne To write a play. and the
one have just hnisned Is the result The man
ager has reaL II. and have note here IN which
he says II Is one of the best plays Of the kinG he
| has ever read. Since he wrote | have had tho
| manuscript In my hands again and have modi-
deals with a phase Of American life never treated
before on the stagc-ncNer noticed NJ all think.
| refer u the strange mania that people have
| mothers moro eSpectaiIv-in our republic Tor
| forming foreign alliances for their daughters,
the object being to gam "A title for them. If they
are only broken down haruns or worthless counts
they are satisfied to sell their daughters for then
| titles. Mind do not saw the play IL accepted
| or VIII be produced. only say 1t has met with
| the manager approval