The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-02
ADJUSTMENTS.



comedian, who being IN ardent American adj
mirer OF Mark Twain was somewhat piaucd
and offended that comparatively obscure
writer should thus claim thcatrlc superiority
over the great American humorist. who's
he. I'd like TO know" exclaimed the American
comedian. " that dares to think he can do worse
than Mark Twain He must be some scholarly
American jackass. with literary ability and
other vices. Where is he2 Let me see him for
I'm in the market myself for worse play than
Colonel Sellers"
And sure enough. whom the comedian found
| the American boastcr. who believed that he had
| the genius to reach higher plane OF stupidity
than the iilustrious Twain. he discovered. as he
expected a miserable man OF intelligence, with
n whole stock OF fine scnsibilitics. good taste.
and literary experience. He was thoroughly
Disguised. He2" exclaimed the American
comedian why. he'd 10 and do something
good. and then Ia throw my American timo
and money away"
But the dramatist. I believe. succeeded in
| showing him that a man might possess all the
disadvantages Of good taste and good sense
without, employing them in playwritngin
fact. he proved conclusiycly that the writing OF
play was prma facic evidence that no had
laid aside these weaknesses. and finally MIR.
Florence consented that Mr. woolf should. us
| h' liia ur'N w. ttht u Hutk III tlc American.
No nonsense" remarked Billy. In his con-
Guiding instructions. Don't you go and do
any lIamlcts.' or schools for Scandal or that
sort OF unexceptonabe truck. What we want
is to make u fortune. Sparkling rot is our little
| game. John Raymond has made pots o. money
and bushels O fame on the strength of having
the worst play ever written. You take your
! coat OIL. dispense with your brains and see II
! you can't do better than that-no. don't mean
better: | mean worse than the worstl'
When The Mighty Dollar" was completed 1t
was considered perfect gem Of badness. Flor
enco fairly screamed with American satisfac-
ton. Do you know" says he. shaking hands
with the author. 81 believe we've got the worst
| play ever written"
e. I'm sure of it," replied the playwright en-
bracing him in return. There's nifty thou
sand dollars apiece for us in it."
Do you really think it's as had as that 2"
asked Billy.
Il do indeed; and II you don't so and put
lot Of good acting into II and spoil IL. We may
get hundred thousand apiece out Of it."
After the first production billy telegraphed to
his author. Thank heaven the verdict is favor
able. The press without exception. considers
II damnable. haven't the slightest doubt now
Of its splendid worthlcssness and incalculable
value. Only one critic praised it, but shall buy
100000 for my share. consider the play Us
bad as East Lynne and nearly AS remune-
ratively Infamous as Uncle Toms Cabin 1t
gets worse every night too as sure as Slote's a
rihald roysterer.'
With such brilliant auspices did Billy set o I.
Indeed. SO generally eXecrable was the drama
that everybody began to look upon Billy rs a
| millionaire. But he made a fatal uistake. II
was the mistake Il an actor Ii was unkind TO
the playwright unjust to himself. and fraud
upon the public. H. had not played the part Of
| Bori,ceu Slo,e three times before he began TO
| make it good part
| That man with his keen American eye and
fine business tact should no sooner find himself
| on the road to fortune than he imperils every
thing is beyond ones comprehension. s. far
as his obligations TO Mr.. woolf are concerned
| II is simply infamous. Ii was understood at the
start that the piece was TO be as bad bad could
| bc-for money. But no sooner does he get il
| into his hands than he deliberately sets about
making his part as good a. h" can. And in this
nefarous business he is aided and abetted by
| Mrs. Florence.
Now there is not the slightest doubt that Mr..
| Florence is one Of the best character actors
alive always OF course. excepting Mrs. Flor
encel. But believe We had all tacity agreed
10 keep that out Of sight. 1t being a merit. and
merit. according to the theatrical notion. being
opposed TO success. Moreover most Of US
thought Mr. Florence having been provided
| with Fortunatus' purse in Bard,reu Slote was
| 10 20 on and Welsh Edwards the part 10 the
| comprehension OF the great American public.
| But he didn't. He didn't even try 10 Theodore
| Hamilton il with the press but most pusillani-
| mously let it rest on its merits
don't see why we should hold our tongues
after this. II the people. hearing that there is