The evening world., 1888-02-23
DIARY OF A MANAGER.
How, He Worked the Press So His Star
Caught On"
tFrom ne Chicago 7ribure.l

TFrom me Chicago 7riburs.l
Jan. e.-one Mary Brown came to mt to-day
and wished to make a contract TO star. ! promised
to see her again tomorrow, when l would Judge
of her ability.
Jan. 21.-Miss Brown really has much talent.
Her voice is very good and her gestures natural.
l have half a mind TO engage her.
Feb. 2.-signed contract with Miss Brown. She
IL very enthusiastic and Ia wiling to work hard. l
believe can make something out OF her.
Feb. H. Company engaged and IN rehearsal. I
have billed Miss Brown ~ u talented American
girl. ] am going to put her forward simply on her
Feh 16-saw some OF the critics to-day, and
told them VINO Miss Brown was. / said that she
ABILITY to- to ac e;A, lhn, s sSSs was Pn' Dot Starring eirise an e oh aet
wardrobe and a lot of jeweis. lail considerable
stress on the fact that abe was simply an American
estiy believed she was lifted for II. They did not
seem very much interested.
Feb lH-Miss Browns debut set for the oath.
The papers have hardly mentioned her outside Of
their advertising columns. The editors say the
public !, not Interested In histrionic d6pulan,es.
Feb ~. Advance sale very small Papers nave
FED. 2&"SS house a, ali last night. Papers
faint praise" / asked one OF The critics about I,
and he said: "Oh, she Is very good-very good,
indeed; bu, then there is not much to say about
March Losing money right along. Another
week OF this sort and III be busted. / must do
March 8. Il met the critic of the E,,ore on the
streets this morning and invited him In TO have a
bottle OF champagne. Over the wine ! Informed
him that Miss Brown wasn't an American girl at
all; that she was an English Duchess travelling
incog. TO escape the brutal treatment OF her hus-
band, and that she had In her trunk $50. 900 worth
OF jewels which she dared not wear lest they should
reveal her identity.
March 4.-The Bu7le had a colum and a half on
the a. Duchess /" this morning. The critic OF the
IntesitgdtOr called on me to ascertain the truth OF
the Article. | told him that 1t was q lie from begin
ming 10 end; that Mas brown was no more a
duchess than she was q queen; that her real name
was Henrietta Montmorency, and that the story
probably arose from the fact that che had ruined
the Duke of Lawntennis. called his attention to
the little diamonds that she wore In her ears aud
tOlp him that they were heirlooms Of the house OF
Lawntennis, OF fabulous value, which the Duke In
his mad inratuation had given her. l notice that
the advance sale 10 much larger to-day.
March Big house last night. Investigator
gave two columns to Henrietta Montmorency this
morning. Miss Brown called at my ONCE 10
ask what the meaning OF II all was, and i advised
her TO sue for libel, putting damages at $500. 600.
Might as well make a spllrge while we're shout IL.
l hunted up the critic OF the CrieI' and told him
that my star had been grossly maligned; that
she was an English lady OF hign ranE. who was
spending her time In this country, while her hus-
band got . divorce from her on the ground OF in
fidelity.
March q. -CTter gave me two columns this morn
ing, aud the Bugie had an editorial answering the
Inuesttgator's article Of yesterday. The cal had
Miss Browns denial OF everything, and a column
write-up Of her libel suit. Business Is booming.
My star had three recalls last night, and there was
a line two ulockslong at the box-onlce when l went
down This morning.
March Z. Miss brown was recalled seventeen
times. last night. Seats ali sold for two weeks
ahead. The critic OF the Investigator pounded the
town Tor a few weeks. Business Will take care Of
itself for q while,