Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-08

WOTkb ChLl6 III Wo6Kly anu Ludb u6 WOulu
get Mr.. Planche or Mr.. BARLEY to look it
up. Mr.. Moreton had better leave the
title of the play, and he (Mathews) would
see it was returned to the author. As
the manager said this, he walked to the
desk in manner to convey dismissal.
MoTeton rose and. bowing, turned at the
door, and said: "The title is 4 LoUer By
Pf0rg."
What ?'' cried Mathews, and turning
quickly to the msntelpiece, he took up
the piece of manuscript he had been
reading 1t was the farce in question.
81 see," said he quietly. 81 see it is by
L. Moreton, not by Madison Morton"
After moments reflection he con-
tinued: "And this is your work ?"
"Yes."
"Sit down. What is your age?"
81 shall be Is next month";" replied
the boy, coloring to the roots of his hair,
for he now felt and understood the i'm
pudence OF the intrusion.
You do not look so old, +" remarked
the comedian.
The boy added: 81 was born on the
26.h of December, 1922.
1.-The deuce you were !" cried Mathews.
"Why, that is my birthday! This is
singular. And you tell me you had no
assistance in the composition of this
play?"
Eyes, sir. / know it is full of faults. :"
'Stop," said Mathews, cycling him
with great kindness. Tell me what you
are and who you are."
81 am alone in London, desolate and
penniless. have clung to the hope of
earning some livelihood rather than to
return to Dublin to my family, who are
not too we'll blessed with fortune. am
friendless. Perhaps you do not know
what that MEANS" and here my hero
broke down like school-boy; indeed,
he was little more. The comedian put
his hand on the lads shoulder and
pressed him back into the chair from
which he was rising. Then, in the most
delicate, generous, and affectionate
manner, he placed before him all the
trials, the heart-breaking failures, and
poor returns dramatic author must en-
counter. He urged him to adopt some
other occupation. When he concluded,
Moreton took his hand between both OF
his own and said he would rather break
his heart ard starve than abandon e
hope that filled him to the exclusion OF
every other feeling. If this failed. he
did not care what became of him. Well
he had two brothers in Australia he
would go out there.
81 wish heartily" said the manager,
turning away and looking moodily into
the fire, "-I wish | could help YOU, but
we are glutted with farces. What we
want owadays is good five-act comedy
of modern life. Now, if could find such
part as you have sketched here in this
farce, expanded in modern comedy,
there would be room for such work, Tor
we have had nothing of that kind for
many years."
Then, after pause, he resumed
"Well, in any case let me retain your
farce. l would like my wife, Madame
Vestris, to read it. Meanwhile, l must
put your name on the free list of the
theatre, and hope you will avail your
self of the privilege frequently"
With a full heart and a throbbing
brain the lad took his leave, but, hesi-
tating a moment at the door, he turned
and said:
"You h ave been good and kind to me,
Mr.. Mathews. l had no claim on your
attention or your sympathy; 30 l am the
more grateful. Let me confess before
go that the name Lee Moreton is one
| assumed when l appeared as an amateur
in private theatricals. Ny name is Dion
Boucicault. 1t does not matter much
but l don't like to wear any disguise
with you."
81 see no reason for assuming any
name but your own. think it is the
better one of the two."
The young man accepted theremark az
advice, and from that moment shook of
the silly incognito he had adopted.
-Four weeks alter this interview, Mr..
| Boucicault presented himself once more
at the stage door of the Covent- Garden
Theatre and requested the porter to send
up his name to Mr.. Matthews, and again
he was piloted into the room he remem-
bered so we'll.
| "Ah," said Mathews, who met him
heartily, 81 was wondering what had be-
come of you. What can l do for you p
The boy hauled big roll of manu-
script from under his coat, and, placing
it on the table before the manager, sale
simply
"There is the five-act comedy yor
wanted"
"What comedy ?" said Mathews, be
wildered.
"Wellw replied the lad, 81 understood
you to say that if you could find new
five-act comedy a part similar to that
wrote you in A LoUer by PROXY, there
would be room for the production Of sucf
a work."
did say so? Perhaps-yes, thinl
did,"
"Well, there is the comedy! 1 wen
home full of that little bit of hope yot
extended to me, and set to work with al
my heart"
"Do you mean to say that you have
written new comedy in five acts since
saw you the other day."
Eyes, such as it is. If you will read i
it will decide my future-one way or th'
other"
"Read it?" cried Mathews, heartily
"Of course will But pray do not built
any hopes upon this venture. However
we have little party next Sunday a
our villa at Parsons Green. There viii
be Planche. John Cooper, Barley
MaGame (Vestris), and myself. VIZ
shall hold court over your offense Coco
day."
THIS was Thursday. How the youns
fool spent the following days, standing
on the brink of destiny and looking into
| the abyss of life, is not to be described
He felt the agony of lover awaiting the
reply of his adored; of the culprit await
ing the verdict during the retirement O.
the jury. Oh, the exquisite pain OF tha