Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-19
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
Three Remarkable Plays That Maniac
Devised for a Great Comedian.

| with which the matter of advertisement is CON
cerned, and for the purpose of convenience we
| will call him Strane.
"YoU may remember said the historian, by
whom the tale was told, "that some months ago
Strane wrote an article which was widely re-
! printed, having for subject, The American
Dramatist.' He avowed his perfect belief in
this much talked Of prodigy, whose very exist
ence is denied byA. NJ Palmerand Others As
1t turned out this was somewhat rash state
ment to make, for from the very day that he SO
unburdened himself to the world, he was
showed under by scores Of manuscript plays.
| After the manuscripts came the manuscript
writers, and authors of assorted sizes, ages and
| degrees of self-assurance waylaid the wretched
man at every possible opportunity,
Finally, in desperation, he fed to his coun
try home and his steam yacht, and here believ-
ing himself safe he breathed more freely. He
had been enjoying the ocean breezes for about
couple OF weeks, when, as he sat at his early
breakfast one morning, he spied stranger
walking up to the front porch. He was tall.
thin man, who, despite the terrific heat of the
July day, was dressed in black frock coat,
tightly buttoned up to the throat, and had on
tall silk hat of the vintage of 1890 His face
was thin and worn, and his hair was somewhat
longer than strict accordance with the rule of
fashion calls for. Strane sized him up through
the open window, and instinctivefy looked to
see whether the conventional brown paper
parcel bespeaking the manuscript play, was
concealed about his person. But no sign of the
telltale package could be seen. and the actor
breathed more freely, and when the servant
announced that Mr.. Jessamy wished to see
him, he went into the sitting room to meet his
fate without question.
s.x
THE stranger lost no time in coming to the
point. In pleasantly modulated voice, and
with How of words which were well chosen, if
trifie over-abundant, he began by paying some
well-deserved compliments to Stranes artistic
abilities. He then remarked that he had long
been possessed of the desire to write a play for
him, and though he had the work thoroughly
mapped out in his mind, he had thought it ad-
visable, in accordance with the arguments SO
ably advanced by MIR. Strane himself (here
William winced), to submit his ideas and re-
ceive any suggestions the actor might have to
offer. Strane replied civilly, and meekly OBJ
served that in Is minutes he was about to en-
bark for days cruise on his yacht. Mr.. Jes-
samy ignored the hint, and without more ado
started in to recite the substance of bis pro-
posed play, and Strane, with gasp, prepared
tor an hour of boredom. He never was more
disappointed in his life. MIR. Jessamy was a
born raoonteur apparently, and dramatist of
genius as W ell, for in the course of an hour he
had given not only the plot and outline, but
snatches of the dialogue of play which Strane
solemnly AYERS was the best constructed and
most humorous in situation which he had ever
heard.
THE leading part was exactly suitable to
Strane's powers, and he felt like miner who
has suddenly, by stroke OF his pick, uncovered
huge nugget of virgin gold. Grasping his
visitor warmly by the hand, Strane broke into
enthusiastic praises Of the yet unwritten play,
ana assured the author that when it was put
on paper, he had a market ready to his hand.
Mr.. Jessamy's pale face showed no signs of
qualification at this announcement, and when
Strane went on to say that he should like his
manager to hear what he had just listened to,
and if Mr.. Jessamy would kindly stay over
night be would telegraph to the former. and
that individual would be there next morning to
hear it. To this the stranger gravely assented,
and was introduced in due course to Mrs.
strane. Despite his peculiar appearance, he
proved man Of delightful manners, and most
charming conversationalist. The day passed
pleasantly enough, and that evening Strane, by
this time thoroughly enthused over his newly
discovered dramatist, ventured to suggest that
he should recite TO his wife the main incidents
OF his proposed play. Mr.. Jessamy willingly
consented, and after dinner they sat out on the
porch, and Mr.. Jessamy began in his dulcet
tones. Athis first words Strane looked troubled
and by the time he had finished, Strane was
gazing in blank amazement at his wife, who
looked at him in return somewhat contemptu-
ously Instead of the rattling comedy related in
the morning, Mr.. Jessamy had sketched out
gloomy melo-drama of the most blood-curdling
description, and was blandly dilating on the
peculiar fitness of strane to play the part of
the chief villain, whose moral character was on
a par with that of Judas Iscariot.
-
BUT, my dear SIR, gasped Strane, that is
not what you described to me this morning.
I beg your pardon, SIR retorted Jessamy;
it is identical in every respect
There was nothing for it but to accept the
situation attribute it to the potency of the yell
low label served at dinner, and to wait for
morning and the manager. Both arrived SIM
ultaneously and when the manager had washed
off the dust of travel, the matter of the play
was mooted. MI. Jessamy expressed himself
as ready to run over the main points to the
manager, and Strane. with a trile of apprehen-
sion. awaited the beginning. His worst
fears were realized. The astounded
manager Of leading comedian found
himself listening to the relation of somber
ive-act tragedy dealing with the loves and
hatreds OF the Borgias, and was gravely assured
by the narrator that no one could begin to play
Caesar Borgia with the force or intensity of
Mr.. Strane. That actor pinched himself to be
sure he was awake, and then began to gently
assure MI. Jessamy that he had made mis-
%olya 30 ,;-y ~
with a rising voice. But see have been de-
ceived. You are in plot against mel You
have been plotting for years, but you shall plot
no longerp and, with a sudden movement. he
picked up from the side of the open fireplace |
one of the polished steel ire-irons, placed there
more for ornament than use, but capable of |
being dangerous in an angry mans hand, and |
made sudden rush at the now thoroughly |
alarmed Strane.
LAS luck would have it, the door was burst |
open at this very moment and Strane, who had |
tumbled backward with the sudden emotion. |
saw rough looking man rush in and grab Mr.. |
Jessamy round the waist and throw him, while |
he piteously begged for mercy. The rest of the |
story is told quickly. Mr. Jessamy. it seems
was an inmate of a private asylum near Boston |
and had made his escape the day before. He |
had been traced to Stranes home by his keeper |
who arrived rather opportunely. The curious |
part of 1t all, according to strane, iscthat the |
unfortunate fellow, whose name is not Jessamy.
but Stanton, had imagined three as clever
plays as he had ever heard. 1t is safe to saw.
however, that Strane will be careful in future
in inviting strangers, however promising thew |
may be as playwrights, to spend the day and |
night with him"
NOW In WASHINGTON.