The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-22
"HE Is COMEING."
A Portland Genius Who IIas WrittCn
a Play.
HE CAN ALSO LECTURE TO TIRE
"LIYING AND DIEING,"

His Play is "The Brakesman's RevcnGe''-
1t Contains at Least One Thrilling Sit
uation-Rich and Harris are Corre-
spending With the Author, who Wants
to Lecture Under Their Auspices
Scoffers Cali Him Crank.
New YORK, December 21.-Cranky play
wrights ale not so dangerous as cranky
bomb throwers. They are more numerous.
however, and many theatrical managers
and stars have been annoyed by them.
They are the most persistent cranks known.
There is probably not theatrical manager
in New York who has not received one or
more plays from an alleged dramatist who
cOnceals his Identity under the name "Glen
Owen" Sometimes he brings his manu-
scripts In person, and In deep bass voice
greets the manager with: my boy. here IS
falsity of women, and It's based on me own
experience" The managers know him now
and he never gets beyond the introduction.
His real Dame Is not known. but on any
other subject than that Of his own plays he
appears to be sane.
"Glen Owens" rival has appeared In the
held, ana ne Is young man from Portland.
Me. Several weeks ago Rich & Harris re.
ceived this letter:
PORTLAND, Me-, Sept. 10, 'o1
Gentlemen hope you will excuse me by in.
Producing my person uni % you as one OF the
most divine beiOGs Of this world but know that
you put new plays on the stage ana have writ
ten a play that is greater than any that has been
written by anybody since Shakespeare wrote.
venge," and want & you to put il on the stage
for me. so L thought there was no harm In
asking about the rental of your theatre in Bos-
ton for know you are building new one and
you will surely want some one TO give shows
there my play tells about a brakesman that
loves rich farmers daughter and he runs away
with ner and the nrst act closes Dy tne baggage
form and bumps the truck into the girls fathers
legs and then the curtain falls.
think this Is great and the two other acts are
greater let me know s0on If you want me please
write at your earliest ieasure
Mr.. Harris wrote brief note declining
the play. and the next day he received this
letter:
Mr. Harris:
Dear sir-Thair is no use of people like my
self to be kept back from the public and you
will find on tin type about what my appearance
is which had taken In New York when THAR
In 1885 and writing plays IS not all what 1 can
do can give lectures too Il you wish to engage
me and give me reasonable price for lecturing
and II satisfactory you need not be afraid of me
not being a drawing card for have head on
me that twenty i've presidents that have passed
never udu publluS Jncu JOBttu6r III tn6 lecture
can instruct people what they never heard
before II we come TO some conclusion how will
below suit for an advertisement In the papers
He Is c0meing
Wait for the great and only teacher of human
life he will be on exhibition at the Hollis street
theatre and give lecture to the living and die
ing and they shall see beyond the grave
Qhat will save you trip thair)
said would put In my TIN picture but VIII
now send it next time.
TIE tintype that accompanied another
letter was that of young man dressed In
frock coat, sitting down and looking TO
one side with pleased expression. The
letter closed with request that Mr.. Har-
ris should write and engage his services as
quickly as possible.