The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-12-20
ADRBMATIST'S FIVE-D0LLAR BILL.

MANY men who have accomplished great
things are fond of telling Of some incident
which they regard as the turning point IN
their careers but all Of them are not so frank
as one Of the most successful OF American play
writer's used to be when he described an in
cident which saved him, as he thought from
failure.
In the late spring of 1878 there came into
one of the editorial rooms of great New
York newspaper man of timid manner, pale
and rather care-worn face, who sent his card
hestatingly to one of the sub-editors OF that
journal He seemed delighted when he was
received with kindly greeting, and he but
toned his threadbare coat rather closely about
him as though he wanted to look as fine as
possible while talking with his friend. Tho
editor had known him when he was a news
paper writer and had given him some ehcour-
agement when he had produced one or two
plays Of no particular merit. But though the
editors voice was Kindly and his eyes gave no
suggestion of what passing in his mind,
yet he perceived that the dramatst was in
want. He saw that the coat was tightly but
toned to conceal such pretense for linen as
thi, dramatisf wore, ana he suspected that the
man had not had perhaps for many day
substantial meal. But there was no tone of
complaint IN the dramatist's greetings and
lie chatted quite merI1ly about his work,
although it Was plain that he made an elLors
when did 50.
Il was just going to luncheon" said ths
Gat9r ana am i very FAC You nav" ata CONS fais
over old times better than we can DO III tina
The drauatst protested that he did not
care to take up So much Of his friends time
and vet he did not refuse to accompany the
editor to a neighboring restaurant
1t was nor luncheon, but a dinner, which
the editor ordered and il did him good TO
see the relish with which his friend ate thu
substantial food. As they chatted over theli
cigars and coffee the dramatist said: Il am
trying to write q piay which think may make
Il MT IL 1 SutCttd ia uplu9 H. but t"e "ois
is rather slow, for you Know | am not very
prosperous now. He went on to tel the
editor what the poI on 'i'IS new pay was, %L9
he became quite e4:hasIdslic as ne oescI .
for dramatic action, ,..- -,,., ....
As they separated the editor Slipped INTO
BARLEY, | want to he the first subscriber FOX
seats when your play is produced and there.
fore l subscribe now" and with this delicate
away
Six months later this same editor walking
mon BROADWAY one evening was greeted with
slant he scarcely recognized. He was dressed
with elegance and a diamond pin spanked
rnon his scarf But its brightness did not
begin TO equal the uSter which was in the
cv@s
he "hut Won were not in town the night ID
yyos pr0dnred you must come tonight" and
TINS sDealiing he led tho editor into the the
9tGr He was Of course. the dramatist whom
tha editor mad befrended i'm the sDring. Az
fer the play was over he told the editor his
story slid he.
with that fivc-donar bill which you hand
cd me Thar iay there came turn in the tide
Of nIv affairs l was able to buy paper ana
to finish my play. / went to well-known
actor and read it to him and he was delight
rd With if Together we went to see Mr.. a.
NJ Palmer at his country place in Connecti-
emf t0 asi, him if he would produce il mt his
tTcater We found him about to take the
train fo New York He did not care to talk
about the play and at first refused to hear
If read hut we took the train with him 10
New York and rs he had nothing else 10