The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-17


personality of the man or woman who up
sets this delusion is a subject OF which the
public at large and the sucking Saroous
in particular delight to read.
Genius Is a very rare thing, and there
sre ALWAYS lots of purchasers after it. In
fact. 30 shrewd manager as Mr.. Field, OF
The Boston Museum, has ordered from
Miss MerinRton a serious play called
"Goodby," which will be produced In Oc-
tober or November.
On the surface Captain Lettarblair"
appears to the outsider only as play
which was given at trial matinee last
spring, and produced In August at the Ly'
ceum theater, New York. ] was curious
20 know how this young woman, entirely
ignorant OF professional theatrical matters
had been able even 10 secure hearing FOR
her play from Mr.. Sothern, and l confess
chat the story, as told me by Miss Mering-
ton. has increased rather than diminished
my surprise
Miss Merington has long taken an inter
est in amateur theatricals. She has lady
friend of similar tastes, and the embryo
playwright was constantly suggesting that
this, that or the other thing would make a
pretty scene. As Miss Merington is LADY
of high literary attachments, as her con-
tributions to the magazines Will attest.
her friend, who IS also an intimate ac-
oaintance OF Edward Sothern, suggested
that she adopt dramatic writing as a pro-
fession, and promised to send Mr.. Sothern
TO see her. AS the actor was at that time
sadly in need Of a play the preliminary
portion Of the programme went through
without a hitch.
Three years ago Mr.. Sothern first visited
Miss Merington at the request Of the mu-
tual. and in this case it must be admitted
helpful, friend. The interview on that oc
casion was not particularly comprehen
awe one, as the actor only explained to the
aspiring playwright the line of characters
which be desired to play. Among others
he mentioned that the Irish gentleman
would be type new to the stage.
For few days Miss Merington busted her
mind with concocting interesting stories re-
yolving about the central figure of an Irish
gentleman. Then she wrote first act, sew
ernl times too long, which she sent to Mr..
Sothern, who paid her another visit in the
following spring, and told her very frankly
that her work was unactable, but the story
"a detailed 10 him possessed vitality. Then
he went away, and Miss Merington, in
stead of becoming disheartened. resolutely
set TO work, rewrote the first set and after
ward finished the play.
On the occasion of Mr.. Sothern's next
visit, after the close Of the season, he ex-
planned that while he liked "Lettarblair,"
as the piece was then known, very much,
he believed that 1t would be more to his
interest to play Henry Arthur Jones
1.-THE Dancing Girl" during his next tour.
He advised her 10 sell her comedy to any
one who would produce IL promptly. but
also told her that if she cared TO wait
until he got ready he would put it on.
Later in the season, after there had been a
good deal Of revising done, Mr.. Sothern
notified Miss Merington that he would
give "Lettarblair" trial matinee at the
Lyceum This was done, and the press
notices we're on the whole extremely favor
able, although there were manifest crudi-
ties TO which Miss MeringtOn told me that
even she was not blind. Next morning
Mr.. Sothern delighted the hopeful author
with the announcement that he had de-
cided to use "Lettarblair" for the season
of 1929
Miss Merington spent part of the past
summer with that prince Of kindly men,
Joseph Jefferson. BY his advice much
pruning was done, and two irrelevant char
acters were ruthlessly eliminated, so that
the piece as produced at the Lyceum last
month stood forth a nearly faultless piece
of dramatic construction.
Miss Merington is probably less thar
twenty-five years old. Her face denotes
the strongest intellectually, and she has
a terse and incisive manner of expressing
herself which is positively captivating.
She is tall, rather slender, and though not
robust In constitution is deyotee of
swimming She lives in a little cottage