, 1892-03-24

woman has become quite a figure in the
theatrical world, and the term theatrical
world does not mean New York alone, it
means the whole United States, with Lon
don and Paris thrown in for good measure.
A few years ago Miss Marbury's name
only reached the great public in the print
ed lists of the guests at cotillons and ket-
tledrums. She was a society girl. Now
she is a business woman of Independent
and ample income. This came about in a
queer way. At first she took an interest
in amateur theatricals. Then she devel-
oped a talent for managing them. About
this time she made up her mind that so
ciety life was a pretty empty affair and
thought that it would be a pleasant thing
to be independent. At first she proposed
to carry out this desire for independence
by writing for newspapers and periodicals,
but she found that work unsatisfactory
from a financial point of view. Then in
some way it occurred to her that she might
turn the experience gained in amateur
theatricals to account.
Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett had then
just made up her mind to dramatize her
very successful children's book, Little
Lord Fauntleroy," and Miss Marbury hap
pened to meet her. In the conversations
that followed between these two talented
women one learned that the other had
written n good play and the other learned
that her new friend knew a good deal
about theatrical management and was
capable of learning a good deal more.
Miss Marbury became Mrs. Burnett's bust
ness associate. How successfully she man
aged Little Lord Fauntleroy" has become
part of the history of the stage.
But finally, after three years of triumph,
the public tired Of the charming child story
and Miss Marbury began to look about for
a new battle to win. After a good deal of
ha-l aLA 80 1~-
unique enterprise, which has succeeded be-
yond her fondest hopes, and is still only
in its infancy. She has become the bust
ness representative of dramatic authors.
More than forty playwrights have placed
the practical part of their profession Who'll
ly in her hands, and the result has been
more than satisfactory to all concerned.
Her business with Americans is done some
what after this fashion A man writes a
play. Instead of submitting it to a man
ager he sends it to Miss Marbury. She
reads it, and her knowledge of managerial
requirements shows her to what one of
the theatrical magnates or stars it is best
adapted. Then she notifies the person Sc
lected that she has in her possession a play
well suited to his or her needs. When
such a message comes from Miss Marbury
it ommands consideration, for her judg-
ment is known to be good. If the play is
accepted then Miss Marbury receives II
small percentage of the authors profits, in
return for which she transacts absolutely
all of his business as long as the play re-
mains on the stage.
Besides this Miss Marbury has charge of
the American interests of most of the well
known European playwrights, including
Victorien Sardou, the famous Frenchman.
She is a plump and pleasing little wom-
an, attractive both in looks and converse
i tiOn and ia the daughter of r f Mar
bury, ex-assistant district attorney of New
York. One of her grandfathers was Vice
Chancellor Mccain, of New Jersey, and
the other was John Marbury, one of the
parties to a litigation famous in history,
that of James Madison versus Marbury.