Evening journal., 1892-09-13

only from the other side Of "the pond, y tn.
personality of the man or woman who up
sets this delusion Is a subject Of which the
public at large and the Sucking SardousN
in particular delight to read.
Genius Is very rare thing, and there
are always lots Of purchasers after IL. In
fact. go shrewd a manager as Mr.. Field, OF
the Boston Museum, has ordered from
Miss Merington serious play called
"Goodby," which viii be produced in DC
tobcr or November.
On the surface Captain Lettarblairn
appears to the outsider only as n play
which was given at a trial matinee last
spring, and produced In August at the Ily
ceum theater. New York. l was curious
70 know how this young woman, entirely
ignorant Of professional theatrical matters.
had been able even to secure hearing for
her play from Mr. Sothern, and / confess
that the story, rs told me by Miss Mering
ton, has increased rather than diminished
my surprise.
Miss Mcrington 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 a lady
Of high literary attachments, rs her con
trbutlons TO the magazines will attest
her friend who 3 also an intimate ac-
unintance 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 tins
sadly IN need OF a play the preliminary
portion Of the programme went through
without a Hitch.
Three years ago Mr. Sothern first visited
Aiss Merington at the request OF the mu-
tual and in this case Il must be admitted
helpful, friend. The interview on that oe
casion was not particularly comprehen
sive one, as the actor only explained to thu
aspiring playwright the line Of characters
which he desired to play. Among Others
he mentioned that the Irish gentleman
would be a type new 10 the stage.
Fora few days Miss Merington busted her
mind with connecting interesting stories re-
yolving about the central figure OF an Irish
! gentleman. Then she wrote first act, sew
eral times too long, which she sent TO Nh
Soihern. who pa!dher another visit ia the
/ following spring, and told her very frankly
/ that her work YVES unectable, but the story
IA detailed TO him possessed vitality. Thcr
be went away, and Miss Meriugton, in
stead OF becoming disheartened. resolutell
]
ward finished the play.
On the occasion Of Mr. S0thern's mex
visit, after tho close Of the season, be ex
planned that while he liked "Lettarblair.'
ns the piece WAS theD known very much
he believed thut it would be more TO hi.
Interest to play Henry Arthur Jones
"rhe Dancing Grip during his next tour
He advised her to sell her comedy TO any
one who would produce IL promptly, bu'
also told her that II she cared to wni
unth he got ready be would put IL o.
Later 10 the season, ufter there had been
good deal of revising done, Mr.. SotherI
notified Miss MeringtOu that he would
give "Lettarbuir" a trial matinee at th
Lyceum This was done, and the pres
notices were on the whole extremely favor
able, although there were manifest crudi
ties to which Miss Merington told me tina
even she was not blind. Next morning
Mr.. Sothern delighted the hopeful autho
with the announcement that he had dc
cidcd TO use "l.ettarblair" for the seasol
Of 1928
Miss Merington spent part of the pms
summer with that prince of kindly men
Joseph jefferson. BY his advice nue.
pruning WAS done, and two irrelevant char
/ ncters were ruthlessly eliminated, so tha
the piece as produced at the Lyceum las
month stood forth a nearly faultless piec
, Of dramatic construction.
Miss Merington IS probably less tina
twenty-five yenrs old. Her face denote
the strongest intellectually, and she la
, terse and iucisive manner Of eXpressin
herself which is positively captivating
She is tall rather slender, and though no
robust IN constitution is IA devotee {
swimming She lives in little cottage