The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-10

FAC-SIMILE or FACE or BRONSON HOWARD
PECULIAR SYSTEM or MAKING NOTES, N
THE CONSTRUCTION OF HIS DRAMAS
you will see my bath-tub. Isn't 1t a
beauty? That bath has followed me all
over the earth-to Honolulu-to Egypt
80 Alaska-to California; in this respect,
am just like the travelling Englishman,
with the exception that my tub is made
of rubber, while his is Of tin, and gener-
ally painted greel!"
Returning somewhat later, I found
Bronson Howard awaiting me. He was
clad i'm a gray business suit; ne had
taken his bath and looked as comforta-
BILE as was suggested by his greeting:
"Ah what a bath does for one!
Returning to the subject Of play maxi
ing. Mr.. Howard said:
"As / told You before, ] spend the
first six months Of REPRESENTATION IN
smoking ana meditation. During that
time | make notes on anything that,
TO my mind, possesses dramatic posi-
biliues 1t took me two years To- think
out The Henrietta while the writing
of it occupied but six months. That IS
about my average division Of time IN
making a play. If it were but my OBJ
ject to create a play with an affective
plot, | could think out the yarn IN three
hours. The Chinese puzzle with me IS
to make the situations fit the charac-
ters and develop tie plot.
Il never allow myself in the 'smck-
ing stage TO write a linel | simply take
rambling notes Even what that theme
is, 20 me, is vague. oftentimes. for
weeks"
you have your six months work
with you?"
Bronson Howard looked appallingly at
the bureau. There was a tumble Of the
things there such as would have perpleXed
:he heart Of a tidy housewife. But not
the heart of Howard! His eye ranged
slowly over cigars, pencils, blotters,
papers, collars. cuffs. matches small
change, paper money. keys, cuff buttons,
telegraph blarks. and AN indescribalde
mixture OF neckties cigarette boxes.
and perfume lOttles. After much sort
ing and ruzzling out he brought a
small block Of paFer the sheets i'm size
about five by eight inches: from this
mass. he selected not more than dozen
sheets. saying, as he scrutinized them
closely:
There that represents three hundred
cgars"'
1t was six months work for the
dramatist. Taking up the first sheet
and regarding it carefully. he explained
It's significance, thus:
"Now, then, this is q specimen Of the
way / begin work. I desire TO write a
drama, let us say. The first entry as
you see is at the right hand upper cor
ner. 1t locks like g n t. but I'm reality
IL is c. n. No. L. meaning General
Notes, Page No. t. Then there is a
small line meaning Note No. f. then
a criss-cross and then these words:
The Henrietta. Rosedale. School for
Sc, and Drame de Societe. Now. this
all brings back to me these thoughts:
TO my mind the four plays here men
toned represent four great ella s3es Of a
social charGcte / consider the posi-
bilities OF each, and finally decide that
my new play is TO be a drama Of society:
further along you will see a small
o. indicating Note p the usual crisis
cross IS followed by the word or and
then comes a note which I'M some fashion,
just what / cannot as yet say, is to
be duly incorporated in the new play.
thus: The New Sexual Ilea.' Let me
explain this.
"Do you know that this world is rapidly
passing In the direction OF new and SEN
satonal ideas concerning the sexual rela-
tons? No longer is woman kept I'm gnor-
ance OF the laws Of nature; no longer Is
she educated TO look upon marriage as
her end in life. The professions. the bust
ness houses are being thrown open 10 her.
and she is using her talents
for her emancipation from the
bondage OF marriage. She is gradually
learning TO regard with Indifference the
contemplate cognomen of old maid Now
this idea leads to the next. as set down i'm
the notes under No g. or g. as YOU see
IT, that is. The Girl Bachelor"
whore IN NOu OIL
ventured, deeply interested
From the world; from travel: seldom
from books. l have these ideas simply
because | do not allow myself TO step into
my study and write a play out of nv in
ner consciousness. so to speak I make If
an inVariable rule never 10 write q line
I'LL l have thoroughly developed the situa-
lions. That Is the desired end Not the
plot, mind you. but the situations You
ask where / get my ideas. / will tell YOU
how l came to write The Henrietta
That will illustrate. You know IL is a
play OF Wall street. I was going one dav
INTO the Lotos club. when ] met a dear
friend OF mine named Meyers. He had a |
green patch over his eye. Hello, Movers |
said. what ails yOu2 oh. nothing |
he responded. Got struck by something |
on. no, the eye is all right: IT is only a |
dropping OF the eyelid,' was his half
hearted response. The eve is all right
ne went on; then passing his hand pa |
theticaliy over his forehead. he added |
YEARLY. II is all here Howard 'Whatr |
said aghast. Wall street? he said.
wall street," The words kept ringing
In my ears. i was at work on a play AT /
the time; concluded to drop il and try
to write of that terrible. remorseless fiend
speculation Three months after. going
again to the club i saw a beautiful mic
ture on an easel I'm corner; | went IN
To 1t and regarded il attentivelv. there
was small card on the frame: / Blended
low to read the inscription, and started
back as though struck by blow. What
read was this:
PRESENTED TO the Lotus club by the
late lamented Mr.. Myers Think OF n.
the late lamented Mr.. Meyers-and in
three monthsl That decided me. / went
into Wall street myself Day and night
haunted the place. seeking light on as
fascinating a subject as ever appealed 10
human heart. l found two classes OF
workers In the street. One is all nerves.
inc other as cold as ice. tell you Wall
street represents the hercest kind OF gam