St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-06
WILSON BiRRETTS VISITOR.
"A RopewaIker Wants Him to Write
Her a Play.

Boston Herald. y
Playwrights have many strange eX-
periences and the distinguished author
actor, Wilson Barrett. had a peculiar
one few weeks ago in Baltim ole. He
had just finished his lunch at the Alta
mont, when he was informed that there
was a lady in the parlor who wished to
see him He found her very showiIy
dressed, and of high type of animal
beauty.
After salutations. he queried: "Wlat
can do for you, MiSS?"
Il saw you play 'PharOah' last night
Did you write that piece?" was the Yam
kee-like answer.
Il did," was the response.
s'All by yourself?' was the next ques-
''If you mean all by YOURSELF with
out assistance, yes" was Mr.. Barrett'S
reply.
"WelI. it's great" was the lady's adj
miring rejonder. 81 had gentleman
friend of my husbands with me. and he
allowed it just walloped the deck. Now,
if l had piece as good as that, I'd make
"a fortune in two years. Say, can't you
write me one that'll fit my speciality?
PHI give you $1,000 cash down and as big
royalty as you could ask"
"What is your Specialty?" inquired
the distinguished authur.actor, some
what amused.
Il used to be great on the slack wire"
was the reply, 'but | married out OF the
business. haven't done anything in
public for two years at IL. My huS-
bands bOOkmaker, and has had two
good seasons hand running, and seeing
that | was getting kinder restless again
he says: Get play and go a-starring;
iii put up for it, and he will. Now.
| think if you'd write me Il
play about like 'Pharoah.' you could
have scene where the hero would be
condemned to death. The heroine could
beg for his life, aud the cruel king, or
whatever you call him, who was boss at
the time, could sarcastically say: Yes,
III spare his life, but only on one condl-
ton. III stretch rope from the Top OF
one pyramid to the top OF another, and
1T you'll walk that rope and carry him on
your back, you can have him.
You see he wouldn'tknow anything
about my being great on the rope. as a
lady amateur, of course. l can take up
his challenge. and in the last scene | can
walk the rope and carry my loveto
safety at the top of the pyramid. There's
no one doing any act OF the kind now,
and Pm the only woman III America
who can. Eve never done it in public
yet; but Pm practicing ii in private,
and Eve got it down fine. You Just
write me the piece, and If | don't as
tonish them next season you can call me
milks0p." 80
The audacity of the proposition for a
moment took the author-actor's breath
away. When he recovered enough of it
to speak, he thanked his caller very
politely for the honor she had done him
in selecting him as the author of her
piece" but he explained that his time
is SO fully occupied now that he could
not undertake any new dramatic work.
When he had bowed her out, he called
for his faithful herald, Macon" Nc
Cormick, to whom he said: "Great
heavens. Mccormick. what is the stage
coming to? John l.. Sullivan writes an
essay, telling how to acquire the whole
art of acting i'll one easy lesson, and
now here comes rope walker who
wants her specially made the denoue-
ment OF a romantic meiodrama.''
why didn't you tuln her over to
me?" was the mercenary response of
Macon" There was no reply. y