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

track at Jackson without firing myself
| in the least"
"Nyterc arc all our lost dramatists,'
| Mr.. Howsrd?' | asked.
| "Whers are they--wcll, | Will ask YOU.
1 whore are they? hear a great deal about
| ioSa dramatists. Now. these men are
rleht down in front, so TO speak; they
| have. we viii assume. the literary train
| ing necessary for the dramatic art, or
| at least. something nearly allied thereto.
akin to IL. But they produce no play
They produce no Dlays''
AS MIR. Howard said this I could see by
the steely light that kindIed in his deep
set. grey eyes that he was touched by the
inspiration OF theme near and dear 10
his heart There is something almost
fierce about Bronson Towards discourse
at close range. IL is difficult TO warm NM
hut once his enthusiasm is awakened, ne
bctrays long association with the stage
and the drama by the dramatic ierNor
with which he addresses himself 10 MS
subject. Then II Is that his voice nhss
in clear rotund qualities; his eyes snap
the lines OF his face start and move IN
expressive mold, while. occasionally. one
OF his hands Will be stirred IN nervous
gesture. You cannot escape noticing that
he at times sets his Jaws with the sterncss
OF soldier. and then II Is that yoG
catch a feeting glimpse Of the indomitabie
Will. the unvarying, tireless persistence
Of this man, who was content 10 wait
some fifteen years for recognition long
Deferred Filled with his subject Bronson
Howard. at this moment. rises partly IN
his bed. draws nearer TO me, until he
fairly giares In my face. the while talk
ing in slow, almost labored sentences
thus:
Il Will tell you there are no lost drama
lists The fact that a man can write a
clever novel or a fine editorial, Is, as j
take II. the very reason why he cannot
produce play. In all English literature
and l have closely studied this theme
there is only one instance Of novelist
OF national reputation, who ever produced
even one enduring play of so high a rank
as the fourth class! That man is Bulwer
Iytton Now then, If the geniuses in nov
ellstlc endeavor have produced nothing
in several hundred years gone by, what
conclusion is to be drawn"
He paused and regarded me with an
that was almost fierce, then |
proceeded.
NOW then, i will tell you where all |
he so-calied lost dramatists have gone |
A year ago as a member of the Pris- |
matte club, I'm Detroit, the conversation |
urned on this very theme on ttat occa- !
yineer. by name Mr.. Henry. That man, |
who by the way, had literary abilities,
)lied me with questions listened intently |
o my responses, and, in q word mani
e5te1 an interest in The topic, an intelli-
GENT understanding thereof, mind 20 mind,
nan TO man, such as l have never yet,
n all my lifelong association with purely |
literary men, experienced. That was the
'reakinG of a new light in my thought.
% you know what il is?'
Howard is sitting up in bed now, deeply
with his presentation of what,
o me. was to be an idea in the nature of
revelation. The bed clothes were askew;
he large gold watch, which had hereto
ore been under pillow. in some mysteri-
us fashion now uncovered itself, almost
irectly in the spot where, 1 am sure,
When the dramatist makes one Of his
gestures with his right
and, the blow will smash il into
thousand piecesl
"All our lost dramatists.-(he is glaring |
iercely)-are TO be found -(he is bending
iearer and nearer)-in the ranksi-tthere !
ONES that faithful gesture Din the ranks
4 our architects-and engineersw
The gesture stopped itself midway,
nd the watch was saved: but the drama
list continues, still in his intense fashion.
Yes. sir; show me man who has con-
truetive ability Of high order. who
wells IN fancy on buildings, machinery,
mechanical appliances of all sorts. and /
viii show you one who, through force of
rcumstances-provided always that he
nave the literary instinct-has slipped
rom the ranks of dramatists, where he
lightly belongs. and has entered the field |
# applied forces. ] do not believe that a
literary man can write plays unless he
nave the mechanical gift. What do YOU