The herald., 1894-10-28
DAZEY BOUGHT. DAISY.
A PLAYWRITER'S EXPERIENCE
ON THE TRACK.
1t Was All Puro Accident, But He Won
Snug Sum in Spite of Himself
by Nodding to u Pool
Seller.

The playwright often secures the key
TO his strongest and most effective situ-
ations through the merest accident, and
in the most unexpected manner he is
given suggestions for his best scenes
This was exemplifed in the case OF O..
T. Dazsy, the author OF In Old Ken
lucky, and the story is quite an inter
eeting one. Mr.. Dazey had written sew.
eral successful plays, one OF which. by
the way, An American King. was pro-
duced some years ago by James O'Neill.
He desired, however, to produce some.
thing in the dramatic line which would
bring him fortune as well as fame. and
he straightway eet about sneh task.
Iu casting about for such locale he
finally selected kentucky as being ter
ritory most prolific in opportunities for
scenic Establishments and the intro
duction of startling incidents. With his
plans formed thus far, Mr.. Dazsy start
cd for Lexington, in the heart of the
famous blue grass region, and engaged
quarters at the old Phoenix hotel there.
1t was his purpose to remain there few
weeks, looking about him for
odd characters and euggeetions
for an effective story. At that
time the spring running meeting on tie
Lexington track was about to begin and
the town filled up with horsemen,
jockeys and turf lovers. Last of all
came the phalanx of pool sellers, the
gentry so important on O race track.
One OF their number, the silver-voced
and persuasive gentleman who disposes
of the auction pools, happened to put up
at the game hotel with Dazey, and in
the evening before the first day of the
meeting they were introduced. Dszey
picked out the man as good type OF
character to study, though the idea OF
introducing race scene in his proposed
play had never occurred to him. The
pool seller enjoyed Dezey's bright and
interesting talk. and the two became
fast friends before the bar keeper closed
up, and they were compelled to retire.
The playwright had no particular taste
for turf sports, and be had resolved not
to attend the races, but his new &C.
quaintance had piqued his curiosity and
he decided to 60 out to the track the
next day and see the runners and the
attendant crowd. The lively scene was
new to him and he enjoyed it decidedly.
As he was pushing his way through
the crowd he noticed his new friend,
the pool seller, gesticulating loudly at
perspiring crowd from his high perch in
big square box.
''Field cold for 800. How much for a
choice ?" he howled. "Do l hear $40
for Daisy? ?" The playwright heard only
the name "Daisv" and thought the
pool-selsr was saluting him. 60 he
bowed pleasantly and passed on. In a
few minutes he returned. Gould it be
that the pool.seller's eye WAC on him :?
Gould it be that he had not noticed the
frst bow? ''Do I hear $40 for Daisy?"
he cried. Thinking that the man had
addressed him again the playwright
bowed second time, and the pool
seller paused to cay word to the busy
writer at his elbow. Fascinated with
the hurly burly OF the betting ring
Dazsy hung around the booksellers and
bowed repeatedly to the auotioneer who
called bis name. He thought it rather
odd, but he imagined 1t was Kentucky
custom to salute man every time he
passed. They're at the post," yelled
some one. finally. Then the auctioneer
moppsd his brow and beckoned to the
playwright. Dazsy responded. beg
pardon. Mr.. Dazey," he said. leaning
down from his box, "but 1t is customary
to take out all ticketB before
the horses are off. think you bought
five OF these pools. Please pay the cash
ier $100 at the little window and get
your tickets" "What tickots?' CAPPED
the dumbfounded playwright. "My
man." said the pool-zeller, ''you bid $40
for the Ally Daisy in Eve $40 poole." II
did nothing Of the sort" shouted Dazsy.
But you did," retorted tho auctioneer
hotly, you nodded your bid to me five
times" Il was only bowihg to you out
OF politsness," exclaimed DAzsy. THAT
doesn't 20 on race track" replied the
bookseller rather gruffly, YOU'D better