The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-09-16

met Edwin Milton ROyle, the other day. the
gentleman who wrOle Friends" now running
al the New California, and IN which he is acting
a principal part AS the Hishman says. We
fell into dscoorse." Royle is a good talker.
Having had legal education, he bias the mind
OF a logican. thinks logically, and therefore
speaks with precision. A conversation with
him is enjoyable. Moreover, be is a good
looking fellow of 81 yearS-may be called
handsome In the manly sense OF the term. He
has a clear. slightly olive complexion, and the
fine lines OF his features give foreign cast 10
his COUNT nance, which is enhanced by bis
dark, expressive eyes lie has an acting face,
that lights up when he speaks. Born in Colo
TadO, be came from that section with his father
10 San Jose, Santa Clara County, where as
boy he went TO school for about year and
half. and then returned TO Colorado. where his
father had received lucrative appointment as
lie gal adviser Of a large corporation. Mr..
ROyle. however, halls from Salt Lake. He went
10 New York 10 read law for couple OF years,
but MOrmondom as his principal place OF res
idence up 10 1890 and there he wrote and
elaborated his play of Friends" which is now
nearly four Years old. like all young men,
after being educated MIR. R0yle paused on the
threshold Of lite, as IL were looking a bout him
for a career. Win the blood of youth puising
i'll his veins, and Wild hopes and ambitions
teeming IN his braln he thought, as many
young man has done before, that everything in
The world was possible 10 him. He stood for
while between law and literature, but at The
time definitely chose neither.
What caused you 10 take up the stage as a
prOfeSSIou?"
Don't know. Drifted into il. / suppose
Win our high resolves and bOasted powers of
will we are III my opinion after all more or less
The fools Of fate we cannot control. / wrote
Friends In Salt Lake and il had its premier
therein 1890 at Tie hands of some young
lady and gentleman amateurs. had no one
willing to back me at the time. in what was
- 81 ~ n olrgh hrrgT F-n1 a
launched my frall bark on smooth water, so
that IL might not be wrecked by first intention.
Fortunately MIR. Thatcher, an uncle of mlne
with some means, saw the Mormon production
and conceived such good opinion OF the
WORK that he backed me TO produce
1t in wider field. Go to New York,
can do in big city, My heat ieaped
10 my mouth. The world is mine, 1 exclaimed.
So after making some changes and writing in
tne musical act Tor LuCluS Henderson, | took
my. hedging To the Standard, New York, the
next. season and there offered II TO a metro
politan public. As 1t happened L. j. Henley
assumed HE part play at present, as was at
the time filling short contract with young
SalVinL Tie reception the child of nv brain
met with was glacial. l had one of the most
unpromlslng audiences ever assem- bled TO Wit
ness the maiden effort OF young authority
friends and The newspaper critics. The friends
were IN state OF mental discomfort on account
OF self-apOlogles for what they were predIs-
posed 10 consider my failure. The critics, with
The activity OF ferretS. were searching FOR flaws
10 record. You could get DO encouraging ap-
plause from such cOucOuse as that. As a
consequence there was not hand during The
evening, and was on the point OF teegraphing
home that 'Friends was dire failure, when L
thought l would walt aud see what The critics
SAID next day. l did not sleep Il wink that
night and al early dawn sent fog all The morn
ing papers. l breathed again when l read
them, and the tension Of apprehension that
almost threatened brain fever relaxed. After
all. the critics had NOT treated me very b div
The Herald was the best disposed toward my
play, but The World made mincemeat of il. l
think the article was written by A. Oakley Hall,
eX-Mayor of New York, who went 10 England
atone time on account of the TWEED business,
and who for some reason, as l learned, had Il
personal anupaihy toward the plays author.
However, things went over well for me and my