The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-06
LYNCHBUE.'> PLAYWRIGH2.
The Work of Mr.. john w. sherman, a
Newspaper Man, Of That CITY.

LYNCHBURG. VA. Jan. 5.-SDeciai-
Big Richmond has her Thomas Nelson
Page the most celebrated OF southern
writers. and many men and women oil
literary ability. but Lynchburg claims the
possession OF the only Virginia play
wright In the person of Nj. John w.
Sherman. "A newspaper man Cf this city.
An occasional parG graph has appeared
In The Times ana other Richmond papers
when one OF Mr.. Sherman's plays Was
produced, but owing TO the author $
modesty and his statement that ii would
be bad taste for "a newspaper man to
furnish any such stun about himself.
even 1ynchburgers, with some exceptions,
do not know what Mr.. Sherman has done
In that line.
Two new plays by Mr.. Sherman have
been recently produced, ana MS success
presented at Farmville for the benefit OF
the Guards. lie has written seven plays
Virginia and New Market" war plays:
Love. Law ana Politics." a comedy;
Patriot and Royalist." dramatic story
of colonial days in Virginia; Wealth and
Matrimony." "A society comedy; The CON
vict's Daughter a mountain play; -
number OF sketches. including AFTER Nine
Years" recently played at Lowers. and
TO be repeated In few days.
virginia has been presented in this
city three times and once In Staunton.
People were turned away at each per
Torrance. and the IS. X. o." was dis
played for the first time at the opera
house. Some dramatic critics pronounced
IL better than Shenandoah" New Mar
ket' Is based on the battle Of New Mar
ket.
Mr.. Sherman's friends claim that these
plays are the only war plays represent
ing the true sentiment of the South in
those times.
Love. Law and Politics." story of the
boom days in Virginia. also made a de-
cided hit, while Wealth and Matrimony"
Is said by many 10 be the authors best
play. II was first produced at College Hill
Hall. and half of the crowd could not
get IN.
a benefit performance in Washington for
the Ladies State Board of the Worlds
Fair, but on account OF illness Of the
promoter it was not given.
Mr., Sherman says his latest play. The
Convict's Daughter" is his strongest and
best play.
1t is often asked why MIR. Sherman did
not seek theatrical centre. ] know OF
several actors ard managers who have
asked Mr.. Sherman to write them a play
trank Mayo among the number. who pro-
--nounced Virginia to be one of the
prettiest he had ever read.
Mr.. Sherman writes very rapidly. lie
has never taken riore fhan a week to
write play. and wrote one In few
hours.
ne was business manager Of the old
Nirginian when Captain Craighill. of the
Zouaves. asked him to write a war play
for the company. and Virginia" was
written in six hours, and put on the stage
wil,out any revision. Ii was, however.
somewhat changed after the first per-
Torrance. Another unusual thing was
that the author wrote the second act first
Wealth and Matrimony' was written
in two days and played without revision.
Mr. Sherman developed into play
wright during his bOyhood days. and
studied for the stage; tie wrote a num-
Der OF sketches for boys. With his eX-
perience of stage matters, and being a
newspaper man., II is not surprising he
should have developed into a playwright.
His local reputation Is such that the an
nc>ncement of the representation of
FAY written by him never fails to attract
"a very large audience.
Mr.. Sherman has been connected with
the newspapers Of this city for fifteen
years and was AT one time employed as
Washington correspondent for the Ameri-
can Press Association. He was born III
Lynchburg thirty-four years ago, and was
married two years ago 10 Miss Annie Nj.
Helbrig, a daughter of John Helbrig, Esq.