The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-25

ositv and caused no end of the sort of talk
which most managers nowadays seem to
regard as necessary to the prolOngation OF
a run. Miss Nethersole has ability, OF
course-a great deal of it-but not nearly
SO much as she is alleged to possess. The
newspaper paragraphing done in her be-
half has had. much to do with forcing her
into a position of prominence on the
American stage.
am inclined to think that Miss Marti-
not will surprise every body by her inter
probation of the character of Prosper Mer-
rimee's INSTRUMENTATION. I we'll remem-
Der her work as Dora in Diplomacy" an
emotional role which is almost always
overdone. Miss Martinez, however, gave
it the exact quantity of force, leavened by
the necessary naivete, and her touch was
as accurate as though she had been used to
no other class of roles in her stage career.
She may, and, dare say will, do the same
thing with Carmen
How ''The Highwayma1" Was Written.
A we'll known theatrical writer of this
city tells the following story, which, be-
sides being interesting, is true, which is
more than can be said of most stage anec
dotes:
''Great oaks from little acorns grow"
One day last July Mary r. Stone, Richard
Mansfield's literary amanuensis, was rid
ing in a bobtaii cross town car. OF course
it happened IN this city, for they DOM run
bobtan horse cars anywhere else any more.
Well, in this said antediluvian coupe Miss
Stone met friend, and they fell to talk
ing shop-about books and things. In
the course of this conversation Lippincott's
was mentioned. That reminded the friend
that friend of hers had advised her to
advise Miss Stone to read the then current
number of that magazine, since in her
(the fEiend's friend 81 opinion Miss Trains
novel could be made into a great play for
Mr.. Mansfield. So Miss Stone straight
away bought the July Lippincott, read
Miss Trains story, found her own judg
ment coincident with that of her friends
friend and reported as much to Mr.. Mans
field, who promptly ordered a scenario
sketched out, upon the strength of which
two acts were completed, when the actor
fell i'll of typhoid fever, and the rest is
stage history. "A Social Highwayman'
proved successful. The chance encounter
on a bobtaj4 car filed out the dush.'
A Fortunate Dramatic Author.
Charles T. Darcy is a remarkably fortu-
nate fellow. Some of those envious per-
sons who imagine that they conceal within
their own pates the concentrated wisdom
of the universe have insinuated that he is
lucky and nothing else-in other words,
that he is an AUTHORSHIP accident. Mani
testify that is nonsense. but that fact
doesn't prevent the low brows from "say-
ing things" A man may possibly make
a lucky strike once, and it may be f1uke
out and out, but if he keeps on doing it he
must be possessed of considerable ability.
Now, Darcy has been turning out successes
with Ito the croakers) discouraging mo-
notony. To say nothing of his earliest eff
forts, he wrote ''In Old Kentucky which
he tried his best to sell to Annie Pixley as
well as to mum bers of other stars. Miss Pix
ley wouldn't have the piece, although she
hoy do IA ~
Darcy ran up against Jacob Lift who had
begun to branch out extensively as man
ager of melodrama. Lift tried the piece
during summer stock season and con-
cluded to put it on the road.
This he did in the fall and it proved
veritable gold mine, Darcy royalties dur
ing the second season amounting to more
than $1,000 a week. The play is still
doing fine business and looks as though it
would be good for another year.
Darcy afterward sold 1.-The Old Lime
kiln, which developed into success, and
then wrote 1.-The War of Wealth. which,
while not much of money winner at the
start, has been so whipped into shape that
it has been brought to the Star theater, in
this city, and will remain here throughout
the season, the popular verdict being that
it is one of the most thrilling and thor
Oughly clean melodramas ever seen upon
the local stage. The mounting of the
piece is conceded to be as elaborate as has
ever been given to an entertainment of its
sort.
A few years ago-a very few, too-Dazey
was poor man. He would probably then
have been delighted to be assured a weekly
income for life equal to the amount he
now pays for his board at one of the most
expensive hotels in this city.
Vroom's Hard Luck.
We hear good deal about the elevation
of the American stage, and no one is more
clamorous in the demand for this great
iesideratum than the critics of the New
York daily press, who, as rule, promptly
attempt to crush with ridicuIe any one
who may make a sincere effort to carry
out their supposed views. A case.in point;