The San Francisco call., 1896-02-17

earlier years of their married life. Later
they removed to New FORK, and are es-
teemed mem bers OF coterie of the nobility
of Gotham's Bohemia.
The wife of the author of "Robin Hood"
makes no secret of her pride in her hus-
band S deserved success. She has most
Intelligent com prehension of the aims and
scope OF his work, yet modestly disclaims
any credit for aid in the way OF sugges-
tions or inspiration.
my husband wrote the libretto of
Robin Hood in less than four weeks
she said. Indeed, that is quite charac-
terlstlc OF him. He 'dashes off every
thing. he never breaks an engagement
with a publisher. If he promised to finish
a iibretto by tomorrow night. he would
do so.
'He is much given to Understanding
the literary value of his productions. He
was very respondent when he witnessed
the first dress rehearsal of "Robin Hood"
l think it was at the Columbia Theater
Chicago. ! remember it was badly put on,
and that Mr.. Smiths artistic sense was
offended by the fact that chorus girls
wore satin corsets instead of bodices. The
costumer assured him that the strings and
other Objectionable paraphernalia would
be covered by flowers, but he was not sat
lshed. AS we rode home he sighed and
said. We'll, perhaps | can live it down.
TO this day he SAYS he cannot understand
why audiences enjoy 'Robin Hood
His favorite opera? The one he is
working on, always. When he finishes it
his interest in 1t practically ends. l have
known him to leave before the close of the
first performance of his new opera.
He Is under contract with Mr.. de
koven for five years and their productions
will be put on at the Herald-square The
ater, New York, before being sent out.
That playhouse is to be known in the fu-
ture as the Smith and De Koven Theater.
Mr.. Smiths lyric and dramatic work will
be confined to the contract with Mr.. de
Koven except as to adaptations and prior
contracts.
HE is engaged just now on an adaptation
from the French for Francis Wilson, the
comedian, SO popular in the East 1t
was he who made 'Erminie' famous. The
music is by Lubig Englander, a composer
Indeed. Mr.. Smith is at work on two
operas for Mr.. Wilson. One is The Caliph.
"'Robin Hood is very popular here.
understand. Its successor, Rob Roy ran
for eight months in New York. 1t is of
the romantic class of opera. The Wizard
OF the Nile, which is more of comedy,
has just closed successful season at the
Herald square Theater. 1t had been run
ming since the second week of October.
Dorothy Morton made captivating Cleo
patra."
Mrs. Smith describes her husbands
workshop with charming naivete.
"The whole house might be called his
workshop" she said laughingly. Ills
library occupies the front portion of the
house, his den the rear and the walls of
the intermediate rooms are practically
lined with books. Think of a dining-room
with books along two sides. Such one is
ours. The walls of the den are red. The
pictures, tell him, are more interesting
than picturesque. There are queer old
prints, for instance. of the Drury Lane
Theater and autograph photogra phs
galore. There are books, of course, almost
lnnumerable, and piano, fireplace and
the desk which is his work table.
His recreation? In books.
81 fear his pleasures and his toll lie in
too nearly parallel lines. He is a veritable
bibliomaniac. He is still fond of news
paper work, a fact which is gratifying to
me, for it tends to draw him away from
the books to which he is too devoted for
his physical weil-being.
"He thinks of the time when he will no
longer write operas, but plays, and then
when he will not write plays but books,
finally he will no longer write, but read.
told you he was bibliomaniac.
Ihe popular librettlst commenced his
literary career as newspaper man. He
has been connected with the Tribune
Herald and other Chicago papers, chiefly
as musical and dramatic critic, although |
he was a notable interviewer He has
supported himself and others by his pen
since he was II. The Chicago fire de-
stroyed tho wealth of his family and he |
became it's mainstay.
He numbered among his closest friends |
the late Eugene Field. The tie between |
the two was of much the same nature as |
that that bound Damon and Pythias
The latest of Mr.. Smiths productions, |
except those dramatized. is the collection |
of poems entitled Lyrics and Sonnets,"
which is dedicated to the memory of his