The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-01

ttho friends friond's) opinion Miss Trains
novel could BIO mado into great play for
Mr.. Mansfield. So Miss Stone straight.
away bought tho July Lippincott, read
Miss Trains story, found her own judg-
ment coincidont with that of her friond's
friend and reported rs much to Mr. Mans
field, who promptly ordered scenario
sketchcd out, upon tho strength of which
two acts wcro completed, when tho actor
fell Ill Of typhoid foyer, and tho rest is
stage history. "A Social HighwayInan'
proved successful. Tho chance encounter
on bobtail car filed out tho flush"
A Fortunate Dramatic Author,
Charles Il. Dazoy Is remarkably fortu-
nnto follow. Some of those envious per-
sons who Imagine thnt thoy conceal within
their own patos the concentrated wisdom
OF tho universe have insinuntcd that no Is
lucky and nothing olsc-in other words,
that no Is an AUTHORSHIP accident Mani
festly that Is nonsense, but that fact
doesn't prevent tho low brows from "say-
ing things" A man may possibly make
lucky strike once, and it may DO q nukc
out and out, but If no keeps on doing it he
must be possessed of considerable ability.
Now, DARCY has been turning out successes
with Ito tho croakers) discouraging mo-
notony To say nothing of his earliest Of
forts, no wrote ''In Old kentucky, which
no tried his best to sell to Annie Pixley as
we'll as to numbers of other stars. Miss Pix
10y wouldn't have the piece, although she
would have made m ideal Madgo Finally
Dazoy ran up against Jacob Lift, who had
begun to branch out extensively rs a man
agor of melodrama. Lift tried tho peco
during summer stock season and CON
cludod to put it on tho road
This ho did in the fall, and 1t proved
voritable gold mine, Dazcy's royalties dur
ing tho second season amounting to moro
than $1,000 week. The play is still
doing flno business and looks rs though 1t
would DO good for another year.
Darcy aftorward sold 1.-The Old Lime
kiln, which developed into success, and
then wrote "Tho War of Wealth." which,
while not much Of q money winner at tho
Start, hos boon SO whipped into shape that
1t has boon brought to tho Star theater in
this city, and will remain hore throughout
tho season, the popular verdict being that
1t Is ono of tho most thrilling and thor
oughly olcan melodramas over seen upon
tho local stage Tho mounting Of tho
picco is conceded to DO ms elaborate as has
over been given to an entertainment of Its
sort.
A few yonrs ago-avery few, too-Dazey
was poor man. He would probably then
have been delighted to be assured n weekly
income for lifo equal to the amount no
now pays for his board ut one of the most
expensive hotels in this city.
vroom's Hard Luck.
We hear good deal about tho elevation
of the American stage, and no ono is moro
clamorous in tho demand for this great
deSideratum than the critics of tho New
York daily press, who, as rule, promptly
attempt to crush with ridiculo any ono
who may mako q sincere effort to carry
out their supposed views. A case'in point:
Edward Vroom, praiseworthily ambi-
tious young actor, managed to secure tho
American rights to tho play, "For tho
Crown" by that French master of trag-
edy, Francois Coppeo. Mr.. Vroom thought
no saw an opportunity to elevate tho stage
and tho fact that he hoped to DO rewarded
for his efforts by tho well done" of sonsi-
Bile people should not detract in tho slight
est from the commondability of his effort.
Mr.. Vroom issued circular letters to the
most prominent advocates of tho dignifled
drama in this city. There was liberal re-
sponsc, and For tho Crown" was finely
produced at Palmers thcatcr with an OK
collont cast Miss Rose Coghlan supporting
MIR. Vroom. Two or thrco of the best
critics spoke fairly of the production, al
though they agreed that Mr.. Vroom WAS
scarcely sufficiently robust in style for tho
leading male role. The othor reviewers,
however, jumped on almost everything,
including Coppcc's confosscdly great play,
and some OF them even added insult to in
jury by subsequent flippant, snoring or
supposedly humorous illusions. Tho fol-
lowing Is II fair sample Of what Mr.. Vroom