The times., 1898-02-27
PRESS AGENTS ROUND TABLE.

Manager Roth of "A Southern Ro-
nance" wended his way into the banquet
han wherein the Table sits. last week
and contributed n story on Dolly Hisbee,
who wrote the novel, In Gods Coun-
try on which the play was founded. Ac-
cording TO Mr. Roth. the authoress was
among the very first women TO enter
newspaper work in a reportorial capacity.
and by her bravery she paved the way
for new field in the work OF women.
This required persistence. energy and
strength Of spirit. her duties at that time
meaning humiliation and social ostracism
Tor her So narrow were people that she
even found il difficult to get a place to
board, her iandlady not being able TO see
why IL should he necessary for Il young
woman TO he out alone at all hours of
the night. often she was refused the
news she had come for. and finally was
obliged 10 resort To a novel trick, which,
though II caused some trouble al first,
brought her to the desired end This oc-
CURED ON the occasion OF a big reception
To which Miss HiEbee was assigned.
When she arrived at the house. however,
and sent up her card she was informed
that the hostess did not care to see any
newspaper person. Al first the woman
in her WAS heartbrohen. but a unique idea
struck her and returning 10 her office.
she wrote the story for which she had
been sent. When il came out the next
morning anarchy nihilism and socialism
TeigGad supreme for a time. for such 4 re-
port had never been read before in the
staid old town. Miss Higbee had the
names OF everyone present, but she also
had those of people whom the hostess
would not have recognized for untold
millions of dollars. Then the costumes
he f..
were fearfully and wonderfully made and
the whole tale was anything but cred
itabi.s to the hostess. IL Is said that the
editor was forced 10 ask for police pro-
lection that day, bat he sided with Miss
HiSbee. and the society of the town learn
ed a lesson it did not soon forget.
Mrs. Russ WhytaI says her husband
should be i stage manager, and she
ought to know. Mr.. Whytal is a man
OF many talents, but he never showed a
sign of the new one until about four
months ago. when an incident occurred
that brought from him a vocabulary of
new and original. as well as standard
oaths. thai would have done credit TO a
truck driver. And that is why Mrs. Why
tai says her husband should be a stage
manager.
costumes have been rusticating during
the summer months. and. being a thrifty
woman. she had been at some pains ia
lind q way in which they might be made
Uninhahitable 10 the moths without at
tanning an odor that would make them
equally unpleasant to mankind. Finally
she came across "a story in which pepper
WAS mentioned as Il substitute for cam
phvr and the little actress resolved to try
IL. when the season opened the dress
WAS brought into requisitiou and on the
first night in New York she wore the
gown. During the second act of the piece
her husband as a d9ShinS army officer,
finds occasion TO embrace her. and on this
particular night, being elated with the
way things were going, he put eXtraordi-
nary warmth into the hug. This was so
much the case that the audience became
highly interested and were just about to
applaud when-the hero sneeZed. Then
everyone started to laugh Mr. Whyta!
saw what was coming. but he could not
hslp It. strong. pUnEent, itching odor
assailed his nostriis and made the tears
start TO his eyes. He sneeZed gain, and
hon a third and n fourth time. The au-
dieHcC was. 10y this time, i'm fits Of hugh
ter What is the natter whispered
the hero between sDeezes-only he didn' l
say il that way I'm afraid" replied his
wife timidly. that ! forgot to shake the
pepper out of this dress.
And then the hero swo-sneezed