The Van Buren press., 1898-06-18

I TRIED ia vain to work. 7 had had
good supper, and was seated at a
table IN ms room with pin and paper
before me, but the thoughts would not
come. Instead Of being able 70 eonjure
up the scenes in which ny characters
MIST live and move, / saw before ne
only the squalid little room upstairs,
and the old obeFaian-&uffering
NJ IandIads, when / came In that
afternoon, had said TO me: Il wish
you'd go up and see Mr. FrOebei, SIR. If
you can. Hes IN a bad way. think.
I'm really afraid that he's had nothing
10 eat to-day
OF course I vent. found the Old man
surrounded. As usual. b heap d IT.
tered papers, and. q usual. his pen
was IN his hand and-he uas staring va
cantly out Of the window
He had hardly noticed ny entrance.
! spoke cheerfully to him and asked
him how his work was getting along.
.'Sot-very- WELL he said. hesitat-
inglY. Not--verv welI-I'm afraid. I
can't get the various parts Of this dra-
matte puzzle 70 fii.s
noted that The room vas bare. The
landIady had told ne that The Old man
had not been out OF the house all day.
There vas no signs Of food about the
room. There vas hungry look in his
eyes. Blushin9 as I did 80. told The
old man that was lonely and in need
OF company. and told him II would be
u favor If he would bear me company
10 dinner. He blushed, In reply. having
fathomed the depth Of my lie. His
mouth seemed TO water at the thought
Of a meal, but with firm and gentle
courtesy he declined. Baffied In any
attempt 70 aid him, had finally sought
my own quarters.
Bernard Froebel and had been ae-
quainted about three months. / had
occupied my rooms in West Forty-third
street for two years. Three months ago
Bernard Froebel moved In. His per-
sOnal belongings were meager. The
greater part Of bis luggage consisted Of
dusty manuscripts Of plays. When /
had come to know him he said to me;
Il am a playwright" When knew
him better and something like friend
ship had sprung up between us, be
said; Il have been writing plays for
20 years. | never had one accepted
was young enough to be his son.
j was drawn to be his friend. had no
relations lived a lonely life, and felt
great pity, an immense sympathy, for
this poor, old, wasted life. / am glad
now to think that did what / could
to make the burden Of life little lighter
for him. froebel was not pessimist.
He had no crazy ideas, like so many
playwrights, that the theatrical man
ayers were IN league against him to re-
fuse his plays. When play was de-
elined, he would be as ready as the
critics to admit its faults. They are
quite right" he often said TO me; "the
fault Is in the work" And then he
would close his jaws in determined
sort Of way, and have heard him nut
ter at these times: II will do II yet"
About a month before the evening
Of which am speaking. Frocbcl and
were taking dinner in little French
cafe knew of-soup, fish, two entrees.
The roll, dessert and bottle Of vim or
dlnaire Tor 80 cents-yery good. too.
assure you-and after dinner the old
man had read me one Of his PLAYS. II
Seemed to be wonderfully bright and
original, and, as he recited the various
scenes, | could not understand why
such play should not make a success
But they refused II to-day" said
Froebel sadly. at has made The
rounds, as so many Of my plays have
made the rounds before, and-no one
wants H."
! had read many Of the old mans
plays and had not read one that / did
not like. AT the dinner In the little
cafe discussed them with their author.
and We argued as 10 their merits and
dement's. The old man frightened up
considerably under the influence Of nv
belief in him and confidence in his nbil-
ity, and after the cignfs he sat silent
for some time. Suddenly he stood up.
and, looking At me earnestly. said
Il believe I've got it. II is my imar.
iuation that is defective. All that /
have ever written has been the fancy Of
my brain. My characters have been
my own creations. their words I have
spoken, their actions | have imagined.
/ have failed for lack Of knowledge Of
nature-of human nature. viii write
another play-one more. 1 will con
struct IL from the incidents Of my own
life. will be the principal character.
! know what would do under certain
conditions; ! know what have done.
Thus can mike my characters act as
] know they have acted: they will be
absolutely true 10 life. What do you
tAfrt ~ if2"