Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-18


wife had implicit faith in my ability to
carry out the plan, but must confess that
was not so hopeful. Shortly after our
arrival I secured work with the Western
Union Telegraph Company. and devoted
all my spare time to the construction OF
dollars and Hearts my first ambitious
play. When it was done l carried 1t
around, reading 1t 10 my acquaintances
and vainly trying 10 get managers to lis
ten 10 1t. ! spent two years at this heart
breaking occupation, and finally came 10
the conclusion that If the play was ever
to be produced / would have to produce It
myself. l had saved up little money
and my friend, Walter Y. Perkins, fur
nished as much more, and together we set
TO work to engage a company and rehearse
the farce. We secured Tony Pastors
Theatre for week upon very low
terms, and everything seemed favorable
for the success of our venture. began TO
think that the turning OF the road was
near at hand. But X was not. On the Fri
day night before our opening was to oc-
cur the theatre burned. We had gone too
far In the way of expense TO retreat, and
felt obliged 10 go on with the production.
The only theatre that We could secure
was the Windsor, and. although the terms
demanded were ruinously high we rented
1883, Dollars and Hearts" was given its
metropolitan production.
You will pardon me II I pass rather
hastily over this episode in my career.
The play was an artistic and laughing
success, and the newspaper notices were
all good, but from q pecunlary point OF
view IL was a dire failure. My friends
had to come to the rescue TO keep tho
curtain up FOR the last half of the week.
| had sold all my household effects TO
pay the expenses OF the first half The
weather was intolerably hot, and there
were few theaue-goers In town. And,
worst of all, not a single manager came
to see the performance.
This failure so discouraged me that
had not the heart to take up my pen
again for several years But you know
how fascinating this playwriting is.
When one has once acquired the habit
1t is almost impossible to stop. So. after
time had healed the sorest wounds of
the Dollars and Hearts defeat, l set
to work again, and the result OF my
labors was my Friend from India"
Walter Perkins and l started out with a
new supply OF hope to get the farce pro-
duced. The three Of us-Perkins and I
and the play-haunted the Rialto and the
managers offices for three years before
asm. AT last It went on-and you know
the rest"
Miss Lila Convere, who was here last
week with the Sol Smith Russell Com
pany, is not only a beautiful woman. but
possesses that grace OF manner and
charm Of personality so characteristic of
the southern girl. She is a most pleasing
conversationalist, and talked Interestingly
TO the Dispatch critic Of her work on the
stage during the two years she has been
a member Of the profession In speaking
OF herself In this connection, Miss Con-
we're was most modest, and did not lay
claim TO anything great" She showed,
however. that she was quite earnest and
serious in the work she has undertaken.
While in this city Miss Conyere was the
recipient OF many social attentions, for
she is quite well known here, where she
has any number Of friends and acqualnt-
anees. Indeed. the talented young actress
Is quite widely known throughout the
entire South. as she was a great belle
and while In the Land OF Dixie her
friends in the social circles will welcome
her with open arms.
B B. Odel. Jr., chairman OF the New
York Republican State Committee, was
at one time identified with the amuse-
ment world. There are many folk In New
burgh, n. Y, who remember June &
Odell's Juvenile Mnstrels. with Con-
gresham Odell as interlocutor and Man
ager George w. Jones on the bone end.
1t looks now as though We are TO really
have another place OF amusement. The old
Ford's Opera House. Eighth and Broad
streets, which has been used for several
years as the Spence trunk store, was
vacated yesterday. and the building will
tomorrow be turned over 10 the lessees.
Messrs. Wells and Barrow, who expect
on January I'd to open up the house Of
popular prices.