The times., 1899-10-29

the probabilities favor fallure-and vice
versa. This opinion would not stand the
light Of argument, and. indeed. e has beeu
rather formed as a result of the instances
I have noticed than anything else There
was Shenandoah, Tor example The peo-
pie employed in the original production os
that play were so positive OF its downfall
that two OF them quietly secured engage
meGts elsewhere before the night OF the
premiere. And shenandoah IS still going.
What Happened 10 Jones was never liked
by the members 0f the presenting east.
And yet it made a fortune on the other
hand. an Of The Rev Griffith Davenport
organization thought that in tkar drama
James a. Hernc had the success ot a life
time But this may have been due 90 tEa
confidence implanted by Alr. HeTue HIM
self
When one comes down to the point ot
the thing. she cannot be assured that the
effect is net the result az purely natural
conditions. We OF the stage see and hear
so much Of past schemes that it is very
Glihcuit for us 10 comprehend the merit
OF novelty Unless a thing has been tried
dozen times We ere never sure OF g.
iou critics are always On the lookout for
unIquity and consequently we differ you
have the balance % power and so We are
proven wroug- But 7 am Grm in the idea
that no 'hoOdoo' is half so terrible 90 an
author as that laid upon him when his EN-,
p!oyes like his work"
In the lobby OF the Regent q stray rs-
porter came across Milton MOBILES yester-
day The author OF The Phoenix, Va4
ousily engaged with a morning Journal
but the newspaper man Interrupted and
escaped unharmed. Are you going TO re-
main in vaudeville2" was asked
clasping his hands, began an explanation
Il think that I shall he said '.N.ot tbat
1 do not receive offers occasiouaIIv-aud
some Of them most iattering-but that L
can make quite as much money in r.
continuous as outside and with much less
work and responsibility Only the other
day certain well known manager gafJ
that he would give me $3.50 a week and a
percentage Of the net receipts IL I would
revive TWO or three Of my plays. I thought
over the matter carefully and then de-
clined. You see, counting net receiDtz ia
an operation akin to figuring on Unmatched
/ chickens / can average $3.50 a week in
my present field very easily. and that with
out worry Of any sort. Then this tender
was for term in the s0-caIled popular
priced houses and I did not care to appear
at bargain counter rates in cities wherein
/ have always done wen WITH a higher
schedule.
There no longer exists the middle
ground between the Joseph JeHersons and
Z the Chuck COunOrs that once did exist
that was occupied by people like Billy
Florence Vaudeville has taken To itself
that central class Cf stars and audiences
. The folk who visit the melCdramatic thea
/ tres are respectable enough. but they have
not the fCTeheads Of these who 20 10
the other places Of amusement stand on
-rsfr
and see the crowd come out Of Keith's.
Then go around the corner and lock at that
which emerges from the Star. And the
same contrast may be noted in PhiladeI-
phia and Chicago. I DO not care to pose
on the lower strata and until I get a new
play L cannot occupy the loftier. And so
/ shall remain where l am for some time
yet"
And Mr.. MOBILES resumed his paper.
For immobHe. stoIid. Unconditional silence
Charles Stevenson could give points to the
original Sphinx Mr., Stevenson is a charm
ing fellow in private life, and he plays the
role of DUfrene in "Zaza" as few others
could play it-but he is not a pleasant sub
ject for an interviewer \ Times man tried
TO convince him that the power OF speech
was not given causelessly and what came
Of the effort follows:
Mr.. Stevenson" said the reporter. you
are the very man I wanted most TO see.
Can't you tell me something for pubiIca-
tion2"
I'm afraid not. said Mr.. Stevenson.
why noJ?"
Because I don't know anything"
(SileIce-One minute)
You are Kate C.axton's husbaud?'' asked
the caller
-WeIl-what OF il" was the reply.
(Sileuce-three minutes)
Cant you tell me something about Mrs.
Carter2"
No
Why
Il never met her but once"
You see her at the theatre?''
only on The stage
Does Mrs. Carter work hard2'
Il don't know"
Does she work at rehearsals2''
Everyone does"
She feels her parts keenly2
How can 1 tel2'
''Well-yOu see her come OF the stage
after that fourth act"
No l have a quick change there
DO YOU like Mrs. Carter
I'm not we'll acquainted with her"
eff - -,tit (MeutaLl
(Silence-thirty secOudsl
IN tell you, old fellow. said Mr.. Stew
eusOn. 4 don't want to be interviewed.
don't believe that anyone except the star
Of a company has right to talk for publi-
cation When I was at the head Of my
own organization I would not permit any
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