The times., 1899-05-07

tic. / wish someone would come into the
field with plan for building a canal be-
tween the inteliects of young playwrights
and those of managers. The condition at
present is very narrowing one. On this
side Of the fence we have hundreds OF
youthful authors clamoring that no one
will read their works, and, on the other.
host of men with money to invest who
claim that they cannot secure matter
worth the purchasing. And meanwhile
prominent stars like Roland Reed and w.
H. Crane are being pushed TO the wall for
lack of vehicles.
The facts in the affair are very SIM
pie. The greater portion of our native
scribblers have been laboring so long and
so rapidly that they are completely out
of ideas, and those who have not yet
achieved position are in the main pienti-
fully supplied with stories and situations,
but Go not know how TO arrange them for
stage production. Anyone who has ever
taken the trouble to read piece in man
uscript will understand tAat il is no light
task for a prospective investor to wade
through pages of matter and that he can
not be blamed for refusing to look over
the efforts of those unknown TO him when
he is certain that generally. no matter
how bright the stuff. il would be impGssi-
bic for dramatic presentation. Under the
circumstances it is no wonder that men
like Charles Frohman and his brother
buy their plays abroad after someone else
has taken the risk of staging them, after
they have been so weeded that they are
most easily judged and after the verdict
of London theatregoers has given them
added valce.
ITO me the remedy for the trouble
should be in a combination OF talent-in
the collaboration Of the youngsters with
ideas and without technique and Of the
oldsters without ideas but with plenty of
constructive ability. While each might
feel for while that the other was getting
the better half of the bargain and while
the established authors would probably
think such an arrangement below their
dignity / believe that the ultimate result
would be good. Meanwhile matters are
improving. The return to success of men
like Bronson Howard. Clyde Fitch. and
David BelascO with the installation of
George Broadhurst and other newcomers
puts new light On the question and
makes it probable that in the course of
time affairs will adjust themselves. I'm
sure / hope So
Karina. the French chanteuse who was
heard last week at Kernans has not the
slightest conjunction about the songs of
doubtful propriety which she sings. When
a Times man asked her concerning them
she laughed, shrugged her shoulders and
remarked, I'm not 4 baby and neither are
those who hear me II the words of a bal
lad affect their morals they should return
to kindergarten. As to my own-well.
don't think they're in danger. / only give
people what they demand | am paid to
render those ditties and do it for a liyeli-
hood while the folk who sit in front and
applaud have given up their money for
the privilege. Which of us is most to
blame?
For the matter of 1t all the songs are
not anything more than a trifie suggestive.
and if they were no one would understand
them. People think / voice disgraceful
sentiments because use French. II gave
hymn or so to quick tempo few would
ever know the difference. Audiences SIM
ply wish something vulgar and go where
they believe they are getting it. This be-
ing true no one can convince me that
do harm. II is the minds of the men who
occupy chairs and not mine that is wrong.
The whole thing is matter of Imagination
and exaggeration. 1t makes me laugh
And when one reflects in an unpreiu-
diced way Karina certainly seems to be
right.
Old-time theatregoers will remember
that in the late fifties an organization of
children toured this country in a repertoire
OF well-known plays and attracted SO much
attention that forgetting them is not easy.
Younger patrons of the drama will have
heard of the company and will know that
it paved the way for great deal of imi-
tation- Both classes of people should be
interested in learning that Mrs. Bates,
who is now at the Columbia with T. Dam
lei Frawley, was the leading woman-or
girl-with this combination. In the course
OF a conversation with her the other day
Times man secured the history of the
undertaking and of its success.
The troupe was quite family affair
and consequently the work of its members
was more than half pleasure" said Mrs.
Bates. My father was William Wrenn-
a descendant of Sir Christopher Wrenn
and extremely proud of the fact He was
an amateur actor of some ability and so
fond OF the drama that proficiency in its
art was his greatest desire for his children.
Consequently, when We moved from Rich
mond to Buffalo and he discovered at
tached to our residence in the New York
town a stable which he did not need the
structure was promptly given over to the
boys. They, in turn, constructed stage
there and so deftly arranged the building
that We soon had miniature theatre.
Re-enforced by the progeny of my uncle.
DR.. William Oliver, We formed band
of nine and carefully rehearsed number
of familiar pieces. These were produced
monthly for the benefit of the neighbor-
hood and were commended in the most ex-
trayagart manner.
$50 loudly were our praises sung that
a great deal began to be said of US about
the country and when my father lost his
fortune a man of means who had seen us
"a Mr.. Nagie-made an offer TO take US
on the road. At first my parents dsmur-
red but finally gave way and We were
booked through the East as the Wrenn
Juveniles. Our tour was wonderfully sue
cessful and its returns were almost beyond
belief For two years we Travelled about
and always our performances drew crowds
to the best and highest priced houses in
the land. We had long run in New York
at a place which stood at 4f4 Broadway
and was owned by venturer. called Wood
We were also seen at the Boston Museum
and at the old National Theatre in this
city. President Buchanan attended the
entertainment here and was delighted.
was asked to visit the old gentleman at
the White House. where Miss Lane was
then hostess. and he took me upon his
knee for long talk. He seemed much
pleased that we should have been able to
act such works as those in which We took
part and unfeignedly amused at my air OF
wisdom.
''As matter of fact our little organiza-
tion was nothing short of wonderful, and
nowadays when | hear people marvel at
the Liliputians l smile at thinking what
might have been said had they seen us
We were all little tots ranging from three
years of age 20 eleven. was seven. We
presented such comedies as Tom Noddy's
Secret A Momentous Question: The