The times., 1899-11-19
PRESS AGENTS ROUND TABLE.

Despite the constant stellar IIaint that
good plays are no longer 70 b. had at any
price. there are few actors before the pub
lie who are not practically delugcd with
works Of aspiring young authors, W. Il.
Crane, for example, owns TO reading five
manuscripts a week. while Roland Reed,
Stuart Robson, Mildred Holland, and Sol
Smith Russell are kept busy in that way.
Apropos of this fact is a litHe story being
told on Neil Burgess who though vau-
devillc booking this week at the Grand,
al one time toured the country at the head
Of his own organization.
Mr. Burgess had in New York a youth
ful friend OF literary bent whose name IS
not necessary 10 The purposes Of this an
ecdote The friend had devoted constant
attention to a series of comedies construct
ed for the use of the female impersonator.
All Of these had been rejected, but the
lad was diligent and finally Re approached
Mr.. Burgess with a last attempt. He was
positive that this effort would meet al re-
qUirements and Insisted that, il case the
then star OF The County Fair" did not
see possibilities il the piece, he would . e
turn il unmarked, as the writer had in
mind another acquaintance OF whose favor
he was certain Mr. Burgess promised to
do this and took cab for his lodgings
with the intention OF perusing the matter
Immediately.
Upon reaching his rooms. however, the
actor was Mortified at finding that the copy
had been lost en- route. He rushed into
The street at once and made numerous in
uuiries but in vain. he even inserted
advertisements in half the local papers,
being careful TO say nothing that might
lead his friend TO suspect the calamity. Re
calling his vows and that friends eager
ness Mr. Burgess dreaded little so much
as admitting that the roll had been dropped
and never recovered. Accordingly, when
he came across the author one afternoon,
he hastened to volunteer the information
that he had finished the primal act and
liked II immensely. The playwright smiled
gratefully and passed on
A month went by and Mr. Burgess never
ceased his pursuit Of the property. On
three occasions he started for the house
Of the owner with the intention oil eX-
planning everything but finally failed in
courage He could not confess to the boy
who bad looked thanks at him for such
irihing praise. and so, the next time the
TWO met. Mr. Burgess declared that the
second scene was even better than the first
more finished and witty and stirring
AT the end Of the quarter, however, the
star faced himself with the probability that
the manuscript would never be found and
the necessity of making a clean breast
Of the whole affair Within a few days he
was due 10 complete his reading and he
could delay no longer He sought his
frieAd. Pcrsuasiyely. elcquently he told OF
his uOrry and chagrin. He spoke a word
Of consolation for the bad news he was
I bearing. He even offered to make finan-
1 cial reDaration for his carelessness and his
falsehoods. And finally reaching a climax,
ne owned that he had lost the precious
play
The youth looked at Mr.. Burgess for a
moment and then ne smiled the same smile
that had Illuminated his face at the hrst
Iaudation given his work. Next he laughed.
( Mt. Burgess, wayenEg between the idea
that the author was cut Of his mind and
4 the fear that he mad misunderstood, put his
hand on the lads shoulder and, with de-
cisian and earnestnass. slowly said: My
boy. I can't find your manuscript.
Another burst of merriment. Il know
e." quoih the young fellow. The thing
+ was returned 10 me from the cab Office the
( same night / gave il to you. My name was
On the bundle. you know