The times., 1899-02-05
realization of the fact that the play mark
ed the passing of genius

~
ed the passing of a genius.
Mr.. Hoyt himself is a total wrecli-men-
tally and physically. A well-known
theatrical manager, who sat with him
throughout the entertainment, says that
the author never lost the impression that
his piece was being done in New Haven.
Once when the house laughed at something
or other he muttered that the folk of tha,
town had always been kind to him. And
this is the man who wrote "A Texas
Steer
Charles Hoyt is not yet 40 years of age.
He has always lived and worked on his
nervous strength, and this power has fin
ally given away. When "a Day and a
Night" was produced it was said that the
brilliant playwright had followed the ex-
ample of all ceaseless brain-laborers, and
had written himself out" 1t soon became
evident however, that something much
more serious had occurred. The death of
his wife, closely followed by that OF their
child, completed the ruin brought about in
| other ways. The physician who was en-
ployed to remain constantly at the author's S
elbow recommended that Mr.. Hoyt go
| abroad, but the man realized his condi
tion, felt that he was about to die, and
declined to leave home and friends. He
did not improve, however, and has finally
decided to drop everything and seek Sc
clusion and rest. He left Washington last
week for White Sulphur Springs, where he
will remain some time. 1t is possible that
| under these new conditions Mr.. Hoyt may
recover his health, but "A Dog in the
Manger', probably will be his last dramatic
effort.
These things being true it may have
seemed cruel for The Times to condemn
the offering as it did on Tuesday. But
Mr.. Hoyt knew his malady well and had
no reason for again entering the field.
His wealth placed him beyond the need
of another success, and. under the circum-
stances. advising Observation-Disclosures to
| visit the Lafayette seemed very much like
| abusing a confidence Besides, "A Dog in
| the Manger' had been condemned before
| The Times condemned it. The humor of
| the audience that left the theatre on Mon
| day night was such that all the newspa
| per praise in the world could not have
| noated the piece over inevitable failure.
| Charles Hoyt was the most unique figure
| known in the American drama. His farces
| occupied the same position in the fed of
| theatres that Sousa's compositions do in
| the world of music. Numberless attempts
have been made to copy his style and to
| initiate his keen satire but without avail.
| And notwithstanding the last twenty
| one years-his works have been popular
| and have been more universally seen than
! those of any other man who ever attempt
| ed and achieved in the United States. And
| this is the playwright who. after unlim-
| tied triumph and boundless effort. has
| gone out of the world without quitting it
and whose master intellect has left only
enough power to realize its own failure.
| MIR. Hoyt wrote fifteen successful farces
| during as many seasons, besides turning
| out musical comedy that made money for
| some time. He began at the age of four
| teen by producing melodrama of his own,
| which bore the picturesque title of SILVER
| Plume" Several years after he brought
! out a piece, called The Maid and the
Moonshiner," and succeeded in making the
venture pay. Then came "A Bunch OF
Keys" and "A Rag Baby the vehicle
which first established the reputation of
| Frank Daniels. a Tin Soldier" was next
| and provoked unlimited discussion by rea-
| son of its tart treatment of our military
| men, while "A Parlor Match sool brought
| 'Old Hoss' Hoey to the front and made
way for "A Hole in the Ground which
| will be revived next season. After this
| work had been taken off the road the au-
| thor presented an Offering at which he had
| been tinkering while constructing "A Rag
Baby" 1t was "A Midnight Bell" and
though considered by many to be his most
worthy presentation, never met with fl
nancial recognition. "A Brass Monkey
| followed and then came the ironical "a
Texas Steer and "A Trip to Chinatown" ="
| which was originally finished for Caroline
| Miskel.
"A Temperance Town and "a Milk
| White Flag were much talked about; the
| first because of the light manner in which
/ the author had handled the question of
I liquor reform and the second because of
| the similar treatment given the subject
| of death and burial. "a Black Sheep"
| was an instantaneous hit and will soon be
revived with big Bill" Devere, the clever
est man who ever worked under Hoyt and
! Mckee, in the role of the editor. After
| this effort had seen its day. "A Contented
| Woman" was produced and then "A Run
| away Colt was written for "Old Man
| Anson, and failed. "A Stranger in New
| York. and "a Day and Night are COM
paratively recent successes, and since their
presentation Mr.. Hoyt has done nothing