The times., 1899-08-13
pins the size of the earth would be liable
to constant increase

One does not realize how many fallen
efforts the past holds until something like
an array OF advertising pages calls the fact
to attention. glance at the list of drama
tizations TO be seen on the road during the
present season emphasizes the truth of this
statement. almost half of the novels oil
which adaptations are being made having
served for a like purpose before. Vanity
Fair which Mrs. Fiske is to present under
the title of Becky Sharp is a notable in
stance of this. No less than three versions
of The ckeray's story have been produced
at various times, all unsuccessfully SIM
liar fate has always oyertaken the stage
extracts of "A Tale of Two Cities. which
has, at last been profitably offered in Lon
don and is to be done here by Henry Miller,
Thomas E. Shea, and others. Charles Dick
ems himself arranged the tale for footlight
purposes and the work was put on in Eng
land nearly two score years ago. 1t was too
close following of the literary original 10
prove popular, however, and, in common
with subsequent attempts, was soon re-
moved from the boards.
''Sapho'' which Clyde Fitch is arEang-
ing for Olga Nethersole, has had two tri-
umphal runs in Paris, the first time With
Jane Hading in the principal part, and
lately with Madame Rejane. Augustin
Daily bought the American rights to the
auui1ldtiOu, NHiGA ID DJ i'e1uNSI ueAt A>SA>Sr
some time ago, but had not made use OF
them up to the date of his death. a ver-
sion of ben Hur' also exists, although
one cannot state whether it rs an author
lied one or not. The writer's name does
not appear, but the owner of the manu-
script is said to be w. c. Clark. Even A
Conan Doyle's "a Study in Scarlet" from
which William Gillette has taken the chief
character for Sherlock Holmes" has not
escaped A drama, entitled Sherlock
Holmes, Private Detective, was done
for copyright purposes at the Theatre
Royal Hoully, England, on December 10,
1898, and another dramatization, dubbed
merely Sherlock Holmes and evolved by
Charles Rogers, had its premiere in Glas-
Cow five months after. Thus it may be
seen that many of the productions We are
to witness during the next year are not so
new as they have seemed TO be and that
their authors may not deserve quite all
the credit they are likely to claim.
Some attention is being paid in London
to Lyman B. Gloyers recent comment In
the Chicago Times Herald upon the un-
reliability OF reports concerning American
successes in the English capital. The re-
marks which really are food for thought,
were reproduced almost in full in the New
ing as follows:
It would be very agreeable to sense OF
national pride if we could accept at par all the
press agent statements of American success on
the London stage. Unfortunately the truth oozes
out sooner or later, and while il IS undoubtedly
fact that our artists and our dramas are now
regarded with some degree of favor in the British
metropolis, there is small warrant for the tales
of great financial success that are constantly
sent to this country by interested parties.
This abuse of the newspaper function has
reached the actual facts until the more truthful
if not always entirely unprejudiced, English
newspapers come to hand The cable reports OF
first nights are particularly misleading, coming
as they do from inspired sources. A large AmeTi-
can contingent in London may always be de-
pended upon TO supply tbs hurrah element on the
opening night of any star or company from this
country, and this the correspondents always take
advantage of in their efforts TO give the impress
sion OF a British triumph.
Since nothing can be gained in the long run
by deception and Misrepresentation 1T seems TO
me that the American managers who encourage
these practices extremely shortsighted. They
cannot expect 10 fool all OF the people all OF the
time as the great Lincoln once remarked, and
this constant Misrepresentation will bob up 20
plague them sooner or later. / have 1t on the
authority of William Archer, certainly a most
credible witness, that the impression OF success
for some of the recent American engagements in
London was greatly exaggerated and from other
sources it is made plain that in several instances,
most loudly heralded as great financial successes,
the income did not even serve to pay expenses
Much as Americans wish to see their art and
artists recognized on the other side of the At
lantc it must be obvious to all that these circus
methods cannot promote that end. The English
are exhibiting a friendly disposition, and if our
campaign in their territory is prosecuted in
dignified manner, and is justified by artistic re-
Suits success will eventually crown the effort.
But our British cousins very properly resent mis-
representation, and do not wished to be charged
q = -
which have merely been accepted in spirit OF
kindly tolerance.
In reprinting these lines in ''The Mirror"
a fortnight ago, Harrison Grey Fiske, the
erudite editor of that paper, took occa-
sion to speak of their truth. and the Lon
don Stage of this week deyotes consid-
cradle space 10 endorsing both parties.
AS a matter of plain fact, each is per-
fectly correct, the real successes of for
eign presentations in England having been
almost as few as are dandelion pompoms
in the wake Of a cyclone. Not more than
half a dozen American plays have proven
profitable in the worlds dramatic CEN
tre' during the last decade. the various
reports to the contrary having been the
grossest fabrications
Extreme instances of the manner in
which failures on the other side have
been made to seem triumphs on this are
not wanting. When William Gillette re-
turned to the United States some time ago,
after having offered the Britishers mis-
Secret Service" the compatriots of the
author were informed that the war drama
had been one of the hits of the London sea-
son. Charles Frohman, indeed, was pleas
ed to ignore the manner in which New
Workers had received the effort and to bill
it merely as a London success Sc
cret Service" probably did not coin a
dollar during its English run, however,
and William Terriss subsequent revival
OF the offering was undoubtedly made in
an attempt to discover whether il could
not be forced upon the public with ma
tive cast Mr.. Gillette's production of 'sToo
Much Johnson was even more disastrous,
while "Sue" and "The Heart of Maryland
much discussed as having literally ''set
the Thames afire,' were simply personal
conquests for Annie Russell and Mrs. Les
lie Carter.
Unfortunately, one does not have to
search far for even more glaring examples
Of the truth in Mr. Glovers statement
that most of the ''hurrah" attendant upon
American first nights in England is insin-
cere. The writer occupied seat in the
Duke of York's Theatre on the evening
marked for the premiere of Nat G. Good
wins wretched failure, THE Cowboy and
the Lady" Foolish friends of Mr.. Good
win made an apparent attempt then to
force Clyde Fitchs comedy to the pin
nacle of prosperity. They applauded so
loudly that the star was finally beguiled
into making a speech. to the evident dis
gust of the pit, which promptly hissed
down the following cries for Mr.. Fitch
This scene emphatically dsgracefuI,
shows how little can be gained even ON
first nights by deception and misrepre-
sentation."
That more American plays do not sue
ceed abroad is less the fault OF the plays