davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

Explains Sir Henry Irving Something About Writing Plays

am not looking for II. and | shall get r
play accepted. The thing that requires
development is novelty: certainly in tho
dramatic art. / have struck a new idea
myself / was not surprised. l was always
expecting II. II was 4 drama in the form
Of dream. But, you know. il a person
has suffered disappointment for many
years. he loses confidence in himself: SO
thought l had better make inquiries be-
fore l exploded.
Il wrote to an old friend of mine. a man
loaded from the upper deck to the keelsOn
with knowledge of all kinds. 1 may say
that he lived in that dear OLD home of
mine In Americas home that has been
made dearer and dearer TO me every year
through taxes. In a week or two he sent
me word that my idea of a drama built
on dream was not novel. He followed
that with list of plays In which the
device had been used. He said 1t was a
modern list
1T began here, and Travelled to China,
where one Of the plays built on my idea
dated back $50 years before the Christian
era. Well. my old friend was very kind
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

husband was would want TO come. too.
There were just two % them. Bessie and
Bob and II Bessie wanted Bob to live with
her. she might have her way. Bob was
a young cub but good fellow. and hs WAS
Bessie's brother. Oh. yes. they would be hap
py. The JOY Of anticipation, lie would
meet them at the train. and Bessie would
hardly know him. he had So much more
color. ard was heavier than he used TO be.
Would she have on that dear little brown
hat with the pink rose tucked under the
brim? OF course not, women never wore
the same hat for two years. -'' Two years?
II was not two years since he had seen
Bessie; Of course not. He LEFT home i'm De-
cenber and It was now the next May
year, hardly a year and half
How would she look what would she saw?
over and over lie pictured her the little
archness Of manner. the quick glance Of
sympathy-all the charm Of her personal
ity soothed and excited him as he revelei
In memories OF her. How had ne borne the
separation? He had not allowed himself
/ to think OF her. He had honestly tried 20
believe that Il would be better :or her IL
she would forget him. There was Harry
Simmons. Poor Harry, How sorry Car
rington was for him. BESSIE bad not said
| 10 him. Il will be faithful to you: will be
| your wife-be your wife" How that bird
sang, "Be your wife-your wife" II said
| How did the little rascal know? All the
world was joyous with him.
They would have a nice home. lie Thought
Bessie would like the spot he had chOs. n
Her sitting windows looked out
towards the peak. Bob could have the den
upstairs. which he had already furnished
In IMAGINATION. Bob would be with them,
and he would give up his den. What dld
n matter. anyway. so long as Bessie
smiled
one lover was happy, for time. and the
other?
Bessie read his letter with dismay. How
sure he seemed OF her. lie was so faithful
himself that he thought all the world like
him. What should she say TO him? . .
Why should he expect much Of her-to
leave home and friends, and go away OF
there. just because he wanted her? There
were plenty of other girls He had
no: promised. he had promised nothing He
would not accept her promise. He had
said she must take it back. Well. she
was released. released before he went
away. months ago. There was Harry.
Harry was not sparing In his promises
Harry loved her. on. so much! The
letter. Why. the man wrote like an ac-
cepted lover. How did he dare,
\ wave Of remorse CAME over her as
she read the letter again. Could she
wound that faithful hearth, He was 50
lonely, and she had loved him, yes. she
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

~ lonely in the busy city. in spite OF his
business engagements. which were encour-
agingiy frequent He wanted Bessie. The
words of her promise had woven them
selves into a happy song in his heart. and
now the birds ant bees and flowers sang
them 10 him as he walked: Il. Bessie
Ward. promise 10 be faithful to my en-
gagement of marriage with you. John Car
rIngton. will always love you. When you
are better will come to you as soon as YOU
send for me. | will be- your wife-will be
your wife" The refrain was sweet.
Encouraged by hope and memory. he
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
1t was time to say good-by. The two
lovers faced each other. hand in hand. The
girl smiled TREMENDOUSLY. but the man looked
at her gravely, and with sad prophetic
= eyes Perhaps he saw the pain which the
future held for him.
Dearest, l mus: not ask you 10 promise
anything" breathed the man.
The girl spoke decidedly: but I want 70
promise; cannot bear to have you go I'M
less We have bound ourselves. LIS
ten! /. Bessie Ward. promise to be faithful!
to my engagement Of marriage with you
John Darlington. I will always love you.
When you are better-there dear, am sure
YOU will bel will cosne to you as soon as
you send for me. l viii be your wife"
The last words were fndistinct. The girls
face was pressed close to Carineton's breast.
Sweetheart, you don't know what you
are promising. i cannot be a party TO such
an agreement. Take back your promise
You must not bind your dear self TO a
brokendoYn man like me-
But don't want TO be released" In ex-
postulation
Dearest, how I love to hear you say II!
exclaimed the man. Il am weak in body
and Will, and your love is 50 sweet. Let
US say no more about it. Good-by! My
heaven keep your He brushed her fore
mead with his cheek and was gone
But 1 have promised!' exulted the giri
/. 10 herself, as she threw herself into dark
corner Of the library. II have promised
have promised" she said next morning
Is she leaned out of her window. but she Gld
not smile. A thought came to her. He ala
not promise anything" she exclaimed.
Promised and he did not. He did not even
cay he would remember
y: Poor girl! TormentiEg herself with
doubts of that lover who could not promise
anything in honor. who would not accept
her sacrifice, and yet whose every "ord
breathed devotion which she could not un-
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

the presence az so many handsome women
lends tore to the excursion parties. While
the party was in New York a banquet Was
oue Of the features of the entertainment.
The brides responded 20 toaSt-, ANA then
M..Witham made a few remarks which were
witty and appropriate. Another feature of
the trip was tho visit Of the party 10 the
Stock Exchange. where the brokers' sus-
pended business while They played hosts.
Mis- Alice Carey of Car,-rsy'l'=. Tn. one
Of the members of the party. US dared"
70 give the rebel yell" instantly she
spraug upon chair. waved "a tiny white
handkerchief ut lace. ana yelled. T. WIS
the signal for a grand chorus % yeU~ from
the bulls and L@ars-ari tEe man who had
dared her 10 yell paid the rlci, % the
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

Only part of Mark Twain's remarks at
the banquet to Sir Henry Irving has ap-
peared IN print in this country. The fol-
lowing report OF his sreech appeared in
the London Daily News:
Il find my task very easy because am
on my feet to propose the toast OF the
Drama. That Is to me a most familiar sub
ject I have been dranatist for thirty
years. I have had an ambition all that
time to overdo the work OF that Spaniard.
Lone de Vega. or whatever his name WAS.
who left behind him 400 dramas when he
died. / have already left AIS, and / am
not dead yet. To write a drama is said
TO be the greatest of all arts. That is
recognized. but IL is a mistake. There is
another art that ranks above It. Any
body can write a drama. I have written
AS. but when l shall get one accepted is a
very sifferent thing. See how human ma
ture is constructed. When We know that
We are born dramatists, We go on exploit
ing that talent day after day. year after
wear. as / have done.
II shall go on writing dramas till some
day the impossible may happen, when /
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

,,d The tragedy of It all was III
Ja-rH's nicture looked down at her fro"
the y,antelpiece. She had proH,seu -
~ too. and he had not relecleu nei p,I,
iss. he had not gone away. But nov co"
sbe write that 20 Jack, no. MI Cairins
80 on pshaw, There was Harry come
20 NAV tennis with her. She wouio ans"e'
THAI tiresome letter tomorrow
,'lrriEg.On had one more day VI pa.
,ise and then was plunged into outer DARK
ness The bitterness Of IL. And she oid ho'
understand, Her letter was inaoequa'e'
e,.er IN refusing she might have oeen
little more sympathetic. A sun h'ue n"o
Iik,. that. saying she could not pear 70 ~
so far from home. away from az,
friends. told story OF coidne s' Insane
fshnesS. No. no. not that lie was nsane
10 accuse Bessie of a wrong Had ne NOT
told her not To promise anything!
.I col, here Jack Darlington. brace up:
Won surely won't break down because Oh
a fai.hless woman II was man 'oIe'
chrerv. and forcefui. that broke In upon
ca,-iygtou.s Gloom "There are plenty
p1pre fish in the sea, Why. that girl ISM
worth worrying over. girl who wouiu
give You up old man. Just thinK what sho
has missed" .,,,,,r
II was Sam Harper who SPOKE s'ahoins
ever his friend. cheerful and fun OF de-
termination. IL, A..
Eyes, yes.' said Darlington. with the
host smile he could muster; but us
sboclx Won know" He wouldn't let Harper
know how Gu: up he was
you're well rid Of that girl. JACK. cnn-
tinued Harper Jack WINGED. but said noth-
ING .syou know that she Is not the kind
~ a girl 20 make a good wife. She's In
constant for one thing, and III be hanged
II she isn't Geceitfu!. writing TO you all
the tim. and letting that Simmons fellow
make love 10 her. know the k!no
"Samr' exclaimed Darlington.
"There. there. Jack. keep cool. Never
mind what / say. Do you know what L
came in for? / want you to Join our party
going to the Grand Canon OF the Coioraoo
next week. President Of the road, private
car. fine cook. walters. champagne-heyi
doesn't that tempt you? Pretty girls. too:
one OF them from Kentucky. There are
uIentv of fine girls left in Kentucky, Jack.
Don't be discouraged. She's in love with
the West too She wouldn't say she couldn
live so far away from home. Vow. JACK;
be reasonable and come along. Ne'er minu
nv Joking / won't leave you here 10
NOPE
A few months later the neighbors In the
Kentucky town which had been Caring
toms home were saying:
Heard about Jack Carrinston? He's
married. One Of Judge knoxs nieces. over
In Woodford County; met her in Colorado.
.y,Iue Grass 2 course. Tom Maury has
seen her; says he's not a bit like Bessie
summons. Jack used TO be very attenti"
What are you going TO wear to Bess
mons's reception to- MORROW
Well have to dress
bride, you know" 4
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

wrote 10 her. L; was a long letter longer
than usual lie said not word OF re-
proach because her letters had of late been
short and rather perfunctory. He had been
troubled because Of il. but that she could
forget him. forget her love. forget her
promise. in less than two years had not &C.
CURED 20 him.
He occupied his leisure moments In build
ing air castles after the letter was mailed.
His sister. his dear good Mary. would leave
her husband and children for little while
and bring Bessie TO him. Perhaps Bessie's
younc brother. Rob. whose guardian Mary's
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

main with US. Your health will be settled
after a number OF years-the period varies
with different consti,utions-and then you
can go where You please. but stay now.
Call this your home"
How John longed TO make IT a home. in
deed! 1t was spring. the mating season.
The novelty Of life amid his new surround
ings had worn of. His friends were kind,
but they thought he must feel quite at
home now" and no longer troubled about
his comfort and entertainment. He was so
much better that he could not claim the at
tention due TO an Invalid. He was intense
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

he had occupied every desk in the bank.
Then ne was sent back To the frs. desk.
ani in three years had made the complete
circuit again. So he world at AL times lie
in position 10 fill any office in 'he hank. or
TO take any position in any other bank. In
addition Ia this. he was expected - keep
up with all the current banking literature.
and be ready t. stand examinations n the
same at irregular intervals. All W Mr.
Williams head men are members q bank
ers' associations. and each cashier IL eN-
pected to attend some bankers r4-eitllE in
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

the largest salary OF any man In the South.
Shortly after his return 10 the South. Mr..
Withlm married Miss Jeane Cochran o.
Charleston. S. -. a beautiful and accom-
plishef woman. Thoroughly in harmony
with his many enteTI rises. They I've in
Atlanta. their home being a cool. Southern
structure of Spanish architecture. with
broad veraudahs and many shade trees on
Peach Tree street. the aristocratic thor
oushfare Of the Georgia capital.
Mr.. Witham Is uOw a very good Sunday
school and church man. He spends several
hours each week studying the sunday
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

school lesson. and In the classroom on Sum
day morning addresses the pupils on 1t In
way that is both entertaining and In
structive He Is not a man of only one
talent. by any means. He Is bright ana
witty In conversation. good after-dinner
speaker a clever performer on piano. xyio-
phone. guitar and banjo. a good singer ana
a clog ana jig dancer Of excellent accom-
pllshments He tells a joke as wen as any
..',,'rs ,bich makes ample amends for
Lis fail,,re to take interest in them In MS
vonsger DAYS. and especially SO as II Is
financial as well as moral
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

Il. sides his banks. Mr.. William has heavy
interests in number OF cotton mills. and
Is planning 20 erect ten or a dozen more
within . short while. lie is the financial
agent of the Pepperton Cotton Mills at
Jackson, Ga. the Thomaston Cotton Mills
ut TEomastor. Ga. and the William Cot
ton Mills 1T Hardwell. Ga. all erected by
him. lie gets a salary that Is said to ap-
urnNir1rIf. SlJnnN a wear. and IS said 20 be
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

derstaud. The serpent had appeared in
Eden.
II was a common enough SORROW. this
parting Of two lovers. 1t was dismissed in
few. words by the Eeighborhood gossips:
John Darlington has consumption and has
10 go West. to Colorado or New Mexico. or
somewhere. wonder IL Bessie Ward will
marry Harry Simmons now"
1t was all very simple To- the neighbors,
and not especially pathetic. but what a
tragedy 10 John and Bessie!
With her protestatiors OF undyinE love
still sounding I'm his ears. John Darlington
dragged his weary body to the w,stboUni
train. and SO away to the pare air and brac-
ing climate Of the mountains He rcInem-
bered-no promise was necessary.
Lulled by her promise, and strong in his
faith in her he yielded himself 10 hope. no,
hard task for any COnsumptive. and
especially easy for John, with his quick
susceptibilities, youth, and the good cheer
Of his companions in the mountain city.
His friends made him welcome and prophe-
sled a speedy cure. He took up new life,
under changed conditions.
Back I'm the Kentucky town which John
and Bessie called home. Harry Simmons
was laying siege to the heart Of the girl
who had so bravely said Il promise" 10
John Darlington.
Spring had come in Colorado. The mesa
was a-bloom. The snow on the tops of the
mountains giowed in pink and lavendar,
having quite lost the hard. white glare Of
the winter. To John Darlington the air
fairly dubbed with life and beauty and JOY.
He found life a pleasurable thing now, for
the first time since that time. more than a
year before. when the old family physician
pronounced what he thought was death
sentence upon him, and exiled him from
home.
The homing instinct was strong in John.
81 would not advise you. Mr., Darlington, 10
s,o back TO Kentucky" said his Colorado
physician. Il have seen too many noun
tain cures return TO us in broken-down con-
d,tion as a result of stay of few months
back home Make your home Aerh and re-
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
William Wi,ham was bonn a po-r boy. lie
developed into what his neighbOrs in the
little town OF la Grange. Ca, called a bad
boy. His mother. who kept small mil
linery store at La Grange. sent him 70 New
York when he was II years old. lie marched
down the middle OF Broadway from Cort-
Iandt street 70 Canal street. clad in cheap,
country store clothes. the trousers stop
ping four or five inches above his shoe tops,
and an cid, ravelzG and frayei shawl, f,.s-
tened at his breast with a hinge Pin. doing
duty as an overcoIc. an his head WAS an
old. faded and fraye! cap. lie was look
ing for the millinery store where he was u
get position a. q bundle wrapper.
Young Witham found the store. got the
Job pushed himself to the 'front.'. filed
every position from bundle wrapper At 81
a week 70 head salesman At Slcg0 n var
and commissions. and then went in to busi-
ness himself where he got rich. But lie
grew tired q New York. lie wanted - 50
back 10 Georgia. and he went. He esrab-
Hshed one bank after another until h had
organized more than forty Of them in vari-
GUS parts Of Geor-ia and Alabama. Some
OF them he sold but he retained control O.:
thirty-eight, The other day the thirty-eisht
cashiers Of these thirty-eighr banks came.
with their wives and sH-ethearts. - New
York on a special train. the guests Of NJ.
Witham. They held their yearly convention
at Asbury Park y. J., and then took q
two weeks trip through the East. Al this
was at the expense Of the tEivty--ight
banks which Mr.. Withan owns. For M.
witham IS 4 man oE system. and one Of the
details Of this system Is q yearly couveE-
ton Of the witham cashiers, the bill fsr
which Is paid by the William banks.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15
Hts STEADY DEVELOPMENT
A. 4 III SINE>> MAN.

Bill wrappe! bundles so vel that in a
short while he was promoted. and was
soon salesman. Then he became ambl-
tI.us. He had rover been so before. He
went 70 night school. and the more he got
into IT the more determined he became to
succeed. Pretty soon he was one Of the b,st
and brightest statesmen in the house. and
bis salary began TO take on goodly proper
lions. Then he went on the road" He did
50 well that he soon became head sales
man, and was getting the then princely
salary Of 5000 a year and HIS expenses. in
edition 10 a commi ssion. All together Mr..
Witham-he had outgrown being "BilI'-
was with the house for eighteen years
Then he went into business for hims If
under tie fran name OF Stebbins * Wi,ham.
wholesale silk AMI straw goods. He made
money rapidly; but at the end Of TWO years
decided TO go back South. So he sold his
interest 10 his partner. and returned to
Georgia.
That was in 1880. He got a hank at La
Grange. and then went ahead buying and
organizing banks al various points in
Georgia ana Alabama. All the banks We're
In small towns. and Mr.. Withsm was presi-
dent. financial agent snd principal or y hole
owner of each. He developed his own
clerks and assistants along original lines.
\ young man who went into a Witham
bank was expected 10 learn general hank
ing He was 10 kno. all a)Gu; local and
foreign exchange. discounts collections.
bookkeeping. clearaaces. drafts. checks.
loans and everything else. including tie
material features Of banking laws. He was
pur at one desk when he started in the
service. and was kept there for stated
period. Then he was put at another desk.
and then .rnther until. !n the FIST wear.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15
HOW THE PARTY WAS
ENTERTAINED ~ NEW YORK.

There were some features about this eX-
cursion OF the William bankers, however.
which are not a part Of the William regl-
lations. It was what might be called a
wholesale bridal tour. There Were four
newly welded couples in the company. Mr..
ana Mrs. Robert Leonard and Mr.. ami Mrs.
J. A. McCrary, who We're married just be-
fore the excursion train left Atlanta; alr.
and Mrs. ]. r. Walker, who have been mar
ried only fortnight, and Mr.. and Mrs W.
W. Banks. who have been married nearly
two months. There are still few bache-
lors among the Witham cashiers. These
were escorts on this excursion 70 an equal
number OF very pretty and charming girls.
and there IS mora than one reason 70. the
suspicion that the number OF bachelor
bankers on the Witham pay rolls will be
materially reduced before the time for the
next excursion. Mr.. Witham IS an en-
courager OF matrimcny among his cashiers.
He says a married man makes a better
banker than does a single man: and then
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15

When Bill got to the big city-it was big
even thon. although that was thirty-two
years agO-there was no one 10 meet him.
lie did NOT know one part of the town from
another. hut he had the address Of the
house he WAS TO work for. and inquired the
way. His belongings were IN an Old. rusty
carpet bag. which he carried In his hands.
anG with this swung in front Of him. as
small boys carry loads that are too heavy
for somfortabl. carrying in one hand. he
got into the middle Of Broadway and began
20 walk 10 the store. He was cursed iy
teamsters. and nearly run over by every
sort % vehicle; but he stuck to the m!dd
- the street ana finally got In the store
he was seeking. He introduced himself a:i
said H. had come to 90 10 work. The man
aEar looked az lin obviously: for BII was
not IN irvitng-Iook:ng youth. But he was
not embarrassed. He showed every symp
tom Of being rs able 10 take care Of him
s-Is as any young fellow that ever hap
r-:el around ;hGs- parts. And the manager
fr..l- HIM hand
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15
MANY INTERESTS IN THE
SOlTU, AND HIS PERSONALITY

addIt!on 70 the Witham cashiers Confer
La Junta tribune., 1900-03-10
Both Tor the Prize. Of One.

As will be noticed in another
column OF this issue We are offer
ing the American Farmer abso-
luteIy free to all new subscribers.
and to old subscribers who pay
up all arrearages and one year in
advance. The American Farmer
IS strictly an agricultural journal
dealing in topics OF direct interest
to the farmer. The paper is under
the direct editorial control OF Hon.
los. II. Brigham, assistant secre-
tary OF agriculture Of the United
States, ably assisted by Sid Conger
OF live stock fame. and only the
highest class agricultural matter
will be permitted to enter its
columns.
This excellent offer will remain
in force until May ist. Now is
the time to subscribe. The sub
scription price OF the TRIBuNg,
$3.50, pays for both papers for one
year. Come and see US.
La Junta tribune., 1900-03-10
New SAINT. =. Through Ticket.


A new through ticket has been
introduced on the Santa Fe and the
local ticket Office has been issuing
them since the first Of the month.
The use OF the lengthy coupon
tickets has been discontinued, and
instead the traveller receives a slip
about three by FIVE inches in di-
mensions. The names OF the
principal stations along the line
are printed on the slip, by states.
and when the ticket is issued all
the names are obliterated except
the destination of the purchaser, a
machine being used to facilitate
the tearing process by means
of which the obliteration is ef-
fected. The date of purchase,
kind Of ticket and the limit are in
dicated by punch marks. No stop
overs are allowed on these tickets,
or any others now issued by the
Santa Fe, the practice having been
discontinued entirely.