The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-16
INCEPTION OF A PLAY.
How Joseph Arthur Gets His Inspira-
ton for Dramas.

Joseph Arthur, the dramatist, enjoys tell
ing how he got the suggestion for the
"Still Alarm" a play which was a mine
of wealth to its author. Mr. Arthur. then
a young Snowman, was walking along the
street in New York one day, bordering on
the viccissitudes of a theatrical mans life
and the inscrutable ways of Dame Fortune.
His thoughts ran over the list Of acquaint-
ances who had made riches out of the
theater, and somewhat bitterly he mentally
contrasted these fortunes and the way sue
cess had come to him. 1t struck him that
the ability of these lucky persons was not
so greatly in excess of his own that he
might not yet hope to do what they had
done.
''Why can't I write a play well as the
rest of these fellows?" thought he. At
that moment he was passing a fire engine
house, when the big gong within rang an
alarm of fire, bringing the well-trained
horses jumping from their stalls to their
places at the apparatus and the fremen
sliding down the pole to dress as they
chung 10 the machines. Mr.. Arthur stop
ped to watch this engine company leave
its quarters, always a sight of thrilling in
tereSt. Instantly il flashed upon him that
a like spectacle would be strikingly eff
fective on the stage. The like had never
been portrayed in a drama. Thus was de-
rived the central idea for the Still Alarm. -
Mr.. Arthur's latest drama, Lost River"
came from less sudden inspiration, but is
interesting nevertheless. Mr.. Arthur for
merly lived i'm the Lost River region OF In
diana. That was when his father, a clergy
man, preached TO the good folk of that
section. Mr.. Arthur was a boy then, full
of pranks and with all-conquering fond
ness for playing circus and show-the
bud lfv,rr hot I1N1 IL
into the vortex of theatrical life and
whirled him up to wealth
Favorite of his youthful pastimes was to
gather troop of playmates about him,
take forcible possession of a neighbor' S
barn. and with his comrades give a "show."
Young Arthur was always the originator of
the plays these juveniles presented on such
occasions. He invented the scenes dia-
lOgueS and situations. He was the acknowl-
edged superior in this line. The lad
knowledge of the amusement business was
limited at that time to rare glimpses of
wandering circuses and stray tent shows,
but the dramatic instinct was rising with
in him, even then, and he was quick to
see the possibilities for stage characters
trio folk living all about. These he seized
upon to be worked into his amateur
dramas. Their striking points were always
accumulated for comic effect.
In time the dOings of these little chaps
became noised throughout the village. Peo-
pie heard that they were being caricatured
in young Arthurs shows. Few paid any
heed, but two or three of the most noted
characters of the village took strong ex-
ception TO having their distinctive traits
Juggled with in this fashion. These prot
estants used to find out when and where
the lads were giving their exhibitions and
then making descent upon them, scatter
the performers, and on one or two occa-
sions chastised the youthful author
Mr. Arthur spent last summer in the
Lost River region. revisiting the scenes
of his childhood. Several of the celebrated
characters of his boyhood days are still
there He talked over old times with them
and they laughed together. The pictur-
esquenesS of the people and their lives and
country then struck Mr.. Arthur with a
force that had never before come to him
He saw the rare material for drama in
the country and its natives. The result Is
the latest dramatic romance of southern
Indiana, in which several of his boyhood
| acquaintance appear as characters. al.
| though under different names. Lost River
| folk are intensely Interested in the play
| and are talking Of getting up an excursion
| to see the play. Whether they will make
| history repeat ITSELF" by thrashing the
| author afterwards remains to be seen. fol
Lost River" comes to Englshs Opera
House, its first engagement out of New
| York. Christmas week