The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-22
SECRET SERVICE
Successes and Failures which Led
Up to It's Production.

successes anu Failures Which Led
Up to Its Production.
William Gillette. whose war play, "Se-
cret Service" is to be presented at the
Grand next week, has had his failures as
well as his successes, but he did not vent
impotent rage upon the public which did
not support his mistakes If he had he
would probably never have made any.
thing but mistakes. But he gave I'D the
mistake and tried something else
All of the coaches were pulled from
ford and graduate of Yale. Soon after
he left college he played a part in the
"Gilded Age" in John T. Raymond's
company He spent two seasons at Mac
auley's theaters. in Cincinnati and Louis
vile. and had some Of the travelling ex-
periences that all actors have. He had
been for long time celebrating play,
which he called "The Professor" 1t
was in one act at first, but At was ex-
tended and elaborated till 1t became full
sized play. 1t was produced at the
Madison Square theater in New York
and had a long run. While 1.-THE Pro.
fessor'' was on the stage at the Madison
Square, Mr.. Gillette and Mrs. Burnett
wrote "Esmeralda," which had another
long run at the same house. 1t was also
played In other cities. and Mr.. Gillette
made several tours in ''The Professor
When Mr.. Gillette prepared an adapta-
ton from a German farce and called it
'"The Private Secretary" there was an
other version Of the same original in
course Of construction for the Madison
Square theater bir Gillette's version was
to be placed at the unhappy house. which
has since been called Dockstadter's, Herr
mans and the Gaiety. There was a race
for the first production. The two plays
were finally set down for the same night,
and Mr. Gillette got his curtain up half
an hour ahead of the other house, and
claimed the victory. In the end the two
versions were blended and made into the
one which has since been used whenever
the play has been presented in this coun-
try. 1t had much success. and Mr.. Gill
lette played it at frequent intervals for
long time.
There was another success in HELD by
the Enemy" which was played first at
the Madison Square tneater, and after
ward all over the country. "a Legal
Wreck" which was played at the Madi-
son Square theater, and a stage version
of Rider Haggards "She," were plays Of
a period a trifle later than this. Then he
made adaptations of German plays call
ed 'All the Comforts of Home and MIR.
Wilkinson's Widows" both of which PROS
pered for time.
Early in 1890, Mr.. Gillette was at work
on melodramatic spectacle called
Ninety Days." which was to be produced
at NibIo's garden 1t was to display
things uninterrupted yet in prose or
rhyme"
But In the midst of the preparations
Mr.. Gillette was taken seriously sick.
and the whole project was given up. For
several days, almost weeks, the death or
Mr.. Gillette was expected to occur at any
time. Then he got q little better and
went to the South. where he gradually
recovered his health, but he disappeared
from theatrical affairs for a long time
When he was able to work again he took
up the old scheme Of NINETY Days." to
which he had given a great deal of
thought and time and labor and on the
result of which he placed great de-
pendence. It> was produced at last at
the Broadway theater, and was a failure.
1t did not please the New York public
1t was too cumbersome as to its scenery
to be carried about the country with
profit
There was just a growing sign of ten
dency to regard Mr.. Gillette's best work
as thing of the past, when he pro-
duced ''Too Much Johnson" at thu
Standard theater, New York, after soma
trials of 1t out Of town. 1t gained an
instant popularity, overcome the per-
sistent Ill luck of that notorious Jonah
house and ran for nearly a season. This
led the way easily and naturally to 'Se.
cret Service" which is not only the
grea test success of his career, but the
greatest American drama yet written.