The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-26

RErJ-BLI.' SPECIAL.
New York. July :5.-Charlcs Hale Hoyt-
author actor. manager. politician. capital
list bon yivant-has at last been declared
insane. Still broken in health from grief
over his Bife's death. a few years ago. and
unbalanced hy the strain Of oyerwork In
his profession, he was taken TO the Hart
fort Retreat for the Insane Tuesday After
a consultation OF experts his condition was
declared critical.
Known through his merry farce comedies.
"A Parior Match" "A Texas Steer" "a
Trip To Chinatown" and others. the play
wIiEht's misfortune causes sincere and deep
regret. Broken down mentally and physical
IL. tha. his condition is serious Is sadly
admitted by those who knew him we'll
The death of his wife left tho bright en-
tertaiuer without A relative in the worli
lie fell I'll from acute nervous prostratinn.
close friends anNiously watched him rally
from the effects Of his sorrow. Ho went
future seemed uncertain. but there were
strong hopes for his ultimate recovery.
signs of Collapse.
There were many sensational rumors per-
sisteutly circulated about the playwright
II WAS said that he had been seen sitting
in the corridors Of New York and Washing
ton hotels, asleep. with his jaw hanging
ON his breast the picture of mentally
broken down man and the center of i
wondering. pityfnE crowd. that he walked
the street aimlesSly and almost uncOD-
sCiOusly at night. and that when he sat in
a box at the Washington theater. where his
latest farce. ~ Dog In the Nsnger." was
produced he imagined ne WIS in New
4 had
knowledge that the piece had been per-
formed anywhere. ne went South. and
then followed the story OF his removal to an
syIum or sanitaTium.
Friends have long refused to believe that
Mr.. Hcyt needed restraint. He enjoyed the
freedom Of The hotels in this city. as well as
In the South. He came here recently from
ON his return he began sending; strange
kilograms to his former associates. .HOyt
is falling" they told one another.
Ills friends went to his beautiful country
home in New Hampshire They tried 10
comfort him IN his misfortune. They
physicians came. They held long con-
sultation. AZ its end they gravely declared
that the playwright was insane.
His Last Play.
Frank Mckee. the former partner and the
closes; friend of Mr.. tioyt, recently made a
statement as TO his case. He said:
His recent production in Washington
y Dog y. a NdnSer'-was failure, as |
knew, he knows. everybody knows. We
We're aware that there was no hope for the
play. but there was great hope for MIR.
iioyt in the mere, fact of its performance.
III. had long been accustomed TO make
an annual production. and. like many
another restless. sick man he insisted ON
r,-unlnG his old occupation and writing
another farce. We couuSeled against IT,
hut there was 10 gdinsdyinS him. 4 am TIT
z nj able he insisted and I shatl write
physicians he was allowed to do so. 1t
will take uD his mind they said. and may
he of infinite help to him.
THE play was written and We went 10
y aShinetcn Tor the final rehearsaI< they
went badly. and at the dress rehearsal
the actors roundly on their not knowing
their lines He called another rehearsal
for tnc next morning and insisted that he.
would be- there to whip the piece into shape
Tie was not present. He was in his
room. ar the end of his strength and m.
rehearsal proceeded without him
The play was prOduced-yOu know the
result. But none of US cared a rap If thu.
play and the money involved and every
thing else to every one concerned went 10
nothing il the one end hoped for were ac-
tompliS hed-the betterment of Mr. Ho,-t'S
health by the occupation IL had afforded
him.
Immediately after the pIay--indeed be-
fore IL was oyer-I went 10 the telegraph
office and Cancelled all dates for the piece
Then Mr., Hovt, after a consultation with
eminent physicians. wen: 70 Florida. ac-
companied by his wifc'S mother. his valet
nurse and an old friend-an actor who is
a good. stanch friend
Ever s-Aa.c SAis newspaper naaa and