The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-06

torical plays might be called the product Of
a lingo by the fippant. To cite his bril-
liant king Henry W" for instance. This
great play was written during an optimistic
period Of British patriotism. The defeat
Of the Armada and the Subsequent period
of peace and prosperity gave Englishmen
pause to contemplate their own greatness.
They were eager TO dwell on such graphic.
glorious and inspiring scenes as crowd the
progress of Henry V. The play went
through four editions in its first eight years.
a feat comparable to the phenomenal sale
Of record publications Of to-day when the
limited printing facilities OF the Sixteenth
Century are taken into consideration. 1t
recalls the enterprise OF speculative dram
atists who sent out Cuban plays and plays
with Spanish villains during and after the
recent war. 1t is an accident claiming
grateful consideration that the lingo hap
pened to be the greatest dramatist who
ever lived. and that he applied his genius
TO such masterpieces as king Henry v"
Richard II" and Henry ~"
Another instance where modern trait find,
ancient counterpart is the strange influence
which women have held over the fortunes
Of the drama Managers believe If they can
N-'N hAaE ANC ncA1tl All
bring the men. A woman's play is account
ed a successful play. But the fair creatures
of Shakespeare's day were equally the gen.
tie tyrants of the theater. The Avon bard
SO ~testifies in these lines from the epllogue
to Henry VIII." speaking of the "merciful
construction OF the women:
II they smile.
And say twill do. 1 know. within awhile
All the best men are ours: for tits Ill hap
if they hold when their ladies bid them clap.
Every generation has with it the dear
complaining fellow who finds all glory and
his own pleasure only in the past. He tells
of the palmy days. he cites 1.-THE good old
times" The pleasant old humbug Is peren-
NAL. An amusing example is found in the
old English ballad celebrating the great
ness of Richard Burbage. friend and COM
panion of Shakespeare and the first to act
King Henry v:
Dick Burbage. that most famous man,
That actor without peer.
With this same part his course began.
And kept IT many a year.
Shakespeare was Fortunate, 1 trow.
That such an actor had;
II We but had his equal now
For one / should be glad.
Just now this public statement, recently
written by Mr.. Gillette. will prove of in
terest to st. Louis readers:
II do not want to write another play.
Before l wrote Sherlock Holmes I had the
same idea. but was wheedled out of It
somehow, but / trust my intention will not
Yield to the next attack. MY picture of life
Is a little place in the country. not a gen.
place. but a simple home. Add TO
the small house and the trihe Of a yard
q few pairs of chickens. q COW, a dog and
a horse, and / would be content not to
how the rest of the world moved I
think the horse would be my chief COM
and he would have to be a real
a high-spirited, blooded beast.
a sedate. honest fellow, which would
Jog along with the reins loose on his
back.
ION the stage we make printing presses
Of ourselves every night and always turn
out the same edition. letter. and comma,
and color. And l grew tired of my own
work. 1t interests me while I am writing
1t and shaping it. but there comes a time
my mind gets numbed to the contents
Of the piece"
On the topic Of melodrama realism Mr..
using Sherlock Holmes" for his
text. says: when / am told that the ac- |
tons of my characters are unreal, however
they are done. 1 want to know
the persons who have those opin-
Ions know much about thieves and black
guards. / sought hard for types and got
hem as nearly true to London and their
class as 1 could. There are other kinds Of
than those of the drawing-room.
IF 1 ever write another play, ii will be
on the premise that no act calls are to be
given while 1t u being played When the