The Washington times., 1901-12-08

umphed: he had lived to see his comedies
and plays become a part OF the standard
dramatic literature of the Engiish-speak-
Ing world, and. though dying a solitary
but not friendless old man in an alien
land he was honored and his death
mourned equally as universally here in
the great circle Of his literary and the
atrical association as II was in his ma
tive land beyond the sea.
His contemporary and friend. David Be
lasco, still lives; he is in the meridian of
his career as a dramatist and there is yet
before him-as the average age allotted
humankind goes-more than a score of
years to equal that number in dramatic
triumphs with tireless brain and busy
pen.
Boucicault's first great success and Be
lasco's first success both had the same in
itial Ia" Boucicault's was London AS
surance;" Belasco's was La Belle
Russo" and the two authors were about
the same age when they wrote these plays
the age at which Sheridan produced his
immortal The school for Scandal"
The greatest financial as well as popu-
lar success in the long list of Boucicault's
romantic Irish dramas was the "Shaugh-
raun,'' and virtually the last in that line
from his pen. 1t brought him and the
management OF the theatres where it was
given its longest runsiover half million
dollars.
One of Belascos greatest financial sue
cesses, THE Heart of Maryland" before
its long series of performances in this
country and England terminates, will
have brought TO its author and managers
of the theatres not lcss-estimating in ac-
cordance with the gross receipts from the
date of its original production up to the
close of its present season-than one mill
lion dollars.
One of Boucicault's earliest plays had
also 'Heart''-"The Heart OF Midlo
THAN" from Walter Scott's noveD-but
its pulsation brought but a small pecu-
mary reward and little addition to his
reputation as playwright.
And Belasco's Hearts Of Oak" a. drama
which still holds the stage, has brought to
fits author thus far larger income than
Boucicault received for his sterling COM
edy, "Old Heads and Young Hearts
Boucicault, in his earlier days, once he |
had formulated the idea OF play, wrote |
II TO completion rapidly. According 10 a |
statement made long ago to an inter
viewer. ne occupied illNit Aioit IMAM
two months in writing London AS
surance," yet in the arranging of the ma
terial. constructing the work, and writing 1
the play, he was busily employed an en-
tire year.
Belasco wrote one of his earlier plays
o comedy y-drama-and had ii in rehearsal
within one month from the time he began
the first scene He was more than year
in writing. revising and other wise pre-
pairing The Heart of Maryland" for pro-
duction. There is remarkable similarity
in Mr.. Belasco's method of directing re-
hearsals OF his plays to that Of Bouci-
cault.
AS was Boucioault. Belasco is kindly
and patient with the younger players who
gre attentive to their work and intelli-
gent: but he is infienibly stern and im-
peratiye with The elders, who fancy their
ideas as to the nature of a character are
as good es, If not better than. these OF the
author who created it. Try that bit over
again, please" and again, "Pshaw, hats
not 1t at all. DO 1t my way. That's better"
And so with the trouble and rehearsing
over and over again, that would arouse
the temper anG wear out the patience OF
a Job, the work goes on until the nechsn-
ism OF the acting is perfected.
Sc with kindly memory for D. B. that
has left a legacy TO the profession he
served SO well, and to the literature of
the stage he so grandly endowed with
his genius, IL is happiness to know that
the living ID. d. has already achieved
fame and distinction as a dramatist and
has yet not met with a failure in his
career