Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-05-03
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characters. or to give any idea OF the
time or the country in which they
lived, or the clothes they wore. The
first of these difficulties, that of nam
ing the characters, was the only one
the dramati lists were able to overcome
in a satisfactory manner. Each drew a
letter from pile of anagrams and
read it aloud in turn, and out of the
combinations thus formed, grew the
names, oriental in sound and entirely
| original One of the programs was
sent to Mr.. Stockton, who delighted
the girls with the following reply:
| NV Dear Young Ladies':
was very much pleased to see the pro-
gram and to read what you had to say
about the play, but 1 assure you, I
should have been infinitely delighted
if could have seen you perform it.
Ibid YOU have any photographs taken of
the actors in the costume of their
lparts? If so, | should be very glad to
see some or all of them. Congratulate
ing you upon the pleasure you must
have had from your private dramatic
performance. Yours sincerely,
Frank r. Stockton.
This letter was very characteristic OF
| Mr.. Stockton, who, unlike some Of his
brother authors, was always courteous
to the oftentimes troublesome admir-
er. Of course the girls at once sent
him the photographs together with q
copy of the play; and great was theii
surprise ana pleasure at receiving
another letter in which he had kindly
taken the trouble to eriticise their eff
forts: .-.
Dear Young Ladies: Your letter an(
the package Of photographs have beer
) forwarded to me. 1 have read the
play with a great deal of interest.
think it shows much ingenuity anc
, very good literary work. 1t is easy t.
see that you understand the needs o.
the stage; for you have added enough
Ito my slight sketch to make a salts
factory dramatic performance
Your employment of the death chant
to explain what happened in the arena
is very good indeed. AS to your solu
ton of the problem, | can only say
that as you are ladies and I am moi
one. you know Il great deal more about
!, It than I do. I am extremely pleased
to have the photographs; for Whe,
any of my friends, especially if they
are young ones, interest themselves il
my work, 1 am very glad to interest
, myself somewhat in them, at least t.
the extent of knowing what they looI
like. So far as I can Judge, 1 think the
, costumes are very good. l should have
been greatly pleased to have seen The
play, but as l could not do that, tbs
next best thing is to read it and to see
your pictures. For your kindness ir
, sending me these l am very much
obliged.
With my best wishes to each one Of
YOU, am, yours very truly,
; Frank r. Stockton
Frank L. Stanton's first book, "Songs
of the Soil,' was published some
, years ago by D. Appleton & Co. His
many admirers will be glad to learn
that Il second book of verse will, in the
fall. be brought out by the same firm
as a holiday offering.
|; George Douglas. the author of "The
House With she Green Shutters" is
hard at work OF a new book. He has
rented 4. picturesque old place among
the hills of midland England, and
divides his time between the new novel
and long, solitary tramps over the
mOors. .
Miss Josephine Dodge Daskam has
given up a long cherished ambition for
originality in the matter of names.
\ Since the publication of her book. THE
Madness of Philip she has been great
ly in demand to read her stories. One
| nf tha ytn 1x-I,i ba ntc
to read is "Ardelia in Already" a
sketch of a little slum girl who failed to
appreciate the delights of rural life.
Miss Daskam is, or was, particularly
proud of the name "Ardelia," because
of it she could say, with the White
Knight, It's my own invention" Re-
Gently she read this story before an
laudience in one of the Eastern cities
After the reading a large and dignified
woman came to congratulate her.
Il was so delighted with Ardelia,' -
said the woman. "Where did you hap
pen on the name?''
- made it up myself" said Miss
Daskam, with pardonable pride.
Indeed" said the woman, frigidly,
looking the young authoress up and
down, "as if it we're some strange kind
of bug" she described it afterward
"Indeed!' And she strobe away.
/ A little later Miss Daskam under
stood the reason, for she overheard the
portly woman Indignantly denouncing
her to a friend.
Says she made the name up herself.
Such impertinenee! Why, everybody
knows that Ardelia has been a family
name with us for generations!''
| sts -- tea III
| Miss Ellen NJ. Stone, the missionary,
| is hard at work on book which will
recount her experiences from the time
of her capture by the band of brigands
up to her release. This bit of biogra-
ply will be published by Mcclure.
Phillips & CO., under the title, " Six
Months Among Macedonian Brigands"
Parts of it will appear in McClure's
Magazine, beginning in May. Miss
Stones narrative emphasizes the fact
that the kidnapping of herself and of
Nine. Tsilka was purely a political
| move, and in no sense Q private en-
terprise. She philosophically bears
witness to the fact that she was treat
ed with all the consideration possible
under the circumstances, and that her