The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-10-12
ARTHUR DUNN.

WRITTEN FOR II SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
At last has. Mark Twain's masterpiece Of
studies Of boyhood life. -HBckleberry
Finn been pat into such dramatic form
that It is thought It will be r success on
the stage. both from artistic and financial
standpoints. Klaw & Erlanger. who are TO
produce the play. are enthusiastic over
the manuscript which has been submitted
10 them: Mark Twain" the Eumorast
who IS responsible for the book. is more
than pleased with the work: Lee Arthur.
the clever young Southern dramatist. who
Is responsible for the script modestly
says he Is satisfied. but dischaims all credit
for his product.
IT was loves labor said Mr.. Arthur
q few days ago. in talking Of the play.
"The manuscript wrote itself. and the
only thing I regret was that I was not
able TO incorporate In il all the good things
in the book"
And In this remark Mr.. Arthur struck
the keynote Of the reason why "Huckle-
berry Finn" has proved a stumbling block
for the dramatists who have tried. their
hand Of putting the book into stage form.
There was so much 10 Il they got beyond
their depth. hOundered about for a time
and came ashore with an acknowledgment
Of failure.
To dramatize the modern novel, espe-
cislly Of the romantic sort. is 4 Compare
lively easy matter. The component parts
are one hero, one heroine. one stern guar
dian. who Intends the young lady viii
marry for purposes OF state; one sym
pathetic companion 10 the lady. OF a de-
voted maid. one villain and a half-score
swashbucklers who act as assistant vii
lains- and give the opportunity for a sword.
fight on the stairs at odds OF 'steen 10
one. There you have tia very simple
combination
MARK TWAIN DREW
p(lN VNCTnEN-TG
But with a book like "Huckleberry
Finn" the case IS DIFF rent Samuel 1.
Clemens. or Mark Twain" as he is bet
ter known. Is TO the literature OF America
as the late Charles Hoyt is TO the Ameri-
can dramatic s%stitist. As Hoyt drew
upon the characters and conditions Of
preseRt-day life for his material. 50 did
Mark Twain draw upon the incidents OF
his boyhoOd for his stories Of the Middle
West in the days "befo' de wah."
Twain is a Missourian. and his carly
life was spent at Hannibal Before that he
lived near where he was born-a little cross
roads place named Florida. on the creek.
by courtesy called sail River"
Tom Sawyer and .Huckleberry FINN
are typical OF boyhood life In that region
and the section farther TO the south. and
are favored with a dash OF satire which
has made millions laugh. yet seemed 70
elude the pen OF those who sought TO put
the work into dramatic form.
It was with a fun knowledge OF these
past failures that klaw q Erlanger re-
solved 10 produce the book in dramatlzed
form and selected Arthur Dunn 10 play
the title role. At the same time they began
looking for a draT1atist, and decided that
Lee Arthur. the young man who wrote
"We'uns of Tennessee" and The AUG
tioneer. In which Dave VARIED made such
a success last season. was the best man for
the task. Mr.. Arthur Is q native OF Louis
lana, and is familiar with many OF the
scenes which appear IN .Huckieberry.
Finn" This would put him in touch with
has a keen vein OF s~atiricaI humor in com
his Interpretation OF the famous humor-
lists lines
USED THE VEIN OF
BRIGHT SATIRE.
From the first Mr.. Arthur showed him
self familiar with the strong point Of
Twain's work, and also revealed a desire
10 avoid the pitfall which had e~ntrappei
so many others He accordingly suggested
that in the drama he make full use OF the
great vein OF satire in the book. rather
effects attempted by others. and sometimes
seen In the old nego acts. SO many Of which
have been stolen from Mark TWsin's writ
ings. Mr.. Arthur's suggestion eagerly WIS
snapped up by Klaw & ErlanEer, and he
was told to proceed upon whatever lines
appeared 20 him to promise the desired r.
ss1ft-a first class comedy drama.
With these instructions. Mr.. Arthur took
10 the woods. In a literal sense. He hicd
him 10 some little town up in Connecticut.
where the sound OF cable cars and the