Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-08-09

How did you come 10 write Cori-
anton?'
This was the question put to Mr..
Pam author of the Book Of Mormon
NAV which is TO see light for the first
lime ON Monday next Mr.. Bean, whose
two other names-Orestes Utah-indi-
cate that his parents united o love Of
the classic with a love of country-has
m 10 this time remained considerably
IN the background. His play its seem
ory It's costumes, its accessories and the
navers who viii produce Il, have all
mad due share of booming before
the public, but the young man whose
brain turned out the work which made
all the other things possible, has rath-
or been lost sight Of in the hurly burly
Of preparation
Mr.. Beams answer TO the inquiry.
mt him at once into a reminiscent
mood. lie Is young man-ony 2S-of
seml-clerlcal appearance, rather atten-
uated, smooth faced, somewhat old
fashioned in his manner of speech. but
well educated with flow of language
that comes forth In a stream-but a
well measured one, and evidently pos
sesslng two hobbes-rather odd ones
10 be united-the stage and the Book
of Mormon. His sincerity of purpose,
his enthusiasm. no one who talks with
him can for moment doubt.
II was raised In the town Of Rich
field" said Mr.. Bean. "and from the
time my father put the Book Of Nor
mon into my hands and told me to read
Il. ] almost lived on its contents,
simply devoured its pages, and then de-
youred them over again. was stu
dent OF the Brigham Young academy Of
Provo and at the age Of Is was a
teacher there In the preparatory school,
That was in 1892. taught two years.
and then returned to Richheld, to take
charge Of the district school there. 1t
was then first saw in the Contributor,
the little story Of sCorianton by b. II,
My intimate knowledge OF the
Book Of Mormon, from which the story
was taken, made It take decided hold
upon my fancy. ] had always dabbled
in amateur theatricals more or less,
and | conceived the idea of adapting
Mr. Roberts story to the stage. |
wrote it during the three years | was
teaching in the Richheld district school |
a little dramatic company We had went
On a transforming tour of the state,
and this only Increased my love for the
stage. SO one day. with the manu-
script Of 'Corlanton' in my pocket.
set out for New York with the supreme
belief that l would find a manager to
produce It, | landed in the great me-
ropolis with just 70 cents In my pock-
Il, ! lost no time In going to head
quarters. the Office Of Charles Froh-
nan. left my play with his reader,
oseph Humphreys, who is said 10 read
0 plays week hunting for a possible
ewel amid the literary chaff that Is
oured In upon him. | was asked to
eturn in week. / did So and Judge
( my delight when he shook my hands.
congratulated me, and told me ! had
'ritten a play which had given him
nore pleasure than anything he had
cad in a year He had sent It 10 Mr.
'rohman, marked approved, he said,
ut in the same breath he told me that
lr. Frohman would never produce IT,
rst for the reason that he limited all
~ productions to modern plays, next
nat Il would be risky for Frohman to
nnounce a play with Book Of Nor
lon origin. My interview with Froh-
nan confirmed this, but though was
lsappolnted | do not now regret the
eclsion. Frohman's advice to me was
10 back to Salt Lake. obtain Nor
ION capital, organize Mormon"
1mpany, produce the play in the Nor
ION" theater, advertise Il as taken
rom the Book of Mormon, then said
e. II you succeed. you will have a fu-
ire, The doors OF eastern theaters
III fly open TO rece;Ye you left him,
III OF hope and eLtiJsiasm over the
ew idea, but as my worldly possess
ons had dwlndled down to nil, / had
forego the carrying out Of my plans
u could earn enough to get rail-
ad ticket for home. ben Hur" was
Isl being produced, and l was lucky
lough 10 get a small part in that
ay. remained with II a whole sea-
m, and then came home. I at once
Id my idea before Prest. Snow. He
ndly gave me four hours OF his time
lie afternoon at Saltair, and / read
'orianton' to him from beginning TO
ID He showed his interest by naming I
committee, consisting of John r. ]
line, David Mckenzie and Bishop ! :,
'N'N'f w ifo" tit pioss anu Nh'h | 4
ely made a favorable report he gave i
$ approval to my plan for raising the
pl,al necessary to give a proper pro-
elton.
4 won't weary YOU" said Mr.. Bean, +
IN sad smile. by telling you OF the Il
attaches, the snubs, the discourage u
snts, that that period OF my labors
tailed l was turned down on the q
'ht hand and on the left. by those "
10 had no time. no money or no de- "
e to touch a theatrical venture and
10 regarded the whole thing as ~
imereal But I found some good "
ends, too, whom shall never for N
I, Wesley X. Walton. X. X. Thomas
d Joseph +. Taylor prominent among r,
nm. The late Prest. Cannon, too, d