The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-25

1t was Mrs. James Brown Potter who
In a letter to a friend. dated at Maiden
head. England, dropped a postscript which
has turned the tide in the affairs" Of a
beautiful young Virginian and caused her
to abandon literature, in which she has
already made a name, for the drama, for
which she believes that she has even
greater talent, says the New York Herald.
This postscript ran: by the by. I have
with me here for the summer months the
brilliant young American authorcss. Miss
Halle Ermine Rives, of Virginia, whom
have been coaching in several roles of
Ulysses the play in which assumed the
title role. I am thoroly convinced that,
although it would rob literature OF
bright light, she would succeed even bet
ter on the stage, and that she has the
making Of one of the greatest tragedi-
ennes of her time"
Very naturally, the friend was not lonS
in making this confidential observation
known. with the result that 1t soon
reached the ears of the young lady con.
cerned. 1t was the one word spoken that
confirmed belief long dormant in her
own mind and stimulated growing as
surance.
Although Miss Rives was then in the
very midst of a new task OF literary
nature, she apprised her publishers Of her
intention of making this her very last book
and forthwith abandoning the pen which
had so successfully served her for the
stage where she believed even greater
triumphs awaited her. She, moreover,
sought out one of the foremost drama lists
of America-a playwright who has had no
less than three successful attractions on
the Metropolitan stage at the same time
this seaSon-and secured his elaboration
in the dramatlzation OF her latest pooK'
which established her tame as a writer.
Hearts Courageous She Will appear
herself in the title role Of Anne Illlotson,
,t,o TOW. nf
days. made familiar to thousands thru the
drawings of Albert B. Wenzell.
Within a. few days Miss Rives sails for
England. where she will at once enter
upon a season Of hard work in preparation
for the part. under the Belascoizing guild
ance of Mrs. Brown Potter at her home.
in Maidenhead. near London. She will
take the responsibility of having discov-
cred a Rachel of the lower Alleghanies.
The dramatiZation will proceed meanwhile
under combined auspices. The costumes,
already designed will be made in Paris,
London and New York. and the scenery
meanwhile prepared. Three of the most
prominent managers in the country are
in competition for the play, with the
author drama tist in the title role. but the
name of the successful one remains
cret. Miss Rives having made about $40
600 from her books. and therefore able to
be in a way her own ''angel." Is able to
dictate terms and indulge her own ca
prices.
The name of Rives is one closely asso-
ciated with important events in the his
tory of the old dominion, which has the
honor to be called ''the mother Of presi-
dents" On the ma ternal side the for
bears of the young authoress trace back
to the clan Of Tillotson--the name used by
Miss Rives to designate her heroine IN
Hearts Courageous member of
which famiIy-John Tillotson of Yorkshire
was archbishop of Canterbury late in
the seventeenth century.
The paternal name was originally spelled
Ryves, Its bearers hailing from Dorset
shire. where there is still prominent
branch of the family. In America the
Riveses of Virginia We're always prominent
in politics, and many of the stirring Incl
dents In Hearts Courageous" wherein
General Washington, Thomas Jefferson.
Patrick Henry and other colonial patriots
figure, were episodes in the early family
annals of the Rives family of Nelson and
adjoining counties.
There is something Of the authors own
heart, mind and physical makeup in the
character Of Anne Tillotson of GLADDEN.
Hall. For a hundred years the pioneers
OF that section were more or less isolated
from the softer civilization of the upper
eastern states and were consequently