davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-18

- NE of the best known and most
astute Of New York's theatre
cal managers the other day, il
discussing the future of the American
stage ventured the prediction that there
would be a great big slump in theatri-
cal enterprises in the immediate future
unless the native and English drama
lists turned out an Unexpectedly large
and excellent quality Of work this year.
Plainly speaking. the dramatist holds
the fortunes Of the stage in the hollow
of his hands. II he turns out good prod
uct the stage fourfshes. If his labor is
unworthy Of success. it rarely achieves
It
Up to d year OF so ago the English
pIaywrights furnished a goOdly quantity
of the plays seen on the stages Of the
cities Of this country. The names of Pi-
nero. Jones. Jerome. Barrie. and many
of their contemporaries adorned bill
boards in almost every city. town. and
village in the United states during the
theatrical season. and generous indeed
were the royalties mat were sent across
the Atlantic to these writer's Of drama
tic literature
Pinero the Only One.
But Of a sudden the EngIshmen went
wrong IN their estimate of what the
theatergoing public liked in the way Of
amusements, and their efforts to hit the
buITs-eye Of popular fancy shot wide of
the mark
sof the English dramatlsts Pinero
alone retains mis- skill in providing plays
for American audiences, and he only
turns out one work year. so there is
mighty little chance Of his overlooking
the market.
The little band OF drsmstists that
few years ago were wont 10 hold out
considerable hope for a distinctly Amer
lean school Of playwrighung took a
sudden notion to suspend operations.
with the result that Of the entire lot
Of native dramausts who were hard at
work energeticaIIy and enthusiastically
only a couple Of seasons ago has wi
IDENTIFY abandoned ali Iabors.
Augustus Thomas Work.
Augustus Thomas seems TO be com
pletely satisfied with the few excellent
pieces he has to his credit, while the
last work Of Bronson Howard-done in
collaboration with Prof. Brsnder Mat
tbews for Comedian ". H Crane-faiI-
ing as it did most ingloriously, discour-
aged this once uudeniabIy brilliant
stage writer. and for the past year OF
so he has been abroad. mostly occupied
in making over his one big success,
Shenandoah" for English purposes.
Franklin Fyles, now that he is re-
Heved Of his newspaper duties, promises
to become an important factor in sup
plying plays Tor the native market.
william Gillette has done Htue or
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-18
CYdc Fitch Who Has Written NlOrV successes is q Tire
less Worker, and David BGIQSCO Who Wrote The Great
Plays in Which Mrs Leslie Carter Has Starred, Burns
Midnight Oil and Even finds inspiration Coming TO
Him in His SceD-WiIIOm GiIIctfo'S Work

But if one man will manifest the
keenest attention while another IistIess-
" gIances over the pages. Belasco knows
there is something missing. and he IN
stantIy destroys his manuscript and
starts all over again, and many times
the Ms is entirely rewritten until this
Elusive. intangible something that viii
touch the emotions of all in much the
same manner is secured.
His Early Days.
It requires infinite patience to follow
the Belssco methods. but the fact that
he is unacquafnted with failure Is pretty
good evidence that his is the only right
method. after all
BeIasco has been writing plays ever
since he was a young. very young, man.
He was in his teens when he was the
stage manager and stock" dramatist at
the Baldwin Theater, San Francisco
Prior to that time he had been mem
ber-a very unimportant one. to be sure
of 4 small circus that sought the pa
tronage Of the early mining camps OF
California. Then. after 3 season with
the tent show" Beiasco Joined a band
Of strolling Thespians
His first Introduction to the drama
was on a hurriedly improvised wooden
platform. upon which was arranged
some homemade scenery, On such
stage as that this modern wizard of
the drama received his first lessons in
the rudiments of dramatic art
They we're stern lessons, too. for ire
quently the litae band did not attract
large enough audiences to warrant their
eating, and they had TO move on to an
other locality. praying that the populace
would be kinder to them.
A Play 4 Week
When BeIasco decided TO abandon this
type OF a stage career, he returned 10
his San Francisco home and joined the
Baldwin stock company. The principal
members of this organization included
James O'Nein. Rose Coghlan, Jeffreys
Lewis, and Charles Thorn It was Mr..
Belasco's duties to either write new
play or adapt an old one to the -
quirements Of The company every week.
and in addition to this task he was call
ed upon TO stage the piece and very
frequently play one of the parts.
His First Big Success.
Such work as this for some years is
apt to give an ambitious. brilliant young
fellow such as BeIasco was a frst-cIass
start in the playwriting business. and it
cannot be denied that much OF the sue
cess that has attended his later efforts
is due TO the early schooling he received
in the days of the old Baldwin stock or
ganization
Belasco's first big success in original
plays was THE Strangers of Paris" a
type Of melodrama that became immedi-
ately popular It brought the young San
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-18
Humanity the Factor.

i's-'S'' S'''-'0uSiy AVOIDS the opinion
u ''iS pfoi'SSional 'r''le until his play
- staged 0u' uuIlng me preliminary
u 0's7S u preparation nothing delights
MN % MUCH az 70 feSo portions or his
" OH 10 d curious assortment OF critics
these critics may include seamstress
III MS own iam'ly' any friend who may
happen IN OF a cierR IN store-any-
D0dy serves me Play"right's purpose
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-18

business" and bits Of human nature
that Immediately lifted the play to the
heights Of unquesuoned success
Belasco writes his plays at any and
all places and times. He may be at din
ner with d party Of friends when an idea
occurs TO him.
Excuse mel" he viii exeIaim as he
pulls out a pencil and scribbIes a few
marks that resemble hen prints on his
cuffs.
Difficulty With Du Barry.
If there is not sufficient space on his
cuffs. the shirt front is used. BeIasco
says shirts can be bought for a few dol
lars. but some Of the ideas that he has
written on them have brought many
thousands Of dollars.
Much Of his work occurs TO him as ne
sleeps. and ii is nothing unusual for him
to jump up from deep sIumber AMI
write hurriedly for an hour at a time
When Mr.. Belasco was at work on ..Du
Barry for Mrs. Carter he experienced
much difficulty in bringing the fourth
act to satisfactory termination. He
wrote scene after scene. twisted his
characters around in almost every con
ceiyabIe way. but still he could not gev
what he wanted
Acts His Plays as He Writes.
One morning about O'Clock there was
heard a violent Juggling at the bell OF
Mrs. Carriers home and she and her
mother FASTENED TO the door It was
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-18

Franciscan to the attention Of the the
atrtcaI managers Of the East
Other Belasco Plays.
He next wrote La Belle Russo. in
which Jenreys Lewis starred with much
profit Hearts of Oak was Nj BcIas-
cos first success east Of the Mississippi.
1t was presented in Chicago for the first
time. with the late James a. Herne in
the principal role. Hearts OF Oak"
made lot of money for its author, and
introduced him to New York. His rec
ord there includes May Blossom. ."
played by Georgia Cayvan. The Wife.
The Charity Ball Men and Women, s."
The Highest Bidder" and Lord Cbum-
ley" both written for E. H. sothern.
.The Girl I Lett Behind Me. THE
Ugly DuckIing'' and Miss HeyIett,
which were used 10 introduce Mrs. Leslie
Carter as a star; The Heart of Mary
land. "zaza," '.Du Barry" Madame
Butterfly" and The Darling of the
Gods"
Utilities His Linen
David Warfeld's play. The Auction
eer," is practically the work Of ccias-
GO as il stands now When it was first
played at New Haven The Auotioneer"
was the worst sort of a failure, and it is
related that Belasco sent the authors OF
the piece back to New York. took their
manuscript. chopped page after page,
inserted his own lines. and introduced
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-18

nothing at all since he turned DR..
DoyIe's detective stories into a popu-
1arly successful play. It was not so very
long ago that Gillette could be relied
upon for a new play at least once
year, and if this actor-author has be-
come negligent the reason is doubtless
found in the fact that his success of
late years has removed the cause for
continual labor.
Clyde Fitch and David BeIaseo alone
continue to send forth regularly new
works. Fitch Iabors necessarily, end
admits that be is usually at his desk
from six TO eight hours every day.
fashioning comedies Of social life or
adapting French or German pieces to
the requirements of American audiences.
He endeavors to write anywhere from
two to six new plays every year, with
the result that this hurried preparation
necessarily means almost as many fail
ures as successes.
David Belasco's Method.
David BeIasco is less prolific than
Fitch He invariably takes at least
one year 10 every play he writes-some-
times two. or even more. He wrote Mrs.
Leslie Carriers tremendous success. .Du
Barry" in two and a half years. Be
fore he submitted his work to the pub
lie he tore up the manuscript at least
q dozen times He never seemed to be
satisfied with his writing; in fact. BeIas-
co is never satisfied with what s.e does.
and it is well known that he 3 the
most exacting and captious of ali his
critics.
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16
SITUATION Is SERIOUS|
From Caruthesviile to Baton Rouge
River Rose Rapidly.
A DANGEROUS BREAK
At Hoilybush, Twenty Miles North Of
Memphis, Water Was Running
Over the Levee q Distance
Of Nix Hundred Feet.

Memphis. March 1.-THE food sit
nation between carnthersville. Mo.
and Baton Rouge. La, Is serious The
river is rising rapidly and IL will be
little short Of marvellous II the levees
hold the great volume OF rushing wat
er The gauge at Memphis Sunday
night marked 3s5 feet, a rise OF one
and tvo-tenths feet since Saturday
night This is the highest water ever
recorded here and Local Observer
Tmsry. Of the weather bureau, said
that 80 liz feet would be registered by
Tuesday. Those interested have been
warned 10 prepare for a stage OF forty
feet The situation III and around Mem
pbis is becoming more serious. with.
cut single exception the numerous
lumber plants In North Memphis have
suspended operations owing to the en-
cToaehment Of the waters At Fourth
aud Market streets people are moving
about tn skiffs and the street railway
has aunuilsa all schedules in this part
Of the city Three of the Illinois Cen
tral tracks are under water. north Of
Auction street. although trafic has not
been suspended on them. but II the
water continues 10 rise trouble is ex-
pected there.
At Ensley six miles below Memphis
500 feet q che Yag0o and Mississippi
Valley tracks are Inundated. but they
we're "crtbbed" over and trains are
running through
The Choctaw railroad has suspended
operations between Hopeyille and
Wolf river and ali trains are being
sent over the Memphis bridge.
A dangerous place In the levee is re-
ported from Hollybush. twenty miles
north 81 here Engineers Of the 81
Francis levee board. with 8 steamboat.
vent 60 the scene II vas found
that wAtsr vas running over the leyee
for q distance % GOO feet Men and ma
teriai were sent there and a strong
fight = being made 10 hold the en-
bankmsnt but II Is believed by many
that a breAA wili occur
Refugees with hundreds Of horses
and mules continue 10 arrive here on
every boat
Thousands % people lined the river
tanks Sunday watching the swtfi-mov-
tag CarreUt aud several excursion
steamers carried many more up and
down the river so that a good view OF
ths vast sxpaBss 81 water could be
bad
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16
TYpER,s REslcNATIon.



wHshiagsaa Poss saasss That Il i soos
Il, BE Asked For
Washington. March 1.-THE Post
says: II - announced that Mr.. James
N. Tyner. assistant attorney general
for the postoffice department will be
requested in the near future to tender
his resignation, but the announcement
is accompanied by the statement that
this action will have no bearing on
the complaint fled with the president
by r. c. Campbell OF Cincinnati. an
attorney representing several of the
turf concerns. whose affairs recently
have been aired in the courts. Mr.
Tyner Is incapicated by illness from
performing the duties of his office and
it is said his resignation will be re
Qaested solely on that account. Mr.
Tyner is seventy-seven years OF age
and suffered a stroke of paralysis las
July and in December had a relapse
Mr.. Tyner denounces as absurd anC
ridiculous the charges that there was
wrong doing in connection with th'
decisions by his office respecting tbs
rights of turf investment companies
to use the mails.
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16

New Orleans March 1.-THE guags
here Sunday night read little over
1873 which IL only fwo-tsnths below
ths record o. 1887, hat the sudden
change from stormy weather 70 sun
shlne and brightness has given renew
ed hope all along the line saturday ;
terrific rain wss test In Itself and nos
a sign OF weakness was displayed
wurkmrn are being enlisted and those
wha acre ready 70 surrender weak
places 10 the rivers rush have gained
courage and say any volume OF water
can be met A week ago II ~as thought
there would surely be cTevasse III
Arlington. a short distance below
Baton Rouge
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16

vicksburK Misa. March 1.-THE
river gauge here Sunday evening reg
isteree S7. q two-teaths rise since
.>a.nlng SUNDAY vas the nrst clear
sanshiny day in two weeks, and with
. cessation Of the raiAs tners 10 . cor
responding increase 10 the spirits OF
the dweIlexs behind the levees. Late
reports state that all the emhank-
msnts are holding on both sides of the
river In this section. The saw mill dis
trict. In the suburb OF waltersvtlle, on
the lake front. Is threatened by back
water and q complete shut down Of all
the working plants will probably re-
suit.
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16

Kansas City. Mo. March ls.-The
Golden State limited on the Rock Is
land system collided head on Just out
side OF Dwight. thirty miles west OF
Topeka Both engines were damaged
badly. and the baggage and mail cars
and smoker on the westbound train
telescoped
Engineer Love of the westbound
train was killed. Three other members
of the westbound crew and three pas
sengers Ia the smoker and engineer
and fireman OF the limited were IN
iured but nos seriously
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16
So TOOK POSSESSION.
Fourteen Masked Men Secure Consider
able Cash and Notes.

Fourteen Masked Men Secure Consider
able Cash and Notes,
Wapakoneta. o., March ls.-About
10 o'clock Saturday night fourteen
armed and masked men entered the
house OF Mrs. Jacob Reidchelderfer, an
aged and wealthy widow. near this
place, and took possession. With Mrs
Reischelderfer are living her grand
daughter. Blanche. aged twelve years
George lanes and his wife and their
son, JosephJames, a young man. The
robbers Knocked down the elder James
who showed fight and then bound him
his son and the two women, hand and
foot with ropes and tied them to beds
tn separate rooms At the point OF a
shot gun they made the little girl tell
where the money was to be found
They secured $1,000 in cash and $1,000
worth of notes and securities from ar
old chest up stairs and proceeded tC
ransack the house from top TO bottom
They took possession OF all the jewelry
and silverware and secured a month 5
wages from old man James pocket
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16
CODY ON TIMBER.
Buffalo Bill Writes Presiden. Roosevelt
Pavoring Protection of It.

Buffalo Bill writes fFeslnfnt RooSSfeA
Pavoring Protection of II.
Washington, March 1.-THE presi'
dent has just received the following
letter from Colonel w. E. Cody:
London, March 3, I903.-Hon. Theo
dore Roosevelt. Washington, d. C.:
For the benefit Of future generations
the timber, and especially the under
brush. must be protected now. before
1t Is too late. from the sheep devastat
ing, the mountain water sheds, as they
have already done the valleys and Ia
hla land IL sheep are allowed "a
browse of Of the underbrush Of oul
mountains, in less than five years from
now. the homeseeker, tue man behind
the pillow. the actual tax payer, viii
have to leave the Big Horn basin fol
want of water to irrigate his land
No one knows this better than your
self. for you are familiar with all o.
the west
am very faithfully yours.
w. F. CODY.
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16
GAS NOT USED.

Mayor and Several other Evansville ON
ciAls Barn Kerosene,
Evansville, Ind. March 16.-Msyoi
Covert and a number of the members
Of his cabinet find themselves com
PEELED to discontinue the use OF gas
In their homes. This comes as a re
suit OF their being members OF labor
unions. Saturday night at midnight
Mayor Covert aud other city officers
had the gas turned of in their homes
and will use only kerosene for light
ing or fuel purposes. All were mott
ned by the Central Labor union, whici
has placed a boycott against the Ev
ansville Gas and Electric Light com
pany. To discontinue the use of ga
or be communicated by the unions
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16
BRAVE sEAMEN.

kntirs Grey ~ the Doiphin Went To III
Rescue Of spsna Parties.
Havana. March 16.--whiIe the SEQ.
rotary OF the navy.Mr Moody. and his
party were making visit on shore
Sunday afternoon a squat Of tremend
Gus violence swept over the harbor
II became as dark as night and the
wind and downpour was terrific Com.
mander Stoney OF the Dolphin. realiz.
ing the peril to the small boats In the
harbor during such squat. called for
volunteers TO rescue. The entire crew
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16
BRADFIELD'S
Female Regulator

10 the essential quality Of poweffsi hsrsa.
Effective, rsitabfe ard haSnlSss IA EAtare,
aimpfeity ard seiacs
Il Sc = concentrated essence best adapted
fer womsn's nEltc&fe organism. ard pat IN
such fern that 81 is net only pN iRfahfe bat
can be properly asaim{IAted ABa taken into
tas system.
steppAEss. suppression. pasnfai obssrue-
eisn, tEr@gGlArtsv, ~ tie fr~aSx& and siekly
News are corrected ard enrsd blythe regular
Standardization ~ ihss superior emnsna-
gogNa.
lsz stTaatten- OF periodic enssxs, nscsssi-
tate q breaking aown es rels tintue the
mscaas msmefan~ ard rsS.ons.rUcston
asssr every slskn~ss, ~H#ch - accompanied
with marked congestion and N1ss Of blood.
ascA changss are very art 20 pYodHca
eAronas ca1sFrh. L~ueorfAsA or waissa 10
the Fvsnlf Of these srrfIztiax 6ischarges
Rsgutatns cures these tsouha@~ ard restores
&c pesfeSS health TIE patient who SACRED
TIE dsslLfiatlng lossss- BuY ot 1ruggista.
o., 90 per bcstss~
ozrslsussrsss ID beck Perfect neelth Zee
we@@m." free.
TMH BRADFIHLD REGULATOR Co
ATLANTA. IA.
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16

Austin. March ls.-Saiurday was. a.
usual. local bin day in the house, and
. number OF acts providing for bet
ter road system In several counties
passed.
Unanimous consent was secured 70
make the special order for the 10th
nhe bin taxing intangible assets of cor
porations.
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16

El Paso. Tex. March l6.--At point
one mile west OF Sierra Blanca the
Sunset Limited. consisting OF seven
heavily laden coaches crashed into a
freight train. Both engines was de
molished. Fireman l.. A Holmes was
buried 10 the wreckage and cooked to
death and an unknown tramp killed,
Mail Clerk kibee vas probably fatal.
iy injured Fireman Malloy OF the
freight was seriously hurt. No pas
sengers were hurt
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16
BRAVE GIRL.

A FovFteen-YeAE-oId Mics with Pistol
Caa.ss = Burgiar 60 FIs~
Dallas. March 1S.-At the muzzle OF
. pistol fourteen yearoId Marguerite
Laughlin forced a burglar at an early
hour Sunday morning to drop the Jew.
elry be had stolen from herself and
parents and fee. The man. who was
white, vas just In the act OF leaving
the house with his booty when the
girl Who had been watching him all
the time be was gathering the jewel
ry. awaited herself OF an opportunity
and covered him with the weapon.
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16
Rawhs Fight . Dnel.

Paris. March ia novel encounter
In which eight men fought with duel
ing swords without buttons under the
same conditions as prevail in actual
duels and In which four of the combat
ants were slightly wounded took place
Sunday evening In q private enclosure
- Nuilly. . northeastern suburb OF
Paris, IN the presence Of l5o persons
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16

OF the Dolphin responded. Boats were
instantly manned and sent OF The
launch returned with four half drowned
cuhans. and the captains gigffi with
another, who was lifted aboard appar
entity lifeless. but later was resuciated.
The courage and heroic action on the
part OF the Americans are especially
commended, as the British ships did
not rise TO the emergency. although
one of the capsized boats was much
nearer the ATiddena than the Dolphin
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16

Waco. March ia riot occurred in
an AIl-night restaurant among the
Chinese operatives. which resulted In
the serious gashing of one of the com
batants with a hash chopper. The
edge OF the sharp weapon severed the
wounded mans pigtail and entered his
skull The police arrested all of the
parties except the wounded man.
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16
Policy Changed.

London, March l6.-Several Irish
members of parliament addressed
demonstrations at Liverpool, Aanehes-
ter Birmingham and Dundee on the
better prospects of an Irish land set
Element John Redmond. speaking at
Liverpool said the government Irish
land purchase bin offered a great hope
OF settlement. The policy of eoer-
cion, he added. had changed TO a pol
Icy OF Cancellation. but in view OF past
disappointments the Irish party was
not too sanguine.
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16

Monterey. Mex.. March is.-John w.
De Kay. secretary Of the United States
Packing company Of which Alfred
Btshop Mason IL president. has ap-
piled % the Neuvo Leon state govern
msnt for q concession for the estab-
iAaAment OF a packing house and shoe
factory I'm thia state His proposition
eamtemplates the investment Of not
les than 81 coo 600 in the two con
eexna.
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16

Clarksville. Tex. March l6.--Jap
Ward. Ike Reed and Tom Caldwell
while hunting and fishing near Harris
Ferry on Red river. killed a shark nine
feet long IL required fourteen shots
from a Winchester TO kill IT, The
monster devoursd two OF their dogs.
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-16
lRATE SOLDlE RS.

They Attempt to Lyaoh e Negro @he
stabbed one OF Them.
Brackettviile. Tex. March 1s.-Pri-
vate w. NJ. Payne OF troop II, twelfth
cavalry. was stabbed dangerously BY
. negro boy Saturday night Paul Doe
was jailed. but about $50 soldiers gath
cred about the jail with picks aud
eroNbars to take him out aud lynch
him. Major Kendall OF Fort Clark.
learning OF the trouble. went down
with a strong guard and dispersed
the soldiers