The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-31

The days when the 'sshop was the
school seem TO have about ended.
Learning by experience seems to be no
longer the proper thing. There are train
ing schools for almost every calling to-
day. The magazines are filled with their
advertisements. Many OF them teach
by mall !" The school OF acting Is no
new thing. do not believe, however
any of them claim to teach by mall The
school system In the last few years. how
ever has even extended It's field In The
realm OF the theatre, until 1t has In
yaded the play-wrlter's art. People are
now taught to write good plays
drama. who have no difficulty In making
a living at their calling. would attend
the school, II II can do what II claims.
But that is the very point. There are
some things that cannot be taught. II
believe II would be Just as easy to teach
ono to become n poet or novelist az a
play writer. The drama. OF course, re-
dulres technical knowledge. but even
possessing this. YOU may never be able
to write play. II IL almost absurd to
state that this technical knowledge can
be taught by mall 1t may be acquired
by watching the play its.'f. The crea.
ton OF story Ia something that cam
not be taught. All the schools In tho
world would never teach one TO evolve
plot. Yet you may have a plot and
still not be able to put 1t In dramatic
form. do not believe. however that
even this latter essential can be taught.
IT Is something to be learned without a
teacher. How many. do you suppose. Of
the successful play writer's. were ever
taught, their art? 1t was something
FOR which thdy may have had natural
talent. and which was perfected by their
own unalded efforts and study. Their
first works may have been rejected. This
s,,pt t,ch A1d nv
pei!ence. after ell, ia the best SCHOOL.
Az stated. II such school could
really he made Of nny value, II Is pity
that come OF the recognized play writer's
cannot he made TO attend It, Mr.. Hal.
Reid. az a writer Of melodrama. is cer-
what sort OF stuff he turns out. His
latest melodramn Is entitled "a Working
Girls Wrongs" 1t was given Its first
production on any stage this month,
being presented ut the Third-Avenue
Theatre. New York. Here Is brief
the Now York papers;
ut tells the story OF an unprotected
girl who Is enamoured by her employer.
and who endeavors 10 wrong her as he
has done with other girls In his power.
Finding that this girl, Mamie N1olloy.
refuses to become his mistress. he plots
to win her by foul means. He employs
hanger-on about the factory. known
as Thomas Bates. to place some money
In the girls Jacket. and then before all
ne accuses her OF stealing 1t from him.
Jack Fa1lon. the foreman Of n chair fac
tory close by. who is In love with Mamie,
jnterferes and knocks down Wharton.
the employer. Annie Lawrence. another
victim OF Whartons. informs Mamie Of
the kind OF man Wharton is, and then
demands Justice for herself and child
from Wharton. He. however. refused
and then decoys her to a lonely bridge
Mt night. and, by the aid OF Bates. stabs
her. Fallon coming along. at the cries
for help from Wharton. stoops beside
the fallen girl and picks UP the bloody
knife. Wharton at once accuses him OF
the deed. He Is arrested. tried and con-
vtcted. but at the last moment Justice
is meted out by the Governor Of the
state
Now, isn't that entertaining? We can
all see the hero picking ZIP the bloody
knife, and then Mt once being accused
Of the murder by the villain Of the piece
That is the way 1t always happens. How
many plays have Just such climax for
one OF Its acts--usually the hrst.
Mr.. Blair Meanlcy. the genial treasurer
OF the Bijou Theatre. last week lost his
little girl. Julia Blair. the death OF the
child being quite sudden and uncxpect-
cd. Both he and his wife have the SYM
pathy OF HI lHeii- iI!c'i|S ~ tiiS W.
reavement
Will M. Greasy. after quoting the
favorable opinions Of a number Of cri-
tics in regard to his sketch, "A Village
Lawyer" gives that of ono who didn't
agree with the others. and then says
Gee. but somebody ls a rotten critic
Critics sometimes come in for their
share OF criticism,
BRUCE CHEsTERMAN.
With tho final performance oil
"Friends' last night 'l,e new Citizen Com
pany completed the jecond week of the
summer season. ThaS it has firmly es-
tablished itself through the production
of the first two plays goes without saw
ing for everywhere the most enthusiastic
comments have been passed upon the In
dtvid,lal personnel of the organization
and the collective quality of its work
The new members who made their first |
appearance In "Friends"-Mr. Greenleaf |
and Miss Hall--have won their places In
public favor at once and both should |
be strong factors In the future popularity
of the company.
9 Realizing the great popularity Of the