The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-05-21

sor,ginaI.l

has been arrested who is suspected of
carrying messages for the conspira-
tors"
Bring him to me-"
A young man was led into the pres
ence of the duke He was of an intel
lectual cast of countenance and were
his hair long. The officer who had him
In charge carried a roll of manuscript, |
which he handed to the duke
whats this?" asked his grace of the
prisoner.
"a play"
"Who are your
arthur Cabot"
"Your occupation"
''An author"
"Was ever q play of yours produced
upon the mimic stage?"
mo, your grace"
ITO what do you attribute your i'll
success?"
THE stupidity of the readers"
''Tut, man; more likely to your own
stupidity"
81 do my work conscientiously and
do not spare myself"
"Playwriting is not work. A play
wright should be a poet A poet is
| born, not made"
But your grace does not understand
what 1 mean by the stupidity of the
readers. They are too stupid to read
my plays"
"Why soT'
"They are taken up with reading
their own"
you shall not find such fault with
me. 1 will read your play, but l warn
you If find in it the slightest trace of
a plot against his majesty off goes your
| head"
THANK heavenp' replied the author,
raising his hands and eyes. 81 am at
last to receive hearing"
"Take him away" said the duke,
"and bring him to me on the morrow"
! The author was led out, dancing
along gayly as though the hope of
years had been realized.
"Methinks," remarked the duke as
he watched the retreating Cabot, ''play-
writing must be a hard field to enter.
would not wonder If this young man,
knowing Of my interest in the drama,
has himself put out suspicion that
J he is carrying messages between these
villains, who are seeking to enthrone
the pretender, to secure my reading Of
his play. Well, he shall receive justice
at my hands"
The next morning the playwright
was marched again into the presence
, of the duke. The young man looked
eagerly at his grace to read his fate.
While there was no evidence of the
dukes having been delighted with the
play, there was none of his having dis
covered anything reasonable in it.
Arthur Cabot" he said, do you
r mind what / said to you yesterday
about the constitutional makeup Of O
playwright
81 do, your grace. You said that Q
o playwright must be born to his work
or, rather, his play-in other words
that it must be all play and no work.
: VERY true" replied the duke, "ant
4 1 have found your production all wori
and no play"
your gracer' exclaimed the yount
: man, starting back as though to es
q cape blow.
', "And as for plot" continued thu
Il duke, there's not a vestige of plo
Il In any one Of the five acts"
your gracei Have mercyw
II have mind" the critic went on
y ito throw you into prison for cooking
II up plot of another kinda plot to sc
cure my reading of your manuscript
"But, your grace. will you not keel
1t till another time? I'm sure you vii
see its merits on second reading"
"a second readingr cried the duke
:, hurting the manuscript at the woul
IL be playwright. "Begone! have N
)r time to spend porting over your worth
Il less trash. You're lucky that do nc
pay you its value-a lash for ever
y line"
g Cringing to the very floor, the play
a wright gathered up the loose sheet
and made his exit.
he Two days later, mounted on fee
IN horse, booted and spurred, he rode mi
60 camp containing not over a doze
men, but all of prominence.
"What newsr was the cry.
"The prince is with us!'
Have you his written agreement
s 81 have"
"How did you escape the vigilan'
of the dukeT
so By this time the messenger had di
ad mounted and taken a roll of man
script from his saddlebags.
rs Listen" he said. knowing Of Il