The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-23
Is a MethodicaI Worker and an Inces-
SAINT Smoker.

Every playwright has his own man.
ner and method of work, but none of
them is more methodical than Arthur
Wing Pinero, according to his asso-
ciates. A writer in a publication
called Behind the Footlights" de-
scribes the days work of the famous
Englishman as follows:
1.-The plots of Mr.. Pinero's plays are
all conceived and born in movement
He walks up and down the room He
strolls round Regents park. or BIZ
cycles farther afield. but the dramas
are always evolved while his limbs
are in action, mere exercise seeming
to inspire him with ideas
''It is not long before he actually
settles down to write his play. he
thinks and ponders, plans and ar
ranges. makes and remakes his plots,
and never puts pen to paper until he
has thoroughly realized not only his
characters, but the very scenes amid
which these characters are to move
and have their being.
$50 careful is he of the minutest
details that he draws little plan of
the stage for each set, on which he
marks the position of every chair, and
with this before him he moves his
character il his minds eye as the
scene progresses. His play is finished
before it is begun; that is to say. be-
fore a line of it is really written
His mastery of stagecraft is so
great that he can definitely arrange
every position for the actor. every
gesture, every movement, and thus is
able to give those minutest details of
stage direction which are so we'll
known in his printed plays.
Each morning he sees his secre-
tary from IL to II o'clock, dictates
his letters, and arranges his business;
takes a walk or ride until luncheon,
after which he enjoys a pipe and
book, and in the afternoon lies down
for couple of hours quiet When
he is writing a play he never dimes
out, but after his afternoon rest, en-
joys a good tea lis it nigh tea?),
shuts the baize doors of that delight
full study overlooking Hanover Square,
and works until quite late. when he
partakes of a light supper.
mo one disturbs him during those
precious hours, when he smokes
necessarily, walks about continually.
and rarely puts line on paper until
he feels absolutely certain that he
has phrased that line as he wishes
it to remain.
"Pinero's writing-table is as tidy
as Ibsen's; but while Ibsen's study is
small and simply furnished. Pinero'S
is large, contains handsome furniture,
interesting books. sumptuous editions
de luxe, charming sketches, portraits,
carica lures, handsome carpets and
breathes an air of the owners own
luxurious taste.
Like his writing table. his orthog-
raphy is a model of neatness. When
ne mas competed an act ne carefully
copies 1T himself in a handwriting
worthy of any clerk, and sends it off
at once to the printers. But few re-
visions are made in the proof, so sure
is the dramatist when he has perfect
ed his scheme. Mr.. Pinero keeps a
sort of daybook, in which he jots down
characters. speeches, and plots likely
to prove of use in his work.
THE dramatist loves ease and lux
ury, and his plays represent such sur
roundings. Wealth and leisure he
remarked. are more productive of
dramatic complications than poverty
and hard work. My characters force
me in spite of myself to lift them up
in the world. The lower classes do not
analyZe nor mediate, do not give ut
terance either to their thoughts or
their emotions. and yet it is easier to
get low life part well played than
one of high society,"