The daily Alaskan., 1904-07-13
6he PLAYWRIGHT
LOrielnall

LOAas
 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 wore his hair long The officer who had him lr charge carried roll of manuscript, which he handed to the duke.
 What's this?" asked his grace of the prisoner,
 "A play"
 "WhO are youp
 Arthur Cabot"
 Your oecupationT
 "An author"
 "Was ever a play of yours produced upon the mimic stagep
 No, your grace"
 "To what do you attribute your i'll successf'
 The stupidity of the readers"
 "Tut, man; more likely to your own stupidity"
 "I do my work conscientlously 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 I mean by the stupidity of the readers. They are too stupid to read my plays"
 "Why sop
 "They are taken up with reading their own"
 You shall not find such fault with me. l will read your play, but l warn you if I find in 1t the slightest trace of q plot against his majesty off goes your head"
 Thank heaven" replied the author, raising his hands and eyes, "I am at last to receive a hearing
 "Take him away" said the duke, "and bring him to me on the morrow"
 The author was led out, dancing along gGyly as though the hope of years had been realized.
 "NIethinks," remarked the duke as he watched the rereating Cabot, play writing must be a hard field to enter, I would not wonder if this young man, knowing of my interest in the drama, has himself put out a suspicion that 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 wan looked eagerly at his grace to read his fate. While there was no evidence of the dukes having been delighted with the play, there wus none of his having dis covered anything reasonable in it.
 Arthur Cabot" he said, do you mind what l said to you yesterday about the constitutional makeup of playwrightT
 q do, your grace. You said that a playwright must be born to his work, or, rather, his play-in other words, that 1t must be all play and no work
 "Very true" replied the duke, "and [ have found your production all work and no play"
 Your gracCl1 exclaimed tLc young man, starting back as though to es- 'cune Q blow.
 And as for plot" continued the duke, there's not vestige of a plot In CDy one of the five acts
 Your grace. Have mercy"
 "I have mind," the critic went on, "to throw you Into prison for cooking up g plot of another kinda plot to SC cure my reading of your manuscript"
 But, your grace, will you not keep 1t til another time? I'm sure you will see Its merits on a second reading"
 "A second reading" cried the duke. hurllng the manuscript at the would be playwright. ''Begonel l have no time to spend boring over your worth less trash. You're lucky that do not pay you its yalue-a lash for every line"
 Bringing to the very floor, the play wright gathered up the loose sheets and made his exit.
 Two days later, mounted on a fleet horse, booted and spurred, he rode into camp containing not over a dozen men. but all of prominence.
 What newsT" was the cry.
 ''The prince Is with usv
 'Have you his written agreementT'
 "I have"
 ''How did you escape the vigilance of the duke|
 By this time the messenger had dis mounted and taken O roll of manu- script from his saddlebags.
 "Listen," he said. Knowing of the dukes partlality for the drama, wrote a play or a pretense to O play in which I embodied the prlnce's message and the details of a plan he suggests for us. Then l attempted to pass the lines, was arrested and carried before the duke. He read the manuscript and found no plot, no play. will show you more plot than is to be found in all the plays of Christendom."
 Stepping to O fire, he seized a brand and, selecting Q certain page of his manuscript held 1t to the heat Brown