The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-03-18
WILLIAM H CRANE
AMONG FRIENDS D
says Richmond is Like Home.
to njoys
Visit.
NEW PLAY FOR NEXT YEAR e v
Did Not Come Here for Three
Years After Colonel Co
wardin's Death.

Mr.. William H. Crane, tho popular
idol. not only OF the heatre-going public
hut Of Richmond people. Of all age and!
conditions, is here again
As soon as Mr.. Crane reaches Rich
lnond his footsteps turn toward the West
Nlnoreland Club, where he is as much at
home amongst its members as he Is In
his own home.
" Some years ago in this very club Mr..
Crane was sitting with Colonel G. OBJ.
cowardin and a Tines-Dispatch man when
telegram was handed him.
.'1'll tell you fellows a secret" said Mr..
Crane. "INm going to play David
IIarum' next season, and this telegram
closes the DEAL
On yesterday afternoon Colonel, Crane,
as his Richmond friends call him.. was
surrounded by his friends. He dragged
himself away for a few minutes to talk
10 a Tines-Dspatch writer.
5aas q Howl miss my dear friend. Charlie
Cowardin. no one knows. He had been
my intimate friend since 1S70, and there
was no one q esteemed and loved more
than him. Charlie Cowardin introduced
mo to Richmond people, and many tho
old Richmond Club and here in the West
Inoreland feel as though I belonged to
this old club and there Is nowhere I
feel more at home than J. do heres 1t Was
just that way felt towards Charlie Co
wardin. was not the actor, OF the guest
IA was the Intimate friend. and that Is
what touched my heart
When he died 4 was playing far from
Richmond. told my manager that I
~I-,~- = ,,%<.
away forsthree years. Time is the great
( healer and SO came back to see his
Il friends and mine. zTaS
II remember once WIS here at the an
nual meeting OF the Westmoreland Club
when made little speech. ! said
/" I don't kne~ any..place in the world
j would ratIier~"be than right here in
Richmond, but you are killing me with
Kindness. You are demoralizing my peace
of mind, and you are breaking down my
health. There never lived such hospltabIe
people as the people of this city OF Rich
Inond.' I"
Just Haven't Stopped.
why Is 1t that you've stopped playing
your old style Of play?" asked The Times
Dispatch man.
I'm glad you asked rne that" said
'tColonol' Crane. II haven't stopped play
ing the old oIscs; I'm just taking tear
off TO show the people that can play
serious plays as well as the funny bust
ness. 1t WAS all right down here In the
South, who're the people believe In me-
but found it Was necessary in the North
TO teach the people a lesson. 1t WAS a
matter Of pride With ms, after forty-twO
( years OF stage life, 10 show the people
that ! had enough dramatic ability to
play anything / wanted to play, some
Thing outside OF my own personality.
TO illustrate. An old friend OF mine
of forty years standing, mad just arrived
Mn New York from Europe. lie came
TO SEES my play, Business Is Business
After the second act he came 10 my dress
Ing room and asked him how he liked
the play. He said.
I'm the most disappointed man in
x New York I've seen every play you've
done in forty years, and l haven't seen
William H. Crane on the stage during
this play
THAT was the. most wonderful compli-
rnent I've had in my whole stage cxpcri-
ence,'
Next Years Play.
What vii! you play next year?" asked
the scribe
,I'n going 10 play The American
Lord Those who are disappointed in
moi laughing at my present play win
nave no cause To regret the new one It's
funny
What about that ,hroe-scoro year
dictum of Or. Osler's?"
1T doesn't apply to me" said the "Col.
cnel." "for am sixty years young. no,
old
u will make BET that can walk tho
legs off amy man In Ric!lrnond and
can dance a Jig as well as i could wher
] WAS a boy. like to say I've been play.
ing forty-one years. and now I'm be-
ginning 10 work for living.
my play, Business IS Business is a
b serious play. want everyone 10 know
that. II is a TRANSLATION of the Frenci
play. Les Affaires Sont les Affaires,, al
II, Octave MirDcan, one of the greates
M compliments ever received is in a lette,
"a received from rfs' famous playwright
ii is not often that Freuolioen prais,
Americans. hui you shall judge for your
III self. for this Is what NJ MiTbeau says;
CTYanslatsd from the Frsnch)
Paris, December 10, 1854
my Dear Mr.. Crane.
- irisnd Of mine. - II. Gouzon. Ia