The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-29
THE MAKING OF pLAYwRIGHTs.
Hope for the ambitious Writer Who is
Butting Against Granite Wall.
BY FRED b. WARREN.
Especial to News and Observer.)

Especial to News and Observer
New York, Jan. 28.-In the February
number of Parsons Magazine. Bryan
O. Malley contributes an article telling
in a general way of the Placing or
Plays"
After reviewing the opinions of sew
eral playwrights who have really aC-
coJnplished something in the last few
years, chief among whom he classes
George AIDE. Mr.. O'Malley tells of sew
eral bright women who have been SUE
cessful playwrights and playbrokers.
Miss Elizabeth Marbury, the daughter
of a wealthy New York family. and
Mrs. Henry G. deNIille. whose name
will be quite familiar 10 North Caro-
linianS who have followed several of
my letters from Northern cities on
OF Mrs. deMille. who is. the widow
of the late Henry c. de Mile, who
was born i'm Washington, North Caro-
lima, Mr.. OMalleY says:
THE one among the three. brilliant
pilots of migratory genius who stands
the closest to the new playwright is
Mrs: Fl. g. deMille. At my first call
Theater, ] had to wait for fully forty
minutes beforeI was admitted into the
timer sanctum, during which time a
new man had finished reading TO ner
the last act of his comic opera.
and how do YOU stand it," 1 asked
when / was at last admitted.
Il can never find good plays with
out having patience with good ana
bad" was the smiling reply.
Mrs. dcMilc's description Of her
advent in the -brokerng business
is that she "foated' into IT. With the
proceeds from her plays. THE Charity
Ball" 'rhe Wife" Men and Women"
and others-some OF them written in
collaboration with David Bclasco-H.
Pomptou, \. J.-not very far from
Paterson, New Jersey.
Left a widow, Mrs. deMille turned
her luxurious country home into
fashionable school. While there are
many graduates TO do credit to Mrs.
de Miles curriculum, she is proudesr
of her two SOFAS, William Churchill
and Cecil Blount. who received the
best part of their education from
their mother Is il not a logical Sc
quence that such woman should
have u great deal of sympathy for the
young play-builder who feels himself
"butting' singly against a granite wall
Of indifference?
A little over year ago, "Pamlico"
came very near being swamped, and
almost met total destruction. The de
Mile school was wrecked and, being
thrown into enforced idIcness which
does not at all agree with Mrs. de
MILE, she permitted herself to be
fioated'' to New York, where, with
her husbands plays us fundamental
assets. she began as Il play-brOker.
That Mrs. deMilles sympathy does
not consist of mere word and counsel
is best proven by the fate or the suitorr
of THE Missourians.' They-two
young newspaper men--came to Mrs.
de Mile with their play. Besides find
ing the capital necessary for the pro-
duction of the play she undertook the
booking Of it and wherever it is play
ed this season you will find on the
printed advertising matter: Under
The management Of Mrs. II. c. &c
Mille'
During this season. her son. w.
Churchill de Mile. will also make his
debut as a playwright. No less d star
than Robert Edeson viii appear in
"Strongbeart," Il play with ful
bloodcd young Indian college football
player as central character. It is re-
freshing to know that young de Mile
has chosen for his first play an ultra
American subject.
Il want the young, not-yct-arrived
playwright to know that I am ready to
help him" said Mrs. dc Mile "Indis-
criminate writer's have spread abroad
the impression that play writing is n
luxurious profession which only Ia
vored few can afford to pursue. Moth
Ing could be more erroneous. Tho
market is widening every day and can
not be sufficiently supplied by The
trade marked dramatists who won
their spurs many Years ago.
THE novice is handicapped chiefly
by two things: ne is too ambitious.
and he does not know where to turn
after his play is finished without vast
ing an enormous amount Of precious
time and getting his share of heart
breaking discouraecment. IT is my
province 10 curb and direct his too eE-
uberant ambition which ] would not
have diminished. and TO place his play