The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-12-11
The PLAY THAT
Is NEVER READ
Sequel TO ths Advice Gives BY an
txuberaRt Playwright to friend.


OF now you uOn get your play Tedu.
First of all, here comes along a
wildly exuberant playwright whom
you have known in his ragged days.
THAT little book of yours" he says;
lit has strong dramatic power. ORA
Matte it. I'll tell you exactly how to
go about making it stronger" and he
tells you.
Then he goes out of town and stays
a couple of months and comes back
and meets you again.
What are you doing with your
play?" he asks.
Nothing" you say.
Nothing he shrieks, land / have
promised that play to a real actress
for the first of August"
Whereupon you write the play in a
hurry. Then when you meet the play
wright again you say to him trium-
phantly, Il have written the play" and
having it under your arm you hand It
to him.
I'm" says he, "um. ! want to read
this play, but | am so busy now You
should have had it ready a month ago.
Then | could have read it, but now
but now-wait, Wen see what we can
do. | will give you letter of intro
duction TO producer know and have
him read it for me. Then we will see
what we can do"
Armed with the play, you wend your
way to the Office of the producer. The
way leads up some staircases in
through little narrow door, up more
staircases and into an anteroom.
In the anteroom are singers who are
having their voices tried
You almost forget your play in fol-
lowing the fate of these singers. but
by and by the boy in charge says to
you:
What is 1t, please?"
And you say, with some timidity:
Il have brought play for the pro.
Queer to read and letter of introduc-
ton, whereupon the boy conducts
you high headedly into the presence
OF the producer who takes your play
and lays it in front of him on the desk.
reads the note and says, with win.
ming smile, combined with a pleased
glance at your tout ensemble that
somehow makes you glad that you
have one:
Il viii read this tomorrow. Come
back the day after. Look around here
again. My, but you have beautiful
eyes!"
Flushed with pride and hope you
walk smilingly out ond down the steps
and through the little narrow door
and down more steps till you get to
the street. The world is good! To-
morrow! Next day!
How beautiful are the days!
But above all how good of the gods
to think of giving you beautiful eyes!
On the day after you dress in your
Sunday best, though it is only Thurs
day and once more go up the stairs
and in through the little door
He looks at you in a puzzled way
for an instant, then says quickly:
oh! Your play. l haven't read
1t yet. There it lies on my desk. You
can see it hasn't been thrown in the
waste paper basket. | will read it. 1
will read it, / promise you, but give
me time. Come back next week some
time. Don't make it too long or 1
may forget. That's a lovely veil you
have on. So becoming"
He seems always to like your looks
somehow, and yet
1t is long time till next week, but
you wait patiently.
You go in again and stand before
the producer of plays. He recognizes
you.
What are you going to do to me?"
he asks. Il haven't read it yet"
Let me read it to YOU" you beg.
You read very badly, often you
can't pronounce the words you write,
but 1t seems the only way to get the
play a hearing.
Her smile brightens.
Good" he cries. That's what
I'll do. I'll let you read it to me. /
will appoint a day / will give you
an hour and half Yes. Busy as 1
am, ! will give you an hour and
half of my time to read it to me.
You'll forgive me for not reading it,
won't you? That's a lovely skirt you
have on. / like the embroidery No,
| can't make the appointment now.
will write you"
Then you wait and wait and wait
for the letter which never comes.
He seems to have forgotten you en-
tirely; 1t has been so long. Or may
be it is the difference in the dress.
Perhaps you should have picked out
the dress that pleased him best and
alays worn it the one with the en-
broidery.
"oh, yes" he catches you up hur-
riedly Your play. l have been so
busy Really have been so busy"
you promised you falter "to let
me read it to YOU
He looks at you sharply
did | promise that?' he asks. ut
must have been when / was out of my
senses. / never let anybody read
plays to me. Life is too short. No,
I'll read it myself. But you must give
me time / like your little white
shoes. Always wear shoes They are