The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-23
ADJUSTMENTS
GOLDSMITH'S SUSPENSE.

When oliver Goldsmith wrote his
memorial comedy, she Stops to Con-
quer" which will be presented at the
Keylor Grand soon with William H.
Crane and Ellis Jeffreys as the star
features in a cast of superlative ex-
cellence, he did not do so without
misgivngs. Even when he attempted
to get it produced he encountered the
same obstacles that latter day play
wrights have met, and he took them
keenly to heart. With both David
Garrick of the Drury Lane and George
Coleman of Covent Garden, he pleaded
nightly for at least hearing, and it
was only after long argument with
both that he was permitted to see his
beloved characters strutting upon the
stage. The following letter written
about two months before its produc-
ton at the Covent Garden-somewhere
about the first of January of that
year to be exact-snows to what dire
To George Coleman.
Dear Sir
l entreat you will relieve me from
that state of suspense in which l
have been kept for long time. What
ever objections you have made or
shall make to my play, l will endeavor
to remove, and not argue about them.
To bring in any new judge of its
merits I can never submit to. Upon
a former occasion. when my other
play. THE Good-Natured Man" was
before Mr.. Garrick, he offered to bring
me before Mr.. Whiteneads tribunal.
but | refused the proposition with in
dignation, I hope / shall not expert
ence as hard treatment from you as
from him. l have as you know a large
sum of money to make up shortly BY
my play, l can readily sat-
isfy my creditor that way; at any
rate I must look to some certainty to
be prepared. For Gods sake take the |
play and let US make the best of it: |
and let me have the same measure at |
least which you have given as bad |
plays as mine. ] am.
Your friend and servant.
(Signed. Oliver Goldsmith.
Goldsmith admitted afterward that |
could not swallow a mouthful at din
ner that was given in his honor. He |
had not the courage to attend the per-
Torrance, but wandered about in the
park in a fever of anxiety and doubt
as to the outcome. Coming behind |
the scenes he thought he heard some
thing like stern disapproval, and asked
the manager nervously what it was.
"Pshaw, Doctor" replied Coleman,
don't be frightened at a squib, when
for the last two hours we have been
sitting on a barrel of gunpOwder."
And now the play is having pro
duction in which each member of the
cast is receiving a salary that is equal
to or greater than the entire salary
list of the production at the Covent
sidered the better ethics to go deeply
into the matter of personal remunera-
ton, though some shortsighted man.
ayers blazen forth the fact that they
are giving So and So salary that
may or may not be greater than that
of President Roosevelt. but it is per-
fectly safe to say that were George
Coleman alive today and could take
one glimpse of the tally sheet on which
the salaries are figured up each Tues
day. he would give gasp of despair
and faint dead away. Not in many
years has there been such a revival as
the present if we are to take into con-
sideration the names and personalities
Of the players therein. Mr.. Crane is
too well known to require an extended
on his merits. He is Mr.
Crane. Miss Jeffreys has won her ,
spurs already in this country on three ;
occasions, and the others are
1t least as we'll known.