The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-27
How Merry Widow Waltz
 Happened.

A stare-a glare-a push across the stage. You have it. The secret of the Merry Widow waltz is out.
 The Merry Widow" waltz was an &C., eident. It was never premeditated- never intended. It had never entered any body's head that there could be such waltz. The delightful Viennese operetta, it is true, was the child of much thought and labor, conceived of an inspiration which was indeed the inspiration of genius. But the waltz-never
 Mr. Joseph Coyne. the original Prince Danilo in the London production, and Lily Elsie, who sang Sonia, seem to be largely responsible for it. Listen to MT. Coyne tell how it happened"
 Hypnotic gaze? Hm, hm! Sihilant stare? Better. Reproachful regard? No. l guess hypnotic gaze will do about as well eas anything. Anyhow, whatever you eallSit, it has brought fame and fortune in its train.
 Tt happened just like this:
 At rehearsal one day everything had gone wrong The whole bunch of us were hot and cross and tired. Life didn't seem worth the living and there didn't seem to be any good way to get out of it. We were thirsty and the water in the theatre was abominable. We wished, every last one of us, that we had never heard the word 'theatre;' and that the operetta, The Merry Widow had vanished into thin air before enterprising managers had time to lay their clawing hands upon the manuscript
 You will remember that in the second act Danilo (mysel0 and Sonia Cuiss Lily Elsie) have what is politely termed slight disagreement. On this day we all felt so miserable that the disagreement in the play came almost to being per- sonal matter.
 we had gotten as far as the disagree ment and were standing glarng at each other, rather like lion and his prey, waiting to begin the waltz. I never will forget her eyes. She was looking at me with a deadly, level gaze which was almost appalling. Her long dashed eyes glittered steelily. I was returning the stare with interest, striving to put into my look something of the ominous in tentness of hers. For some reason or other the orchestra did not start up at the time 1t should and we stood there waiting, waiting, staring-glaring.
 Suddenly it became unbearable. My nerves, never too quiet, rebelled
 'T grabbed her hand savagely held it as if in wise, and clutching her around the waist, pushed her before me, across the stage, while we stared and glared at each other with veritable murder in our eyes
 There came burst of wild applause from the others on the stage
 'Greatv yelled the manager
 "'Do it again. ordered some one down in front. The entire stage was in an uproar.
 Again and again we were forced to go through with this impromptu stunt. After the first time, however. it was hard for us to keep up our baleful look at each other, for, in reality we are the best of friends and both of a humorous turn of mind and the occurrence had struck as the children say, our funny bones.'
 But actresses and actors must never forget that they are--actresses andsactors. We went through with our stunt until a perspiring stage manager informed us that it was perfection. He said then:
 That waltz will be the making of the Merry Widow" He prove Himself a prophet did he not?
 Wasn't it simple, though? Just little, unpremedtated act serving as a nucleus for the hit of this season and probably many others.'
 So there yor have the history of The Merry Widow waltz. It is perhaps the most popular dance that has been seen in years on the stage, and clever Mr. Coyne is accorded the credit of it.