The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-12

used before, nor the time, nor the
country. nor, the characetrs. II ought
to make a great play" ,a
After awhile 1 felt sensation return,
ing and as the roaring in my ears
died away heard her voice asking II
he would advise US to go ON with II.
Go ON with It? Don't fail TO go on
with It! Work on It carefully, make
it more exciting and bring IN some
stunning effects. For instance, why
not have that battle on the stage?
That would look all right-sunset be
hind the fortress of Quebec--or sun
rise, whichever you want, q lot Of Brit
ish and French soldiers with flags, and
a band OF two. You've literary mate.
rial enough for three plays and not
enough action for one scene. The ac.
ton wust tell the story without a
spoken word, II necessary
We We're too happy to speak--suc,
cess seemed within our grasp, and no
amount OF prospective work or trou
BILE mattered.
More than year had passed since
Mary had come to me with her idea
for play. During six months OF that
time she had been with me In New
York to help In the process Of
pushing things; aud we had learned
how small part Of producing a play
is the mere writing OF It; and that
beyond this pure preliminary, II is an
occupation for q business promoter OF
4 walking delegate. We haunted the
Offices of manager after manager, and
made change after change In the
manuscript One wanted It longer
we stretched It; one wanted 1t more
melodramatic-we peppered 1t with
fights; one wanted It more soulful
we introduced mystical verse at
short intervals, Each character In the
cast had played many parts. From
e noble, selfrepressed gentleman Gen.
Montcalm had become an impossible
combination Of swashbuckling brag.
gard milksop. and sentimental cad.
Alene's affections were vibrating con
fusedly between the general, the vii.
lain and the spy; aud her character
had been torn to shreds. We got used
to pushing ourselves In where we
were not wanted; to insisting on talk
ing to people whs did not wish to hear
US; and a crust began TO form over
our sensibllities. ...
We had drifted to a little East side
boarding house. Our money had faded
away and we had found work. The play
had become merely haunting mem.
ory In the background Of our minds,
and we spoke OF II remorsefully as Of
trusting friends whose character We
had DETAINED,
One day a young musical composer
called at our lodgings and suggested
a scheme which gave us new hope
His Idea was to combine our play with
some composition of his own, and dis.
pose OF II to a manager who made
a specially OF Extravaganza He was
an energetic business man, and II was
hardly five weeks before this new ar
rangement was completed. He had
persuaded the manager TO put II on ex
perimentally
The first night arriyed-how we
had looked forward to It year ago!
We were seated In the managers box
alone.
When the music ceased the curtain
rose on u bewildering mass OF color
there was the fortress of Quebec, but
Instead OF the weather beaten French
regulars, II was garrlsoned by the
pretty feminine soldiers In white and
gold. and as they performed an intri
cate MARCH, they sang bright. catchy
song. A charming figure In modern
Parisian gown tripped lightly forth
Alene-our Alene-the French girl OF
1866, the highborn demoiselle whose
love had driven her TO break the
chains OF convention and given heI
courage 10 face the dangers OF New
France. After swirl OF skirts and a
preliminary pas seul, she warbled
mellifiuously that shed
| Always be true 10 Billy,
TO Billy, Billy. Billy
In this touching sentiment she was
| Joined by the villain, habited I'm &
red and green coat with dropping
orn-colored wbiskeTs. The dance
with which they concluded each verse
was applauded again and gain The
blue fire succeeded the red, and the
spy came 0p disguised as an Irisl
washerwoman TO perform some won
derful feats OF tumbling. The gen
eral was stick, but he looked well
| aud when he said
In battles roar,
| l love thee more
The house was fairly taken on III
| feet.
There was no question about the
success OF The production, and aftel
the first act the manager came to oul
box and said that there hadn't beer
such success for years.