Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-11-07

songs, among lHeUl V, lOu blii,
 and beautiful waltz entitled Some where" Prices 25 cents to $1.
 HARRY DURANT'S PLAY COMING.
 Miss Hilda Spong, who has been engaged to interpret the leading feminine role in "A Man and His Mate," H. R. Durant's new play, is easily one of the most distinguished women of the stage. In her day anu time she has been leading woman for William Faversham, Henry Millet and w. H. Crane, and for many years was associated with Daniel Frohman's Lyceum theater stock company, one of the best equipped organizations in the annals of stage land At the age of 17 she toured Australia as star, and in the United States she has travelled from coast to coast as a star of the first magni- tude Miss Spong is one of the most popular actresses in the profession and has hosts of friends in every city of importance in this country and abroad. That she appreciates the worth of the role in which she is to be seen in MT Durant's new play is apparent from the fact that she has just refused an offer of $1,000 T week to go to Australia to appear in The Great Divide" taking the place of Miss Margaret Anglin, who is un- able to continue owing to the eXac, tions of the tear-compelling play. and on account of the incidental hard ships of tour of the Antipodes, Her. bert Percy, for several years in the entourage of Charles Frohman, and latterly leading man for Miss Mar garet Ellington, has also been en- gagged for Mir Durant's production. The remainder of the cast is in keep ing Friends of the Waterbury au- thor, politician, base ball manager and playsmith will be gratified to learn that no less parsonage than l Sam H. Harris, of the firm of Cohali & Harris, has taken more than pass ! ing interest in the future of Mir Du- rants play. It was to MT Harris that one Arthur Griffin, a piratical indi' vidual, connected with a travelling stock company, submitted the manu. script of play taken bodily fror MT Durant's novel. as it appeared il the Popular Magazine for September | Whole speeches were stolen outright the thief then having the effrontery to place the manuscript with Mir liar ris with a view toward its disposal AS the manuscript of the Durant play was then in the keeping of MT liar ris, the latter lost no time in notify ing the Waterburian of the attempt ed imposition. Mir Durant fairly burned up the telegraph wires ir subsequent messages to the thievins playwright, at the same time threat ening the latter with immediate prosecution, under the United State copyright laws. if any further opera tions in the line of play grating wer, not suspended. It is needless to re mark that Mir Durant's demands wer, honored without delay. Harry Du rants new play seems to have all 0 the earmarks of a successful proposi tion, according to the play sharp
  seen the manuscript. That the stor. has great dramatic value may b.
 judged from the fact that no les
 than sixteen offers were made to tn
 publishers of the novel for the sol
 dramatic rights. All over southeri New England, where Mir Durant i
 known, principally by reason of hi newspaper experience, his connection
 with the general assembly of tn
 Nutmeg state. and because of his lon
 association with professional bas ball, there is keen interest in tn outcome of his latest venture. e. Man and His Mate" will be seen a Poli's theater on Wednesday, Noven l, Der 25, and on Thanksgiving day matinee and night.