The morning journal-courier., 1908-11-06
Tho F'irst-Nightcr.
By Henry Blossom.

By Henry Blossom. q who for many seasons ne'er have
 failed
 To hold q front-row seat at each
 first night I who full many Q new made star have baiied;
 who have wept when old ones
 passed from sight. love the theater. It's mimic show Has helped me laugh somo bitter
 cares away. Has taught me some few actor folk 10
 know.
 Although mere onlooker at ths
 play. Well. 1t so chanced that some short
 weeks ago
 q quote the parlance the profession
 use), "A rank outsider with on unknown
 show
 Came sneaklng into town on rubber
 shoes. It further chanced by some queer trick
 of fate.
 The PIay achieved an instantaneous The critics with one voice pronounced
 it 'great;'
 The. house was packed each night
 from dome to pit Tt seemed most unaccountable to those Who knew how simple was this mod est play, That 1t should go while big 'produo- ton shows
 Were daily being closed and stored But explained 1t all in one word. Art. The oa1f author star and manager this Had reached by blending each compo- nent part
 Into finished and harmonious whole. T had no doubt the author knew his
 star. And wrote to fit his personality. lsWhile managers suggestions did not But aided by their praotioality, FAnd so l made occasion ono flne day To question them. By luck l chancod 10 meet All three in different cafes on my way { From Herald square to Forty-seconi | street "The author first mot and offered my Congratulations, but he shook his head. And slowly hcayed long. pathetic
 sigh,
 Between ourselves, I've lost all I neart,' ne salQ. ,I Tho play as first l wrote it you must
 know, \ Was strong, consistent, dainty and high grade. l But row they've cut it, maimed it.
 gagged 1t so.
 That l can scarcely bear to sec fl
 played. 1T found upon rehearsal that the Had suddenly grown petulant and
 queer, And his conception of tho part was far From right, but he said that was his
 idea Of how 1t should be played, and, what He'd here and there presume to add
 line Some tlme-worn gags that he had used
 before
 Of course, the critics thought that
 they were mine. "As for the manager, he tore about. And said "the piece was never go-
 ing to go." He cut Some most important dialogue
 out.
 Because" he said. "the action wal He tried to add "speclalty," think, And would,> had not the star kicked sun, they cant spoil a good play Thew did their level best, though
 Well, here's howV "A little later-in the afternoon met tho actor, brealSfasting alone, sat across from him and very soon He spoke his piece in no uncertain Between you and myself he said, q
 signed Before read tho book and say, n A half a dozen times I had a mind TO hand 'em back their part anC
 leave 'cni flat Bad. Was 1t bad7 Say, take my sol emn word. I never have had what you call
 part.
 But this one was an onion--oh, q bird! When first saw 1t, say, it broke m!
 heart. I had tho title role and here's wha A thing the d--n fool author couldn' had to stand there like big stufre,
 shirt And let the others all score off me- "I told the manager just how I stood "Oh,'" he says, ''you can fix it up , bit" , promised that I'd help him all could. And--well, you know the answer
 'Tt's a hit" The 'business" and those new laughs 7 all are mine,
 But no one knows 1t and the autho The credit, though he didn't write | line That scored. Thanks. mol I'll talk some cigarettes There seemed so great disparity be
 tween What author first then actor, had t l say.
 That 1 resolved that I the facts woul
 glean By strollIng somewhat further u J Broadway } l met the manager and OCT glass Of wine ] caused him modestly {
 own
 That all the credit for the big success Was due to him, and due to hin alone. ! Why let me tell you how lt ls. h said. 7 And when I say a thing, why H' a fact. These actors have case of larg