New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1909-10-20
AN ANONYMOUS NOTE
BY HELEN v. TURNER.

= Il y p /.
BY HELEN v. TURNER.
copyright. 1909, by American Press Assoc
ciation.1
The theatrical manager received a
card on which was engraved "Jules
Nostand."
The manager tapped bell. An at
tendanr appeared and was directed to
admit the visitor. The latter entered
with a roll Of manuscript.
m. Rostand,' . said the manager, adj
vancing effusively and taking both
hands of the visitor in his, 81 am de-
lighted to see you
Pardon, sir; you have mistaken the
name. It is Nostand, not Rostand
I am not the author of 'Cyrano de
Bergerac'"
mo; you are not, but you are
nephew Of the celebrated Rostand
and have come from Paris to America
incognito to dispose of play written
under the guidance of your uncle
The visitor stood looking in aston
ishment at the manager. then said:
MAY l ask how you became aware
Of that?"
81 was informed by an anonymous
note.'
"Parbleu! It was agreed between
my uncle and myself that should
come over here and offer my play for
what it is intrinsically worth. Unless
you will give me your promise not to
betray my identity my plan has
failed"
'You need not go further with your
work. I am ready to make you an
offer for it."
81 prefer that it shall stand on its
merits''
ct shall. If it is not worthy of pro-
duction it shall not be placed by me
on the boards. I take especial pride
in giving to the public only such plays
as seem to me to be meritorious'
"But you said you were ready to
make me an offer for mine''
Certainly. l knew that your uncle
would not consent to your offering an
| Inferior play and that no work could
be inferior which he had supervised"
The visitor. who had meanwhile been
invited to take a seat. sat tapping the
roll in his hand with his fingers. He
was evidently dissatisfied with the
turn the affair had taken.
'Come. M. Rostand. or Nostand. if
you prefer" he continued 81 will
take your play home with me tonight.
read it and give you an answer to-
morrow. l pledge you my word that
if l think it will not be acceptable to
the public shall decline it and you
shall be free to offer it where you like,
l agreeing to keep your secret
Since you already possess that Sc
cret.'' replied the author. with evident
! reluctance. II can do nothing but what
you propose. I therefore leave my
manuscript with you till tomorrow
morning at-what hour?"
"Ten O'Clock. Nine if you prefer it."
81 will call at 10. shall rely upon
you to ignore me and my uncle's repu-
tation in the matter and produce my
play only if you consider it meritori-
Ous'
Certainly
Remember that my own name. Nos
tand, must be published as the au-
thor. not that of my uncle"
The manager stroked his beard COM
| placently and looked at the author
through a pair Of shrewd. twinkling
eyes.
cts the play want" he said, mot
| the name.''
10 11fh NIT xrti f1o
ager, returning to his desk. opened a
drawer and took out printed form Of
contract. the blank spaces Of which he
proceeded to fill. Then he unlocked
safe. put NJ Nostand's manuscript
within it's steel doors. shot the bolts
and taking up his hat and cane, left
the theater.
The next morning at 10 O'Clock the
manager was in his Office awaiting a
| call from NJ Nostand. At II O'Clock.
when he had not appeared, the brow
of the man who had flattered himself
that he had secured a prize began to
darken. But. remembering that he had
the play locked in his safe. his COM
| placency returned to him. At 11:3O
the author was announced He was
received with distinguished considera-
ton. The manager handed him the
contract he had prepared.
whats this?" asked the author.
| glancing at the document.
| "You think" said the manager.
'tthat $1,000 advance payment is not
enough. Very well. will make it
$4,000
"Ten thousand repeated NJ Nos
| tand in amaZement
"And the royalty will double as
WE'LL
! do you consider my poor efforts
| worth SO much?'
Certainly. 1t is the work Of an ex-
pert"
''Iow do -or i.gge Of that
las an expert. 1t is plain that the
.~.nario received an enormous amount
| Of attention before word or the dia-