Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-09-10
CLYDE FITCH DIES
AFTER OPERATION
AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHT sue
CUMBS TO ATTACK OF APPEN-
DICITIS IN FRANCE.
WAS AUTHOR OF MANY PLAYS.
Iade Writing of Dramas Pay and His
Yearly Income Was Estimated at
Nearly $4,000.
FIRST WAS PRODUCED IN 1890.

CHALONS-SUR-MARrE, France,
Sept. Clyde Fitch. American play
wright died here at $50 o'clock Satur-
day evening. He had been unconscious
since o'clock in the afternoon. The
doctors and his friend, Eugene Gau-
thier, were present at the bedside.
Mr.. Fitchs death was due to appen-
dicitis. He was stricken with an acute
attack while travelling from Germany,
and upon his arrival underwent an oper-
alton at the hands of DR.. AlQuier. The
patient rallied somewhat after the opera
ton, and showed some signs Of improve
ment. He suffered a relapse Friday
night, and, although he was fully con-
scious during the early hours Saturday,
the improvement in his condition was
not maintained. After marked deIirium
he lapsed into Inconsistencies about 3
O'Clock in the afternoon, at which time
the attendant physicians gave up hope of
his recovery.
Mr.. Fitch made writing pay. His in-
come from his dramas has been esti-
mated at all the way from $4,000 to
$15O,OOO a year. And for all his rapid
production, he was the most careful
worker.
1 think Of my plays for two years"
he once said, though l may write them
in five weeks, and before | give them
over to be typewriter they have been
gone over at least four times. An idea
for play comes to me usually from re-
Election upon some popularity of char
acter | have observed"
Faith in American Drama
He was a great believer in the Ameri
can drama. There is great field in
America for plays dealing with the his
tory Of the country" he said. Such
plays in England are made social docu-
ments. There is no reason why we
should not have them. To give value to
such plays the manner and the customs
of the people at the time described must
be given with accuracy OF detail
Both in public school and college Mr..
and was an untiring amateur actor. Con-
fronted on facing the world with the
necessity of choosing q profession, ne
thought at first of further studies In the
art schools, but decided that literature
was more truly his calling and began at
once to write for the magazines and pub
fishers.
After "Beau Brummel' was produced
in 1890, his plays came two and some
times three to the year with untagg'ng
regularity. Touched sometimes with
delicate pathos they rarely sounded
deeper notes, but for the most part were
content to skim the surface of the come
dy of manners with tact, observation, no
lack of wit and resourceful craftsman
ship.
Mr.. Fitch was born in Elmira, n. Y,
on May 2, 1865. He was named for his
father, William G. Fitch, but dropped
the given name when he took up his pro-
fessionaI work.
Graduate of Amherst.
fter attending the public schools he
was graduated in 1886 from Amherst
college. Seven years ago, in recognition
of his literary work, the degree OF mas
ter of arts was conferred upon him by
his alma mater.
Mr.. Fitch's career as an author was
begun when his first book, "A Wave OF
Life" was published in 1889, three years
after his graduation and at time when
he was but "a years old. The following
year his first Play F;n Bsa@ aBd nFre
erick Lemaitre" were produced the same
year. In all fifty-three plays-including
transactions from the French and "ol-
liberation in 1907 with Cosmo Gordon
Lennox on THE Sister'-were credited
to Mr. Fitch, as well as several novels,
In 1891 the young playwright again ex-
erted himself and there appeared "A
Modern Match" subsequently played as
Marriage and ''Pamela's Prodigy"
The Masked Ball." from the French
was his only play in 1892, but in 1893
he produced THE Harvest" "a Shat
American Duchess" also French
adaptation, and 1.-The Social SWIM"
Mrs. Grundy, Jr.," another French play,
His Grace de Grammont' and April
Weather" followed in 1894; and the fol-
lowing year, Mistress Betty" subse
uuently revised and produced, in 1905
as THE Toast of the Town." Gossip"
with Leo Ditrichstein, accompanied
Mistress Betty" as an 1895 production.
His other plays were: In 1906, DO
hemia," from the French; THE Liar"
from the FRENCH Is 1891 IA sqRer1HsSss a
sNathan Hale" 1.-The Moth and the
Flame" The Head of the, Family"
with Leo Ditrichstein; 1899 Barbara
Fretchie," "The Cowboy and the Lady"
1900, "sapho,", from French; The The
Climbers" 1901: Captain Jinks of the
Horse Marines" Lovers e1ba L Ma1 of 1 the
World" s.The Girl and the Judge" 'The
Marriage Came" from the French;
1902, ssThe Stubbornness Of Geraldine"
1.-THE Girl With the Green Eyes," 1908,
''rhe Frisky Mrs. Johnson" from the
French" 1.-THE Bird in the Cage
"Algy" Her oy ooI Wa ayho " Gaadno of IT,
n Ma5es Ano "Gran ne Cousin Billy"
"The Woman in the Case" 1905, wolf
Vile" "Her Great Match" 1905, ''The
Girl Who Has Everything" 'Toodles,"''
from the French, ''The House Of Mirth,"
with Mrs Wharton; 1.-THE Truth" 'The
Straight Road" and In 1907, '"The Sis
ter" a collaboration with Cosmo Cor
don-Lennox.
THE Blue Mouse" an adaptation from
the French. was Mr.. Fitch's latest effort
Mr. Fitch was member of the Lambs
and Players and his residence was at
113 East Fortieth street, New York city.
He also had a country home near the
American metropolis.