davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-09
The Final Butchering

We explained that In the original
sketch nearly all the dialogue was az
the table vis-a-vis, but that the man
ager would not stand for it. He said
IL was unintelligible and bore. on
these many men and many minds
For an impartial criticism we ques-
toned the doorkeeper, who appeared
to take a fatherly interest in the ne"
what did you think OF 1T. nowT' We
asked him.
well" said he. Il think it's mighty
nice-a good little sketch And tne
lady Is so pretty. But l think It would
be nicer if she wore tran-
But she's in fancy costume. 1 de-
INJURED. ~
MAYBE that's true. but I've been
seeing vaudeville acts for eight years.
and it's my opinion that the audience
likes the dresses with long trains the
best Short skirts may suit some
but" and he shrugged his shoulders
as If to say some" did not know SO
very much
you Just tell the little lady what
said" was his parting word.
Arrived at our apartment, we found
dinner preparations deferred. since
spirited rehearsal was in progress.
Were TO go on tonight for the two
performances" was the explanation.
we've mad 10 TeWTlLe AOl anu nOW
we're learning the new lines. We have
left out all the long speeches The
manager says we must make the love
making more pronounced He likes
that part best OF ALL"
After the evening performances, which
we were forced TO confess brought
forth very neat. clean cut and COM
pact production. with succession Of
charming stage pictures, We asked the
manager what he thought Of it,
They'll be booked" was his laconic
reply, I'm satisfied"
AS the playwrights wended their
way homeward they voiced their
thoughts I thought an aroma of sad
ness surrounded Herbert's figure. My
sympathy went out to HMM the final
revision his famous satirical speech had
been eliminated
We'll. anyway. they made hit"
said !, "and they still retained the
original title"
And you can still call yourself
mother to 10 ines,' he said. encourag-
tngly.
But you are father to 81"
Well, don't be Jealous" he replied.
swelling his chest proudly. AT least
we can say We have had a sketch sue !
cessfuily produced"
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-09

for the manager is naturally more i'm
pressed when he sees a perfect pro-
duction than one without the acces
sories.
Our sketch had It's tryout In the full
glare of lights. with props" and cos
tunes and music. II went of well.
but from the judges enigmatic express
sion during its progress you could
never have formed any opinion as to
the outcome.
It was negative success. He liked
the actors. and the latter half of tho
sketch. but the first part he would
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-09

upon the stage after matinee per-
formance-when the theater is dark
and say over their lines without scenic
accessories or costumes. Or they may
prefer paying for the music, lights
and the labor of the stage hands, and
act their playlet. or do their dancing
and singing stunt in proper fashion.
just as If it were Professional per-
formance before an audience. The lat
ter way is the better for themselves.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-09
The San Francisco Sunday Cali

II like It. except for those two
things" he added; "go right to workv
and change that. and come back to-T
morrow and let me see what you've
done. You see the mistake you made
Is that you think my audiences are
all made up OF one kind Of people
society people. You must write and
act for the average vaudevillan-un-
derstand?'
He gave US a lot OF advice and we
went home and took another try at
the playlet. We were no longer vi
vaciously hopeful We felt as II a
glass of ice water had been poured
down our necks. Enthusiasm-whers
Is II?
Doggediy we went to work at the
typewriter again.
"oh. don't cut that part out" said
she.
II must" said he. 'for it is in the
first haIf-the part he didn't like"
I'm going to use the original
sketch" she said. obstinately. and it
was much better than after the
changes"
Half an hour Is too long-we are
only permitted IA minutes" was his
dictum. and 1t stood.
The revised playlet went back to the
manager. and returned with the criti-
cism that there must be more love
making and fewer mors.
At it again went the blue penciler.
The authors had long since resigned in
his favor. 1t was well. The COM
pfetely revised version was accepted
Rehearsals began again. the new lines
substituted for the old
I'm awfully glad you didn't cut that
fine satirical speech out that Herbert
wrote" was my contribution to the
conversation anent the alterations.
Well. we left in three Of your best
lines" said the Girl
I felt meekly thankful at that.
Properly preceded by press notices.
as the bride by her maids, the sketch
was performed at a matinee. There
was a full house and the new stars
were warmly received Criticism. as
the audience fled out, was friendly
and otherwise The one unanimous
opinion was that the Girl was a success
and her support admirable
IT liked the original sketch better
SAID one WHO hdo OocH present - 1-o
tryout.
Il would have liked her better IN
big hat instead OF just flowers" said
a sweetly feminine vOIce.
"a little song and dance would have
been nice" remarked another.
Song and dance" growled one OF
the authors: Mercy. Where is her
artistic sense?
The first scene dragged a little.
thought" was a cautious criticism
It liked IL. but it was awfully short,
said another.
Ignorant creature thought the
savesGropper that did not know tho
circuits positive time limit is IA min
utes for sketches. The stage hands
told me that the shorter the better
was their belief
IT think It would be more classy II
thev did more talking at the table.
suggested one OF the actress particular
friends.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-09
By Sarah Williamson

q ET him who thinks il is easy TO,
write vaudeville sketch--a
sketch that win fit the actors
L. and at the same time please
manager and inspire him with
the desire to produce it--snale the at
tempt. 1t sounds easy Get plot or
a ghost OF one. String a lot Of dialogue
together. Insert some situations that
viii lead up to effective tableaux. Let
& manager see it but once, and. OF
course. he VIII be just mad TO produce
Il and give each actor two hundred a
week OF course.
That is the way you think * is be-
fore you've tried. VIII Cressy makes
thousands in royalty every month. we
hear. from his vaudeville SKETCHES. So
does George Cohaa. And there are
others. But-how many failures did
they register before they had one
success? They haven't said. so nobody
knows.
The amateur hand at sketch writing
goes ahead cocl.sure OF a triumph. He
has written stories that have been ac-
cepted-and paid for-by the maga-
zines. lie knows that he is a master
OF witty dialogue Hasn't he been told
so hundreds Of times? Therefore. what
SO easy as placing a sketch?
That is the way Herbert and I reas-
oned when we started on this royal
road TO success. The little actress who
wished to go on vaudeville circuit
gave US the idea She was the incen-
tive She furnished the plot and some
OF the situations. We were TO fiji in
the spaces with brilliant lines.
We started on finely. Herbert was
90 write the lines for the woman and
for the man. We reasoned that we
could evolve a finer quality of witty
dialogue by thus reversing the situa-
lions. So we each took a turn at the
typewriter.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-09
Exit the Writer

That would mean third character"
he said. "a needless expense. And If,
as you suggest, we had a super enact
the role. it would spoil the artistic
view. You know how an audience al
ways watches a super and applauds
his awkward blunders. All our best
lines would be lost in that way"
We began to understand that he
knew what he was talking about, and
no longer growled at the editing.
When he had finished the boiling
down process we were about 20 times
wiser than when he began. He had
made every point tell. When line
was too long. he divided 1t. and let
one character say the first half and
the other finish the sentence That
made it snappy. He worked up the
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-09

creat>-s the new character. He sent US
a substitute, and we had no cause to
deplore the substitution. The new
man undertook to whip our sketch into
shape for immediate vaudeville presen-
tation.
The process involved some terrific
whecks at our vanity, for the editing
actor slashed right through the dia-
logue He changed the entrance we
thought so cleverly managed, the very
first thing.
This reads all right" he said. but
by Jove. you writers don't seem to
recall the fact that the audience doesn't
understand the motif of the play as
you do. You've got to interest them
from the start"
Then he got down to the mots and.
they came in for liberal blue pencil
ing.
These things may be clever" he ex-
planned, but they have no bearing
on the plot. The audience won't un-
derstand half of them-a vaudeville
audience isn't all drawn from the smart
set; you must take that into con-
sideration."
When ne wanted to cut out some of
our best jokes. however, there was
trio OF rebellious walls.
You've got to leave that one in
about father was short" we all in
sisted. why. it is splendid play
on words. Even donkey could un-
derstand that"
So against his own judgment. he left
that part in. It is not there now.
am sorry to say.
The Girl thought it would be rather
daring il she smoked a cigarette. and
would be an effective bit of business
The reviser of the dialogue did not
agree with her, so we left it out. Our
spirits sank as he slashed and slashed,
until there were about four pages less
OF the playlet. He cut the waiter out
~
The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-16

carries with it an appropriation of
100000 for the building of state
road No. Z. This road was definitely
laid out as going from Easton, down
the Wenatchee river, crossing the
state bridge and thence eastward to
Spokane. In connection with the
building of this road Mr.. Holm call
ed attention to change in the plan
of work as outlined by the state high
way commissioner, in that in the flu
ture the work would be commenced
in the middle of the road and worked
from both ends, so that it is expected
that operations will be commenced
here soor and building be pushed
both east and west from the bridge.
Messrs. Gellatly, Thayer and
Stocker were appointed a committee
to convey to Senators Smithson and
Davis the appreciation of the Com
mercial club for the assistance rem
dered in securing the passage of the
bridge measure.
w. T. Clark made a short address,
giving some of the inside history met
dent to the workings of the past
legislature and telling what one en-
counters on going to Olympia with
bill which he desires to have
passed.
John A. Gellatly made a short talk,
mostly on the reminiscent order, and
noted the progress made in the Com
mercial club during the past six
years.
DR.. Stephenson gave a short talk
along the lines of Better Citizen
ship" He emphasized the sugges-
ton that he made at the club on an
other occasion, that an institution
should be located here for higher
education. He believes that the time
is ripe for college here, one that
should not only give instruction
along the regular channels, but one
that should make a speciality of in
struction in horticulture. The adj
dress was a thoughtful one and set
many people to work thinking as
to the practicability of the scheme
of starting a school for higher learn
ing at this place.
The assembly room was well filled
last night and a number of new
names were added to the club ros-
ter.
The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-16
LENA RIVERS, THURSDAY

One of the best theatrical attrac-
lions visiting this season will be the
Camille Kearns company, which will
appear at the Wenatcbee theatre on
Thursday, March IS, for one perform
ance. The offering will be LENA
Rivers" A play that has all the ele-
ments which make plays successful.
The Camille Kearns company Is COM
posed of the best players that have
appeared in your city. Careful at
tention has been given by the man
agement to the selection of the peo-
ple. with the result that the organ
ixstion will bear comparison with any
visiting this city. The costuming,
always a vulnerable point. is new and
fresh, the ladies of the company car
rying wardrobe of elegant gowns.
To all who enjoy first class play
presented in capable manner by ex-
perienced players, the Camille Kearns
company's engagement will appeal.
Seats are now selling at the Wenat-
chez Drug Co.
The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-16
EVER
BEST NURSERY
NED DERRY NOW OWNER OF
NURSERY THAT HAS BEEN LO-
GATED ON THE CLARK COM
PANY PLACE WEST OF CITY.

The Everbest nursery, of which F.
C. Nelson has been manager, and
which has been ow J by w. T.
Clark, F. C. Nelson and J. T. Brown,
was sold this week to N. e. Derry.
This nursery has been located on
the Clark company place west of the
city. 1t has been planted in con-
nection with the young orchard on
the place, but this Is the last year
for the nursery on the place. There
are some 10000 young trees on the
place, but after this spring the Ever
best nursery will be located up the
Wenatchee river. Mr.. Derry is an
expert nurseryman and will no doubt
keep u pthe standard of the old
name.
The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-16
PRESIDENT TAFT SENT TAR
|FF MESSAGE To CONGRESS
Upon Lawmakers That Tar
if Tinkering Should Be Rushed Just
as Fast as Is Consistent With Proper
Consideration of the Matter---Bill to
Be Ready Tomorrow.

indicated at least one new source of
revenue that might be properly re-
sorted to in order to avoid a future
deficit. 1t is not necessary for me
to repeat what I then said I ven
ture to suggest that the vital bust
ness interests of the country require
that the attention of the congress
in this session be chiefly devoted to
a consideration of the new tariff bill
and that the less time given to other
subjects of legislation in this session
of congress the better for the coun-
try.
WILLIAM H. TAFT,
The White House, March 16,
1909"
The new tariff bill will be intro
duced in the house tomorrow, the
delay in its presentation being to Sc
cure the approval of new republi-
can member on the ways and means
committee whom the speaker will ap-
point to succeed Mr.. Bonynge, of
Colorado, whose term expired.
Forty-four republicans and eleven
democratic senators were in their
seats when the presidents message
was laid before that body. 1t re-
ceived careful attention. Many
when the suggestion that no
legislation except that in relation to
tariff be considered at this session
was read.
Senator Gallinger presented a reso-
luton of the legislature of New
Hampshire declaring that the in
heritance tax should not be made the
subject of national legislation but
should be left to the states as a
source of revenue.
A motion to adjourn until Friday
was adopted.
When the message was read in the
house the republicans gave loud and
prolonged applause. 1t was referred
to the committee on ways and means.
The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-16
CITIZENS REJOICE OVER THE
FREE COLUMBIA BRIDGE
Enthusiastic Meeting Last Night to Do
Honor to Men Who Conceived the
Bridge and the Men Who Were In
strumental in Getting State to As
sumo Ownership of It.

That the people of Wenatchee ap-
preciate the efforts made by Repre-
sentative Holm in the securing of
legislation favorable to the purchase
by the state of the Columbia river
bridge was evident by the meeting
held last night at the Commercial
club rooms. While the gathering was
called especially for the purpose of
doing honor to Mr.. Holm, yet it was
to celebrate the ''free bridge"
The Wenatchee band discoursed
some excellent music during the eve
ming, enlivening the program that
had been arranged President King
called the gathering to order prompt
ly at p. m, Frank Reeves was the
first speaker and reviewed at some
length the record of Mr.. Holm in be-
half of the measure that means so
much for Wenatchee.
Charles B. Reed was the second
speaker and devoted his time to an
explanation of the bill providing for
a typographical and geological sur
vey of the state. This bill, carrying
an appropriation of $4,000, passed
the legislature but has hot yet been
siYned by Governor Hay.
MIR. Reed stated that he feared
that this would fail Of securing the
governors signature and asked that
a committee be appointed to send a
telegram this morning to Mr.. Hay,
conveying the favorable sentiment
of the Commercial club to this bill.
The committee as appointed was
Messrs. Holm, Reed and Trimble.
Mr.. Holm was called upon and
made a neat little speech. express
ing his appreciation of the honor
done him by the meeting. Mr.. Holm
is very modest and does not take to
himself all the credit for the pass
age of the bridge bill, but spoke very
highly of the work of Senators Smith
son and Davis, and also of Former
Senator Gum. He also gave credit
to w. T. Clark and other members
of the club who have worked unceas-
ingly for this measure.
Mr.. Holm also called attention to
another matter of legislation that
has been overlooked by most Of the
Wenatchee people. During the clos
ing days of the last legislature the
state highway bill was passed. This
The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-16
TWO DAYS. PRO-
GRAM ARRANGED
GOOD ROADS MEN, PUBLICITY
MEN AND MANY DELEGATES
HERE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
OF THIS WEEK.

Sam Hill, the we'll known good
roads advocate, of Seattle; Arthur
Hooker, the publicity man of the irri-
cation congress; F. E. Goodall, Of the
Spokane Chamber of Commerce; H.
L. Moody, publicity man; E. H. Shep-
herd, editor of Better Fruit; J. M.
Snow, state highway commissioner;
these are some of the outside speak
ers secured for the two days meet
ing to be held here Thursday and
Friday of this week to organize
North Central Washington Develop
ment league. Already fully 25 dele
gates from different organizations in
Okanogan, Douglas and Chelan coun-
ties have signified their intention of
being present, and rousing meeting
has been arranged.
Mr.. Snow is on the program for
Thursday afternoon and will speak on
the public highways of the state. Sam
Hill, the good roads man, will speak
in the Eagle hall on Thursday eve
ming on good roads. He has an i'll
Illustrated lecture which he is to give,
throwing on a screen some of the
roads and road making machines that
he has seen in his travels throughout
this country and in Europe.
A subcommittee on entertainment
has been named consisting of A. C.
Dallach, o. B. Fuller and J. Edward
Ferguson. They will have charge of
the delegates during the time that
no business sessions are being held.
Something will be arranged for
Thursday evening and the convention
is to close with a dinner Friday eve
ming, at which the visitors will be
guests of the Wenatchee CONNER
cial club. A drive through the val
ley is planned for Friday. The dele
gates will be kept moving from the
time they reach Wenatchee until ad-
journment is taken, so that there will
not be dull minute.
The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-16
RECEIVED CAR Of
BRICK MACHINERY
HOBSON BROS. NOW HAVE
EQUIPMENT FOR TURNING
OUT 10000 BRICK PER DAY
COMMENCE APRIL 10.

Hobson Bros, the brick men of
this city, have just received full car
OF new brick machinery from Dayton,
Ohio. This is the newest and most
efficient brick machinery made and
the new machinery has a capacity of
10000 brick per day. Additional
ground has been secured by this firm
adjoining the old site, and active
operations will be commenced about
April 10. A very large run is to be
made this year, about 100000
brick being required by the school
houses that are to be- built, besides
a number of business blocks that will
require a great many brick. Hobson
Bros. expect to supply the entire de-
mand and have the brick ready when
Nquired.
The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-16
(By Associated Press.)

Washington, March 6.-President
Tafts message to congress today was
as follows:
ITO the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives: I have convened the
congress of the United States in this
extraordinary session in order to en-
able it to give immediate considera-
ton to the revision of the Dingley
tariff act. Conditions affecting the
production of manufactures and bust
ness generally have so changed in the
last II years as to require a read
justment and revision of import du-
ties imposed by-that act More than
this, the present tariff act with the
sources of the government revenue
does not furnish income enough to
pay the authorized expenditures. BY
July 1 next, the excess of expendi-
lures over receipts for the current
fiscal year will equal $100,00O,O00
1.-THE successful party in the last
election is pledged to revision Of
the tariff The country and business
especially, expect it. The
prospect of a change in rates of inn
port duties always causes a suspen-
sion or halt in business because Of
the uncertainty as to the conditions
to be made and their effect. 1t Is
therefore Of highest Importance that
the new bill should be agreed upon
and passed with as much speed as
possible, consistent with its dues and
consideration. For these
reasons 1 have deemed the present to
be an extraordinary occasion within
the meaning of the constitution justi-
flying and requiring the calling of an
extra session.
'In my inaugural address l stated
in a summary way, the principles
upon which, in my judgment. revi-
sion of the tariff should proceed and
The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-16
BACK FROM SNOWY IOWA

Mr.. and Mrs. John s. Mooney re-
turned last night from a several
months trip to the east, several
weeks of which were spent in the old
home at Marshalltown, Iowa. Mr..
Mooney stated that when he left
there last week that there were 15
inches of snow on the ground there.
While east Mr.. Mooney and wife
spent several days in the far south,
in New Orleans and other points.
They both report themselves as very
glad to get back into the sunshine
of the Wenatchee valley.
The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-16

will be used in investigation of min
eral resources in the coal fields of
the western part of the state, Of the
deposits of precious metals in eastern
Washington and In testing soils on
the logged OF lands to determine best
methods Of utilizing ground from
which timber has been cut and in in
vestigating the possibilities of irriga-
ton in the arid belt Of Washington.