Evening star., 1909-09-05

CHALONS- MARINE, September 4.
Clyde Fitch, the American playwright,
died at $50 o'clock this evening. He has
been unconscious since 3 o'clock in the
afternoon. The doctors and his friend.
Eugene Gauthier, were present at the
bedside
Death was due to appendicitis, follow
ing an operation. Mr.. Fitch was stricken
with an acute attack while travelling
from Germany, and upon his arrival here
underwent an operation at the hands of
DR.. Alquier. The patient rallied some
what after the operation and yesterday
showed some signs of improvement. He
suffered a relapse last night, however,
and although he was fully conscious dur
ing the early hours today. the improve
ment In his condition was not maintained.
After marked delirium he lapsed into
Inconsistencies about 8 o'clock in-the
afternoon, at which time the attendant
physicians gave up hope of his recovery.
Native Of New York.
Clyde Fitch, easily the most prolific of
younger American dramatists, was born
in Elmira, N. Y. in 1866. of English an
cestors who settled in Connecticut early
in the seventeenth century, and left de-
scendants who have been prominent in
the religious and political life of the
country ever since. After an early edu-
cation under private instruction at home
he was fitted for college at Holderness
n. H., and was graduated from Amherst
in 1885
Both in school and college he early
evinced an interest in literature and was
an untfring amateur actor. confronted
on facing the world. with the necessity
of choosing a profession, he 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 publish
ers. In 1880 came his first novel, "The
Wave of Life" followed. in the interval
of subsequent activities. by Some Cor
respondence and Six Conversations and
THE Smart Set
Cotemporaneous with his first novel
"Betty,s Finish" playlet, had brief
run at the Boston Theater but nothing
from his pen found any prominence on
the boards until the production of Beau
Brummel." in 1890. by the late Richard
Mansfield. The play jumped into instant
popular favor and won with the years a
classic place In American repertoire.
Character of His Work.
Thereafter the plays came two,< and
sometimes three to the year with un-
Tagging regularity. Touched sometimes
with delicate pathos. they rarely sound
ed deeper notes. but for the most part
were content to skim the surface Of the
comedy of manners with tact, observa-
tion. no lack of wit and a resourcefuI
craftsmanship.
Among the best known of them are:
Nathan Hale" the Cowboy and the
Lady" Barbara Fretchie" "Sappho."
Cfrom the Frenchl, the Climbers" the
Girl and the Judge" the Last of the
Eyes. Her Own Way" Her Great
Matches" and iatterly. the Girl Who
Has Everything" Girls" the blue
Mouse 0rom the Germany and the
Happy Marriage" Still other nlavs nf
his are in rehearsal for the coming sea-
son, and the count in all, including those
written in collaboration, will run to the
astonishing total of more than fifty.
His Pen Profitable.
Clyde Fitch has made writing nav HIS
income from his dramas has been esti
mated at all the way from $4,000 TO
s150.0OO year. And for all his rapid
fire production, he was the most careful
worker.
Il think of my plays for two years"
he said, though j may write them in
five weeks. and before l give them over
TO be typewriter they have been gone
over at least four times. An idea for a
play comes to me. usually, from reflection
upon some popularity of character l have
observed
Mr.. Fitch was a great believer in the
American drama.
There is great field in America for
plays dealing with the history of the
country, he once said. Such plays In
England are made social documents
There is no reason why we should moi
have them. To give value to such plays
the manner and the customs of the peo-
pie at the times described must be given
with the accuracy Of detail''
Father Grief-Stricken.
HARTFORD. Conn. September A.
Capt. W. G. Fitch, L. S. A., father of
Clyde Fitch, the playwright, was grief
stricken tonight upon learning of his
sons death. Mrs. Fitch left here Friday
for France to nurse her son. She had
been buoyed up with hopeful cablegrams
up to the moment of her departure Clyde
Fitch. it is understood, had two previous
attacks OF appendicitis, but he always
feared an operation.
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