Evening star., 1909-05-09

In any event. MS general appearance IS SuCn as
to create the impression.
His demeanor suggests neither culture nor
education, though as have said he comes of
good family and had excellent schooling The
value of erudition, even so far as it concerns
the technic of the drama, in the writing of
plays. he denies absolutely. In fact, believe
that his horror of being thought what he calls
"a highbrow" leads Mr. Walter to assume
contempt of art and letters though he has it
not. He possesses an intuitive appreciation of
the beautiful, and yet, at recent exhibition of
fine paintings, his only comment was, Don't
let's waste any more time in here!" Play
wrights are born, " he has gone on record as OBJ
serving. You can't learn anything about
playwriting."
He's q Dramatic Tornado
IF genius is the quality of doing by instinct,
without great thought or labor, obeying the
commands of something outside of oneself,
Eugene Walter is certainly genius. If it is.
as the philosopher has said, 3" an infinite capac
ity for taking pains, he is nothing of the sort
He works by fits and starts, idling unconscion-
ably for months at time and then completing
play in fortnight The Easiest Way,
of composition really is nothing more nor less
than improvisation-the method children en-
ploy when they make things up" as they "go
along"
large room. one outfit of furniture, and one
exceptionally rapid stenographer Mr.. Walter
and the stenographer enter the room. The
door is locked, and work is begun by placing
the furniture as it is to be placed on the stage
in other words, by setting the scene. Then
the young dramatist begins to act. He IS all
the characters in his play He rushes about
the apartment, quarreling with himself, max
ing love to himself, now standing here as one
ana sea tn as14 to the 9s e he H
is speaking the words that come into his mind as
natural under the circumstances. and the
stenographer is taking them at top speed At
the end of an hour or two an act is finished. an
invisible curtain is rung down. and. if the
amanuensis hasn't tainted, as two did in one
day of work on " Paid in Full. the stage IS set
for the next act
Of course, you will understand that, before
the play reaches this point, the story, the
situations and even some details of dialogue,
must have been carefully thought out. In con-
nection with Mr.. Walter, l should say that they
must have had time to assemble in his mind
having popped in, like Topsy, already grown
He goes about with what ne himself described
to me as a seething mass of stuff in my head.
until the 'seething mass" throbs for release
and then-the impromptu performance before
the audience of one.
The quickness of Mr. Walters conception
the instantaneousness with which drama is
formed for him, is illustrated by an experience
of last winter
We had been to witness a bad play, one
doomed to close the following Saturday.
"Hopelessi" said, as left the theater.
Hopeless" repeated Mr.. Walter; but not
without possibilities If that idea had been
mine, should have begun with the big situa-
ton of the third act Then l should have
worked backward using the story of the"
In five minutes he had sketched new play
constructed round the theme of the old one, and
it was corker!
AS everyone knows, Eugene Walter was
married recently to Charlotte Walker, the
actress, and it is common knowledge, too that
both were bitterly disappointed at David
Belasco's refusal to assign the principal role in
The Easiest Way" to Miss Walker The
Walters live in the Ansonia apartments, on
upper Broadway; but they are contemplating
the erection of home near Long Island Sound.
The man who writes plays, or, for that matter
any other man who performs labor requiring
close concentration, finds it impossible to do his
best in New York The very air is laden with
distraction" says George Broadhurst. author
of The Man of the Hour" When want to
work, get as far as possible from 42d-st."
Paul Armstrong; Halter of Amenities
A DRAMATIST of a pattern with Eugene
Walter though drawn in bolder, blacker
lines, is Paul Armstrong to whom theatergoers
owe "Salomy Jane" and Heir to the Hoorah
Mr. Armstrong; contempt for the ordinary
amenities, the graces of every day. is own
brother to Mr. Walters He is big, fine look
ing fellow, characterized by tremendous vigor