The San Francisco call., 1909-06-27
NCIDENTOFA ANIGHT
RAID GERM OF PLAY
Bob Davis, a Former CaIifor-
nian, Tells How He Came to
Write 'The Family"
Plight of Girl Caught in Police
Dragnet in New York Gave
Inspiration for Drama
By c. c. CARLTON
[sseeiaI Dapateh 10 The caul

loPecidi DEpotch 10 he Gall
NEW YORK. June 2s.-Bob Davis.
the former san Francisco newspaper
man, now editor OF Nunsey's magazine.
told me today how he was inspired TO
write The Family a play that has
been very successful IN Chicago and the
middle west Said he:
The whole idea of The Family is
10 show that good mother can save
her children and regenerate her house
hold, no matter to what depths they
have fallen. once she finds herself
driven 10 the extremity of taking the
helm
In the years 1867 I was on the
night shift OF a New York newspaper
in what is now known as the Tender
loin, otherwise the nineteenth police
precinct There the underworld of
Manhattan 'boils over 365 times a year
between darkness and dawn, and the
people OF that sordid district make
much criminal history. The station
blotters contain only the bare records
OF the particular ofrense, but nothing
ST the primary causes at the bottom
~ things. I made some discoveries
Y there-made them quite by accident.
one night a dancehall was s<raided,
and among the prisoners wes young
htAtdA WHO developed nNSlerla the
moment she came into the presence
OF tie police sergeant She managed
20 explain. incOherently, that she was
present quite by accident: that her
escort took her there 10 see the sights
and deserted her upon the arrival of
the police.
II looks hshy 10 me- remarked the
sergeant. but I'll stand for II this time
II you'n ~ home and keep out OF the
district. in future. Where do you live
anyhow?
The girl. having nothing TO con-
ceal, gave her address. A reporter
standing near made note Of II. In
stantly the young woman realized the
consequence Of publicity.
PLEADS TO BE SHIELDED
Don't put IT in the papers. please.
Ny mother viii see it and she'll beat
me 10 death. I can't make her believe.
She'll never forgive me-
The story was not printed in the
papers Instead. the girl was put on
2 streetcar and went home, alone. de-
clining an escort. Not q man present
in that station doubted her story. The
sergeant himself said he understood
the case. and held forth until the
dawn. telling stories Of the various
hrst offenders he had known who were
drawn into the whirlpool because they
hadn't the coura &c 10 confess their mis-
take or a mother who would forgive.
I saw much OF IL myself afterward.
Whose fault is IL that such terror IS
implanted in the breast OF a girl? Sure
~ not her own
II have Witnessed many times the
spectacle OF a young man arrested for
the first spree imploring the police not /
10 let his father hear OF It But oc- 4
casionany q boy can be induced 10 go 1
home and make a clean breast of it. 1
Not so with girls. They become panic 1
really guilty they turn their backs on |
the only haven left them and are en-
gulfed in The tide that sweeps them
10 ruin.
EXPERIMENT JUSTIFIED
II the weak could be assured of
forgiveness there would be less sin.
Admitting. that a large percentage OF
wayward girls and boys would spurn
forgiveness and good advice, the pos
sIbiiity OF even a fraction being saved
sustihes the experiment at the hands
81 parents.
when Madaline. the unhappy heroine
in The Family is found by her mother
IN the Springfield hotel and confesses,
she asks the same question that has
come. alas, TOO often TO many young
wornan's lip: Where can I go now7
And the mother, If her heart is In the
right kind Of breast. viii respond:
Now YOU can come home.
That IS what my mother would have
done. and that is why The Family Is
dedicated 70 her.
James Woods. manager Of the st.
Francis hotel. and Mrs. Woods. went TO
the Hotel Empire for their brief So
5ourn in New York, for at this hotel
Mr. Woods was well known He for
uerly resided there
Woods is a Saratoga. X. Y. man. For
a number Of years he was connected
with the Gilsey house and I'm this
capacity made a wide acquaintance,
especially OF hOtelmen.
When not busy on his Portola mis-
sion Woods and his charming wife
have been receiving streams Of call
ers-old time friends Of the popular
hotel manager
Mrs. Woods IS q Virginian, but is
proud 10 be known as "an adopted
daughter" Of the Golden West We
YOU California;"
Among the Californians registered
Al the eastern bureau Of the California
Promotion committee. recently were the
following:
FROM san Francisco-David J. Flem-
~. Henry 81. Abrams. James Woods,
<N1arlotta Teresi. Miss E Hausiein, Mrs.
a r. Cantweli. A J. ZobeI, NJ D.; L.
ii wilson. r A. Cornish, R. West, 7.
A Wyman, Henry SeagaL
From Los AnEeles--M- L. Moses. X.
y List. Miss Helen List and Miss Ruth
list. Mrs. " H. Robertson. D. D. Smith.
From Oakland-Floyd~EM Fritz, DR..
Thomas H Winslow-
From Berkeley-Ralph L. Phelps
From StocktOn-J. l. Phelps.
FROM Chico-C. ". Thomas, Mrs C.
X Thomas, L. B. Collins Mrs. L. b.
Collins
From Sacramento-Mrs. W Priestley.
FROM san Pedro-Thomas J. WiIkie,
From Mill Valley-Prof. II G. Sedg-
wick.
DEM0XAI- OE ITALIAN