The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-03
Continued from Page I.


had always been his ambition, and now
he believed that it was time to move on
toward that accomplishment.
And so, for the next few months, ker-
rigan gave up the short stories and the
special articles and devoted himself 20
his drama. Every Sunday he would
read over to Fielding his weeks work.
and Fielding, who had slight practical
knowledge OF the stage. would make
suggestions and revisions.
In the early fall Fielding carried the
manuscript back with him to New YORK
and gave it to the dramatic editor of
his paper, who, he knew, could at least
obtain for il the serious consideration
OF the managers 1t was a month later
when he wired to KeTrigan one morning
that manager had made an appoint
ment with him to talk over the play.
The manager sat behind very large.
fiat desk and divided his time about
equally between talking slowly and ST.
lentiy rolling a long cigar between his
lips. The well-thumbed manuscript of
the play lay on the desk In front of him.
and during the conversation he occa-
siOnally ran a paper-cutter between the
pages and tapped il carefully on the
blue cover.
Il don't want to produce this play,
very much" he said. by way of intro
ductiOn. land l don't say that to get
better terms. Personally, 1 don't think
there is any money in it, and Miss
Carew, who wants to play it, will get
very little out of it but reputation, and
/ will probably lose something. / don't
know who the author is, but l should
say that it was a man, and one who
knew very little of the stage-that is
its practical side. He has written two
women parts of almost equal strength.
and that is. as you probably know, al
most fatal. But Miss Carew wants TO
play the part of Ellen, and know why
she wants to play il. 1t is what we call
an actors part-it is the sort of part
any actress would enjoy playing before
critics or at a professional matinee. And
about the same thing might be sale
about the Millicent part. If l had a
play which could give Miss Carew
nearly as good a chance as Ellen. ana
stu have the popular element in Il. I
should not think Of trying your piece
but haven't 1 candidly don't think
this is going to be popular, but it is not
an expensive play to put on, and I have
decided to take a chance. I will give
you $500 in advance and per cent OF
the gross. That is not as much as the
big ones get, but I imagine the author
is a beginner and he could hardly ex-
pect more"
Fielding nodded. II can answer for
the author that the terms will be an
right. When do you think we can get
Q production
AT once" said the manager, briskly-
the sooner the better. | should like to
begin rehearsals Immediately. Can the
author come to rehearsals?"
Fielding shook his head. I'm afraid
not he said.
rs he alive?"
Yes
Far away?"
No. not far" Fleeing said Its
hard to explain
Its hard on us. too. As / said be-
fore. the play must be changed I'm a
number of places to be effective. I'm
sorry to insist. but I wouldn't care to
so on without him.
Very good" said Fielding. "WiH you
give me until tomorrow noon9"
s'Sure-if you can let me know t.
authors answer then. Coed day"
Fielding did not wait for the elevat, ..
but went down the marble stairway
two steps at a bound. Then he took a
cab for the ferry and q half hour later
was on the express for Pleasant Har-
Dor. He found Kerrigan waiting for
him in the sitting room. Its all right"
he cried, its all right. You're going
10 get the production. Miss Carew is
going to do IL as soon as they can get
ready. Just think of it, your first play.
and 10 be done on Broadway-it's won
derful."