The San Francisco call., 1909-09-12

princes-who stood out against impend-
ing federation. They were led by an
intrepid dark mustached and fiery
Italian who was the last to be sub
dued by the king. His capture was
effected and he was put to death The
play in its then present form was not
much use, but it gave Belasco an idea.
Why not change the locale and
place the drama in Japan? Why not
make the struggle between the mikado
and tire samuri? No sooner said than
done.
HE got that poet, John Luther Long,
whose Nine. Butterfly is master
piece in miniature, and Mr.. Long
Japanned the story, until 10, it was as
japanese as lacquered charcoal box
Then he got the Japanese TO inject
local color and the odor of tea into it.
and the result was The Darling of the
Gods which was a beautiful spectacle
and remarkable success.
you do not know John Luther
Long2 You should. He is a prosy
looking little lawyer in Philadelphia.
but he has the heart of a poet and the
utterance of one as we'll
MISS BATES talked long and inter-
I estingly on the San Francisco she
had once known. 1t was different when
she boasted of the work that has been
accomplished since the fire. because
san Francisco" she said .'is really
my home. That is, it is the place to
which my mind instinctiveIy turns
when think of home"
Int tviewers hear from every player
they ak to words of glowing praise
for the city which has rebuilt itself.
1t is all well meant and usually elo-
quently said. but it is an old story and
you listen indifferently. But not so
with Miss Bates, because she said it
with the air of proprietorship and as
one who felt an immediate and an in |
innate concern.
1t was here that Miss Bates was /
reared and went to school. 1t was here
that she commenced the task of bread /
winning by teaching in the public /
schools 1t was here that she received |
her first theatrical position, and it was
here that she made her first success.
l. r. Stockwell who even as we sat |
in Miss Bates dressing room was walt !
ing out in the theater to meet her, was /
the player who first discovered her and I
the manager who gave her an oppor-
tunity to prove her worth as actress
Stockwell was then associated with
Osbourne and wallenrod, and he had
left the Alcazar to open the Stockwell /
theater
Miss Bates came to him timidly for
a chance to play in his company. She
was school teacher. but she had an
instructive feeling that she was des-
tined to be a great actress. Her in-
stinct proved reliable
Stockwell gave her a small part.
Her father and her mother were ia
vorites on the Pacific coast and re-
turned to this country after success
fuI tour in Australia. Blanche Bates
accompanied them on that tour. though
she was then but a baby. So she had
an inheritance Of brain and tempera-
ment Tor the stage, and Stockwell was
quick to perceive the fact and TO en-
his young actress.
She was an immediate success in h sr
small part, and he gave her a better
role More important characterize
lions followed and soon she was crowd
ing the leading woman. for first hon-
ors A contract existing between
Stockweli and his leading woman pre-
vented him from giving Miss Bates
the first roles, and in 1893. unable to
advance her further, he reluctantly let
her go. Mckee Rankin, who had taken
over the Alcazar theater and who was
assembling an opposition company
asked stockwell for Miss Blanche
Bates release. Generously he gave it,
and the rising star went over to the
Alcazar. 1t was Stockwell himself" 1