The San Francisco call., 1909-05-09

road TO success. The little actress who
wished to go on a vaudeville circuit
gave us the idea She was the incen-
tive. She furnished the plot and some
OF the situations. We were TO fill in
the spaces with brilliant lines.
We started or finely. Herbert was
90 write the lines for the woman and
for the man. We reasoned that we
could evolve a finer quality of witty
dialogue by thus reversing the situa-
tons. So we each took a turn at the
typewriter.
The Sketch Began Well
The beginning went along as II by
magic. The scene was TO be q private
supper room in g French restaurant
one OF those restaurants that San
Francisco considers peculiarly her
own. The principal character was q
girl out for a lark-a nice. well brought
up society bud. but not so unsophis-
1cated as she appeared to the man who
accompanied her. She was even to DO
little song in French and q pas seuI
near the close.
It's Just like game of 'Conse-
ouences.' says she. as they enter.
drawing her long wrap closely about
her so that not an inch OF her CO.'S
tune is visible. The mysterious Mr..
Dash"
Met the fascinating Miss RIanu- -
returns he. falling into her joyous
mood.
"on the stairs after the Asterisks.
ball, and he said
Can't I take you home in my carr
And she said"
Dear me. would I dare? What vouId
mamma say?"
And then we motored here. and the
consequences were
Consequences? Bother consequences
The question is What VIII the wor,d
say?'"
Naughty. naughty" with laugh IN
which the girl joins.
That was about the wav +be ~,
writer recorded the opening lines ana
when we read over the entrance scene
we were struck with its (and our own,
idea OF a snappy dialogue. We were
70 learn afterward how little we knew.
After several nights spent on re-
vision. the sketch was finished to su,t
7the little actress, and 1t was full TO
the brim with every mot we knew
Our friends had contributed to the
Wiz with every good thing" they
heard. They used to rush to US with
the mots. as soon as they heard a new
one with Put this in your sketch
It will make a hit" Therefore whom
the manuscript was done it was really
succession OF brilliancies. gathered
from the club chatter and tea table
wit. pity such cleverness does not
always strike the managers the wav
II impresses the playwright. isn't it7
To be sure, the sketch took over
half an hour to read, and there must
be business" and music added. but we
thought the length OF such chef
o'oeuvre would prove no drawback
How could we cut out one word Of
such a wonderful playlet?
The First Criticism
We took it down one day TO a man
who sometimes produces such things.
Just to see what criticism he vvo,lo
pass upon IT After he had read it
or scanned the pages. rather-he said:
Il never saw sketch just like this
before. Il have TO give it a closer
reading. Leave it here and come down
IN q day or So"
So we left it. When we went back
he said he thought it immensely clever.
quite original. in fact. but it appeared
to be written all around one particular
person-and that was our Intended
vaudeville star
obody but herself could act that
part" he said, ''but believe with her
IN the role It'll go ali right"
We were properly pleased, but not
unduly so, because hadn't we known
all along that we had written mas
terpiece?
The next thing was to get an actor
for the male role He must be an
awfully swell fellow. we made up our
minds, one who would look as if he
dined IN evening clothes every night.
and in French restaurants frequently.
Then we must have a waiter, one who
would ct into the role in every detail
An actor was found who seemed to
have been made for the part of the
Girls companion. He was delighted
with his lines and the playlet, and
said IL would be as easy as rolling of
q log 70 get on the circuit. However.
he had an engagement offered him to
support a big star at a hundred per.
and regretfully gave up ths idea Of