The San Francisco call., 1910-09-04

dramatists have taken up their abode on
this inspiring strip OF land And if anybody
imagines thar gaunt eyed and sunken checked Penury
has these paysmiths her grasp let him the
notion once Ii a ailacy that calls for immediate
correction for very many OF the palatial country
estates along the north shore of Long Island sound
are the homes OF makers OF plays
In this play making belt extending practca. from
Pelham Manor 10 Rowayton. a distance OF about
25 miles will be found the homes of 25 dramatsts,
averaging one to a mile. There is of any
considerable size along the north shore OF the sound
between these two cities that does boast the
possession Of one or dramatic authors
While the 'array OF talent the native puts it. is
being constantly added TO by the arrival OF some new
genius. the belt has had important desertion.
Eugene Walter feeling the need of north shore in
spraton ozone located couple OF years ago at Nor
walk, and straigltway constructed one of the most
important successes OF modern time, The Easiest
Way" But he has left the belt, and along with
Claiming Pollock has up a rival camp at Shore
ham, J. J.. nearly opposite the hub of dramatic cul-
ture, Stamford.
It viii. however be observed that the desertcrs
have stuck to Long Island sound and clear days
with pair OF opera glasses they can from the porch
OF the parsonage observe the movements of the vile
oppo>iliou% the opposite shore.
Then there another collection OF competitors that
have raised their heads and sgnaed attention This
forgetting for the the Edgar Smith hbretto
factory al ElmnuTSt, might De called the HOtOhlaC
river colony of playsmiths. Paul Armstrong has
vast estate at Annapolis and Paul Wistach and Paul
hester are located III a ine old colonial hall the
river al Gunston, Va 1t is only fair also disclose
the fact that at Merriewold park, Sullivan county,
\. Y, there is another aspiring camp OF paysmths.
Charles Klein, of the stars of the great
American playwright belt, originated this haunt and
anchorage OF genius The curious will find there
siding Martha Morton, William c. de Mile and Harry
Mawson. After Mr. Kleins removal to Connecticut
De Mile purchased the Klein home. But these
rival dramatic bivouacs, compared to the great
American playwright belt located the north shore
Of Long Island sound, lean, hungry and anaemic
rivals
It was the late Clyde Fitch who gave the first
powerful impetus to the dramatic colonization of
Connecticut H built for himself at Greenwich
lovely Italian villa filled it with works OF art
from all quarters of the globe and named it Quiet
Corner It was this charming home that Mr.. Fitch
wrote some OF his most popular plays. There, high
above Greenwich he drank the pale drug of silence
and evolved things" Connecticut Mr.. Fitchs
native state He loved its rolling country, its old
stone walls its lovely trees and general air OF peace
This part OF Connecticut much like the loveest OF
English country, we'll known to and loved by the
dramatist. From his garden he looked over wide
expanse OF green fields and abundant woodland
liere it was that the muse, with discord loving
clowns about. was given no janghsh strain
THROUGH THE BELT
An automobile ride through the great American
playwright belt /dscloses one fact entire salts
faction--the play is the thing" that provides the
country estate. Journeying from New York the first
dramatic celebritys home that meet with is
George Y. Hobarts Ruraldene, at Pelham Manor.
Here we find the author of Broadway to Toxic, -
Sally in Our Alley" The Ham Tree" Coming
Through the Rye" "Wildire," The Boys and Betty
The Candy Shop" and The Yankee Girr the lord
OF an expansive and vast estate The royalties
from plays and the authors books such John
Henry" Down the Line" Back the Woods"
You Can Search Me" and Jim Hickey" must have
been ample and continuous for Ruraldene comprising
four acres of ground is charming place. beautifully
kept The house a large one, the lower half being
OF boulders and the upper Of shingles. garage
and stable has been built to match the home
The dfamatist's workshop is located on the second
(oor The walls are packed with choice Volumes and
there Is a work table which is quite wonderful
affair resembling The oval copy desk that only
in metropolitan newspaper Offices In fact it is three
big fiat topped desks joined into Then there
cabinet files and pigeon holes and all the other para
phernaia that one sees only in the workshop OF
active literary man. Mr. Hobart is busy just now
with next years output He has Girlies" running at
the New Amsterdam theater; Maclyn Arbuckle
viii appear in Welcome to Our City; he has about
completed the adaptation OF Alma, Wo Wohnst DUP"
in which Joseph Weber will Kitty Gordon next
season. and Is giving all his spare time TO Sweet
Sixteen" which he is writing for Lew Fields and
for which Victor Herbert is composing the music
One OF the rnoss popular diversions of Ruradene is
tennis and here of the best equipped courts
be found along the sound But when it rains billiards
IS the game Mr. Hobart is one OF the most active of
Lambs and the week always finds several of them at
Rlraldene The guest rooms abundantly supplied
with various sizes OF linen and tennis Shoes
50 tiat there may be excuse for not playing the
authors larorite game. The Hobarts have two chill
drcn Georgia, called Peaches" by her father, girl
Of Il. and Bayne lively boy of 6.
Within short distance OF Ruraldene the home
Of the much lamented dramatist Joseph Arthur, who