davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1910-08-21
Drama Different from Stories

TOO much attention cannot be given to this matter
of strained or stilted dialogue which find to be
another great stumbling block of the young playwright
evidenced in the plays sent to read. The prn-
clpe underlying 1t basic 1t the
mind of who is writing play for the first time
that there this difference between dramatic and
be spoken aloud, while those of other writings be
read to oneself The first reaches the brain through the
ear; the second, through the eye.
In novel 1t permissible for the hero to throw HIM
self a grassy bank and unburden his soul of some
thousand words in praise of the beauties of the after
noon sky. In the drama it While the actor is
doing this the people in the audience would be twisting
IN Their seats, whispering to another gazing about
the auditorium, and otherwise losing interest in the
play itself The actor might express the admirl-
ton for the landscape by few seconds of silent CON
temptation and succeeding brief remark of perhaps
dozen words the first character who comes upon the
stage
Thus the point is made without the action of the
play haltlng for a long speech which would be
made real life And tins in accordance with that
tenet of the drama which enions continuous movement
For it must be remembered that the paypoer listens
with his eye than with his ear.
Carrying the process of elimination further the author
should apply entire scenes, and should discriminate
between such incidental scenes forward the move
ment of the drama and such rctard it, The former
be made very necessary to the creation of atmos
phere the proper exposition of situation, and in
this way become integral part of the drama to be
retained As such; the latter are to be avoided.
New-York tribune., 1910-08-21

recently read an account
by Frederic Thompson of
an apt illustration. In his
polly of the Circus" one
scene is laid in the garden of
a village parsonage. and the
action takes place on a lawn
under an oak, on a summers
day. Mr.. Thompson had ar
ranged, with great ingenuity,
a touch of realism in causing
the shadows of the oaks
branches TO creep over the
lawn, as they would do in
real life. He thought his
plan was a huge success, un-
til one night when he was
sitting in the audience watch
ing his play. When this scene
came on, all around him he
heard people whispering to
lilelT ilelSilDOrS:
See the shadows on the
grass - they are movingi
Isn't that clever?"
The wonderful piece of
stage mechanism was prov
ing diverting. The audience
was giving its attention to
1t and missing some of the
finest lines of the play. The
next day Mr.. Thompson had
the apparatus removed. At
ter that the shadows were
stationary. and the audience
listened closely to what
little Polly had to say to
the pastor.
New-York tribune., 1910-08-21

where vor dramatic surprise parties he IN watt alc
Wavlav the interest as it comes along The very nature
of the drama requires this construction and the Young
author will do well if he will experiment with TINS OLE
element OF dramatic suspense until he mas learned IS
ya11e and mastered the details OF its ter1nlc Let hin
take some play he has written and eliminate from ta
early scenes some explanatory passage mat pernas
he has considered very important Let him leave IT.
made the explanation this passage gave until a1c
act at the most favorable moment he can md W1e-
let him introduce the explanation and note whether
has not gained strength and suspense, heightened II
terest and quickened action by the delay few con-
parsons of this nature Will prove OF value as ooeI
lessons in construction
When. in the second act of The Easest Way.
Laura MurdOCb gives up the fight for ncepenence an
straight living and returns 10 be the mistress OF BLOCK
ton She is forced by him to write letter TO her sweet
heart John Madison, telling him what she had done
this being in accordance with promise made Dy brot
ton to Madison We are led all through the teat-1
scene in which Laura, too crushed by the 1verwhe1S
defeat of her desires to do her thinking. writes At
BrOcktOns diCtatOn. this TnIssIve, every word OF Wn
is stab in her heart Our own hearts are touched anu
our throats grow lurnpy with sympathy IN The gr SUI
fering When after few minutes the --e- IS hns,e1
signed, and sealed feel that poor lizzie Laura s
is sealed up inside it, and 1t IS doubtful whether l'
actress or the audience IS the most r--u0us con
ton. Then the surprise, hint OF U---1 mas co1'
before. Brockton returns to his waI-r-s motor ca
There is a moment of SObbing heSrarlc1. and tnen
there is the squirt OF match, and Lal1 tlrSls .lS
letter into the flame. The climax comes Ike trunct-
cap 10 4 NOuSGIUl OF people ttltstt4E ~---~-
strain of suspense, and 1t leaves them ING.
1t is to be noted that. while the aude-, knows Is-
the letter has been destroyed BrOckron does not IlS
illustrates another principle: that while The actors I
the drama may be kept IN ignorance OF e rainSprn5
of its movements the auditor may no on NUS
take your audience into Your cOnhderce- II require
nice Judgment decide Just how far 70 -gy thlS pm
Ciple and where 10 stop, what to Sho" md Wn2l :
omit. Brocktons ignorance OF his NV. not havns
been notified creates another suspense the audens
is aware of it and is the alert know What ne WI
do when he finds out. But here the aur pohc! =
confidence stops. He no longer shows his cards IL
masks his purposes and Cunningly couce-- LII rnor1--
ton concerning Madison from both the -tlence o.
the one hand and BrOCktOn and Laura en- tAe OI-e-
BY doing this he paveS the way for an. ar surprSS
and another climax, both OF which would inlpoS&1.
had the auditor been taken into the scct-- For
not until later that it becomes know hat NlA
son has made his pile. and that he Is III POSITION
make Laura his wife and give her the ve. uxunes u
the want of which she has Capitulacet g.. BrocAI9-
Now the pa-r-s OF *.
New-York tribune., 1910-08-21

rather than sustained it Finally he the SEN
sibe conclusion that he would rather lose the fine SEN
tences than retard the movement of the piece. 1t
a sacrifice to concentration.
The dramast should be on the lookout for such pas
sages on every page of his manuscript and should steel
himself to eXpunge them. Some has said that he
who blue pencil the cherished conages of his brain
has courage greater than that which stands before
non. And | think this is true. The author loves the
finely turned phrases the expert word pictures, the
rounded periods, he the mouths of his CharaC
ters and it him real pangs to let them 60 But
if he has the right stuff in him he comes to realize
sooner later that such passages have place in his
play. They hamper his characters and produce an
artificial effect. He rejects them. and replaces them
with the crisp natural utterances that the people por
trayed would use in real life.
New-York tribune., 1910-08-21

principals. Ihey may explain
to the audience how later in
the play it is possible for these
characters to drift into mis-
understanding, intolerance,
and mutual distrust. But the
same scenes might be entirely
out of place if they fell later
in the piece, and might call
for blue penciling. For now,
instead of proving both anus
ing and helpful in the develop
ment of plot, they become
harmful, introducing a false
note into an exposition OF
strong emotion and retarding
the movement when the cry
is for swift action.
New-York tribune., 1910-08-21
Don't Spoil the Plot

/ NIINIIN Nm tlutSIlO!S
= which the dramatist must decide right are how
much of his plot to TELL how much to leave to the
imagination of his audience. and how much deliber-
atcly to conceal. Plays made marred bv the
ability to decide these questions the lack of such
ability.
The playwright, unlike the novelist, may not Law all
his cards the table face up Dramatic construction
calls Tor sustained interest accompanied by suspense
Surprise be woven into the texture every cnax
You may not travel perfectly straight road in narrat-
ing your There must be dcours and ambus,adc
New-York tribune., 1910-08-21
Playing on the
Audience

1T is in this WAY that 'IS
L skilled draa~ciSt pay
upon the hearts Of his arci'
enceS. The ability 70 accom-.
plish these results CONC
only through study and P.-,, =
tice- Such things are no. :
be found in the hastily IO-
ceived and Supe-HclaIly Cv-
structed play. That IS q, ..
reason my advice 10 -
young playwrish- IS ai"A!aS =
Study. study, He cannot a'
too much. and N niaT-
nine cases ou, Of a hundfsC !.
he does far too little. x. x.
him regard his finished &,. p.1,
as merely a basis for tuf.-..-
work. Let him con it ove..
puzzle 1t out. pick out II
faults and weaknesses an
set himself 20 rghtlng ihs.-,
even if it means the eLlii',t.','t
t,on Of his most cherlsae9
scenes and the rendlns
the whole fabric from top
bottom. Cut It to nboel.s, =,
if necessary; but get -
proper elements OF SriSlT., !,
surprise. and climax in.G ,.ssg n
Else it Will fail utterly WIN
it is put upon the stagg' ,sa.
often it viii be found .,.. I,.r'
by transposIng = clause a,;rs n,;
a scene there. the ~ ~
New-York tribune., 1910-08-21
Distracting to the
Audience

THIS same point has to be
L watched by both author
and manager when the play
is being produced. Many a
piece of stage business has
had to be abandoned because,
instead of adding to the cumu-
lative effect, it merely at
tracted the attention of the
audience to itself, and thus
proved a diverting influence.
| remember that when | was
staging The Heart of Mary
land" had introduced at one
place a sort of cupid'S char
lot, in which the heroine was
drawn on the stage. 1t was
a lovely affair, all gold and
white, and had spent a great
deal of money and no little
time in bringing it to per-
fection. | was we'll pleased
with my own ClevernesS when
l finally had it ready, and
took no little JOY in seeing it
come upon the stage; but |
soon found that it wouldn't
New-York tribune., 1910-08-21

order of an act perhaps, the proper precedeilS + a
obtained. and dramatic interest built up Wheie c4s
been lacking / sometimes find that | have " s1r Il
what had intended rs the end OF an act SeLNG, - rba
beginning or for the beginning OF another ', fr
the matter | had intended To introduce INTO '-e -,
act more properly fits into the third and vice OK
1t is a good thing for every fellow 20 have SUI J,g
with whom he can talk his play over some de * o
whom he can 60 and state his troubles ana :: Tley
advice. Mind YOU, | do not mean that h' q"
New-York tribune., 1910-08-21

selves following the course of her affairs with an eager
ness that far interest in the tate OF her para
mOur, Dufrene. .
The young playwright may feel that this is an artl-
fetal gulaton which restricts and binds him. and may
resent it as suc but he should understand that there
< GOOD reason for it, The two hours time, the ap-
Drox1ate period covered by the actual action OF play
New-York tribune., 1910-08-21

Thus we shall say that in play dealing with the
marital storms of young couple 1t may be very well
in the earv acts to introduce such amusing scenes as
discussion over the arrangement of furniture in new
home the placing of picture or the ordering OF a
meal Light in nature and seemingly TRIVIAL IN pur-
nort these incidents nevertheless may be made waltz
able in showing the temper and characteristics OF the
New-York tribune., 1910-08-21

do The action of the play this point extremely
important and found that the spectators instead of
attending the lines of the play. busy admiring
my chariot. relegated the whole affair the store
house, and gave my heroine less diverting entrance
Every stage manager has had similar experiences |
New-York tribune., 1910-08-21

prOXlmate PERIOD covered by u
of ordinary length, is entirely
too short III which success
fully to interest the audience
in the life story of several
couples, or even of two. An
attempt to do 50 is invar1-
ably followed by WEAKNESS
and lack Of attention on the
part of the audience, which,
of course, is fatal. If the
dramatist can cOntrlve to
make his audience weep and
laugh over the sorrows and
joys of just one of his couples,
he has succeeded, and should
not look for more. To have
it said of a new play, as IS
commonly the case, that such
and such minor character
ran away with the piece,
is tantamOunt to a statement
that the playwright has failed
in his purpose.
Il have Just cut eight min
utes out of the dialogue
said the producer OF a recent
success to me on the morning
after the first production.
From whom did you take
it?' | inquired.
"Oh, from different minor
parts" he replied.
And is the result better?
Better? Why, it's fine!
That slowness at the end of
the second act is all gone, and
the curtain comes bang, with
a snap"
This same author told me
afterward that the speeches
he had cut included, to his
mind, some of the finest SEN
tences in the play. He had
worked hard over them, he
said, and had been loath to
part from them, although he
had realized before the curtain
had risen on the first per-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-08
BAL INORE VOTERS
CONE OUT SLOWLY
People Deciding Loan Dues
ton, as Well as Picking
Congressman.

BALTIMORE, Md, Nov. S.-Under a
clear sky and with generally ideal
weather the election Of Congressional
candidates is being conducted here to
day with little show Of enthusiasm, and
early In the day the vote was light
In addition to the voting for Con-
gressional candidates the people Of the
city are deciding four loans for city i'm
Drovements. Their passage means more
city docks, bigger school fund, a gen
eral city fund, and the covering Of
Jones Rails from one end of the city
to the other with a vice and handsome
boulevard
J. +. c. Talbot, It is expected, viii
go back TO Congress once more. He
had no rival in the Democratic pri-
maries and the hackers OF william D.
Baker. Republican, are not strong in
their claims.
The other Representatives from the
districts covering Baltimore city will be
new men, State Senator J. Charles Lin
thicUm. Democrat, and Addison +. Null
llkin, Republican, are battling to sue
coed Representative Gill In the Fourth
district.
The fight in the Third district between
George KONG, Democrat, and Charles
w. Main, Republican, is a picturesque
one, because Of the eccentricities Of
KONG, who has a big following Of lhe
poorer residents Of the section.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-08
IT'S A FIGHT TO A FINISH.
WIN OR LOSE; ROOSEVELT
Colonel and Kermit Drive Into Oyster Bay and Cast Bal
lots-RoOSevelt Jr, Asks Questions About Long
Strip Before Voting.

Kermit got 21S. The latter looked at it
Tor a couple Of minutes and then asked
one Of the inspectors Of election Just
how he should mark it. The inspectors
explained TO him that in order to vote
straight Republican ticket he should
put a cross under the eagle, the party
emblem
Shall l also put crosses alongside OF
the names Of the candidates." asked the
young man.
Not unless you want 20 split the bal
lot and cut some Of the candidates,
snapped in the colonel before the cleo
ton officials could reply, and there was
a general laugh.
than a minute to mark his ballot. and
after IL was cast he asked about
weather conditions throughout the
State. Wher told that il was raw and
cold and r'tn OF snow was falling in
many localities. he said
''Wen, by CeOrgei The weather seems
10 be a tTitle against US, doesn't it2 But
then there is one thing certain, the Re
publican parry viii keep up its fight for
the people no -1s. .er what the outcome
today When ! voted for the first time
lance, but I Didn't mind il, and / eX-
the rain today"
Asked what his plans were for this
afternoon and tonight. Roosevelt said:
y am going hack home to peace and
quiet, and / intend to stay there by my
self
He then entered his carriage and
drove off to Sycamore Hill.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-08
POLLS ARE GUARDED
BY WOMEN WATCHERS
Miss Maud Ingersoll One of
Fifty Chosen in New
York.

NEW YORK, Nov. s.-Miss Maud In
Rersou. daughter Of the late Col Robert
G. IngersOIl, was one Of fifty women
who today acted as nOn-partisan watch
ers at the voting places under the aus
pices OF the Equality League Of Self
Supporting Women
Although still suffering from an in
jury received in q recent fan from her
horse, Miss IngersOll insisted on taking
her place With the other watchers and
was assigned 10 the uClling place IN
the Twelfth assembly district, home Of
Charles r Murphy, the Iamuany
leader
Miss InEersou reported at SIS this
morning and announced her intention Of
staying till the Lass ballot is counted
Hundreds Of other women were out to-
day taking an active part On the cam
paign, among them Mrs o. H p. Bel
mont and Mrs. Clarence AIaCkay.
a number Of prominent society and
sufrage.te leaders donated automO btles,
in which lunches were carried 10 the
women watchers.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-08
HOME METHODS IN THE FACTORY

Every one knows what would happen
II a housewife put down her fruit and
Jellies by simply pouring them from the
kettle into the jars and allowing them
to stand with loose covers. Her fruit
would soon ferment and spoil. Cook
ing fats are just as liable TO spoil, yet
most manufacturers OF lard and other
cooking fats pack then products in
tubs or lOose-cOvered tins, exposed to
air. dust and Odors
Cottolene, however, IS packed in pals
OF special design, sealed absolutely air
tight, so that the makers guarantee
COttolene TO remain indefinitely as
sweet and as fresh as the day it was
made.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-08
BOTH SIDES CLAIM
VICTORY IN WEST

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. S.-Both
the Democrats and Republicans are
victory in today's election
Chairman De Witt, Of the Demo
cratic State central committee, at noon
today issued the following statement:
I am confident Theodore Bell viii be
elected governor by a plurality ranging
from I5,GOo 20 $500. At least four Demo-
cratic congressman will be elected"
Chairman L. Issner. Of the Republican
State central committee, claims that
Hiram Johnson will have a plurality OF
from 1000 10 60.0o0 and that the entire
Congressional ticket seems to be safe.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-08

good fortune with you you get here before Saturday of
this week. We can't advertise the name-the manufac
turer Won't let u.s.
You buy these shoes for $3.50 with the same satisac
ton guarantee though you paid the regular prices-
So and Sc instead of $65. Right now the line of sizes in
is big and the price sna-so YOU had better get in early
You will up to almost half the price on the best
So or Sc shoe you ever possessed.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-08

OYSTER BAL, n. Y, Nov. s. II
intend to proceed with the fight for
progressive principles, and to make
the Republican party In this State
the party Of Abraham Lincoln
whether we lose or win in todays cleo
ton" said Col. Theodore Roosevelt as
he cast his ballot at noon today.
The colonel, accompanied by his son
Kermit, who cast his first vote today;
Noah Semon, who has been superinten-
dent of Sycamore Hill for twenty-five
years; Bill Bailey and James Amos, en-
ployes Of the estate, drove over from
the Hill in a two-seated surrey. The
polling place in the village is in the hook
and ladder house and there was a fair
sized crowd waiting TO greet the former
President.
The colonel was handed ballot 217 and
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-08
HOME
SCENE OF BATTLE

HEMPSTEAD. n. Y, Nov. "a bat
tie royal between Democrats and Re
publicans TO capture Nassau, the home
county Of Theodore Roosevelt, is being
waged today. Automobiles were out by
the score carrying voters to the polls.
Colonel Roosevelt has supported Repre-
sentative W. W. Cocks in his campaign
for reelection. Martin W. Littleton,
candidate Of the Democrats and hide
pendent League, was believed today.
however, to have a good chance OF cleo
ton.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-08
TAYLOR
IN TENNESSEE

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Nov. s.-The
early voting today indicated that the
regular Democrats were sacrificing
United States Senator Robert TAYLOR.
the Democratic candidate for governor
to save the legislative ticket
As d result Republicans and fusionists
claimed the election Of Capt Ben w
Hooper by a plurality of from L, 600 to
10000.
The weather was cool and clear, and
favorable Tor big vote. The voting IN
east Tennessee was particularly heavy.
Western Tennessee, formerly strongly
Democratic, is holding its independent
lines strongly.
The betting today favored Captain
Hooper, the odds being 2 to ! in his
favor.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-08
Capital Citizens to Turn Out
En- MaSSe Before Bulle-
tins Tonight.
THE TIMES TO GIVE
SPECIAL SERVICE
~esultS to Be Spread Through City
by Extras, Telephone, and
Stereoptican Machine.

Interest in the elections in most Of
The States today is as intense in
Washington as in any city in the
country, despite the fact Washing
tontans are not electing anybody to
any office.
The streets downtown will be
crowded tonight. Thousands will
watch the bulletins National cleo
lions always excite the people of this
city, and just at this time. when it
appears that the Democratic party
VIII control the next House, and per-
maps develop p leader in one Of the
states of sufficient calfber to win the
Presidency two years hence, the in
terest il the results of today's voting
IS consuming.
From 5000 TO 10000 persons will
&atch the bulletin boards of The
w aShlngton Times. Six special teIe-
ETapn and telephone wires will de-
LlVer the results to The Times office
States.
Two huge canvas screens. erected
per RSeIore The Times office, viii reflect
the returns the instant they are fash
so 70 this city. Between election
pulleuns there viii be moving pic
lures. This Is for the people who are
ADle 70 come downtown.
Special Telephone Service.
Other arrangements are made for
those who stay at home A half score
OF special telephone wires and operators
will be at the service Of all who cau
upon The Times for election infornna-
ton Simply call Main $780, and asl,
for Information Bureau and the very
latest results will be cneerfuIy given.
This information will be supplement-
ed by Times extras. which will be is
sued as often as definite results are OBJ
tained from the States in whose elaC
tons there Is special interest. These
extras viii not only be distributed in
the downtown section, but they Will a.
rushed into the residential sections of
the city.
Practically all the theaters will an
nounce the returns between acts. and
patrons Of the National will be kent
IuLy informed as to the outcome in the
various States.
Clubs to Entertain.
Many Capital organizations, too, viii
entertain their members by giving them
the latest returns. The Chamber of
commerce will use one of The Times
leased wires and the results Of todav's
voting will be flashed to the assembly
room Of the Chamber as soon as re-
ceived in The Times office.
A number Of clubs, lodges, and other
ORGANIZATIONS will keep open house and
receive the returns. Among those whose
assembly rooms viii be open are the
Aasons, Eagles, Odd Fellows, Red Men
Woodmen, Moose, the University Club
me Metropolitan Club, and the National
Press Club
Fair weather Will prevail tonight. and
while II viii be cool II will not be un-
comfortable.
The police viii patrol the streets and
prevent any dIsorderIy or boisterous
conduct
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-08
day, Thursday and Friday of This Week Only

To be frank with you these shoes are not from our
regular stock We ourselves paid far than $3.50 per
pair for regular stock They represent this seasons
entire sample line of of the manufacturers whose shoes
carryexaet duplicates Of those shoes have been
advertising regularly and selling for ST. So and Sc Each
year some big dealer like BERBERICH gets these shoes
at less than manufacturing cost This fall BERBERICH
was the fortunate dealer-and going to share