The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-08-20

with lew exceptions all the important Amerl-
can dramatlsts have taken up their abode on
this inspiring strip of land. And if anybody
magIncs that saunt-cycd and supken-cheeked Penury
has these paysmiths In her grasp et him Jhe
notion at 1t is fuacy that calls for immediate
correction for very many of the palatla country
estates along the north shore of Long Island Sound
arc the homes of makers of plays.
In this pIaymaking belt extending practically from
Pelham Manor to Rowayton a distance of about
twenty-five miles. viii be found the homes of twenty
live dramatists. averaging TO n mile. There Is
not town of any considerable size along the north
shore of the Sound between these two cities that
does not boast the possession more dramatic
authors
While the array of talent the native puts it, is
being constantly added TO by the arrival of
genius the Belt has had one important desertion
Eugene Walter. feeling the need of north shore In
spiration ozone located couple OF years ago Nor
walk, and stralghtway constructed one of the most
important successes of modern time. THE Easiest
Way" But he has left the Belt. and along with
Charming Pollock has set UP rival camp at Shore
ham, l. l. nearly opposite the hub matte cult
urc. Stamford.
1t will, however, be observed that the deserters
have stuck to Long Island Sound and on clear DAYS
with pair OF opera glasses they from the porch
of the Parsonage observe the of the vile
opposition" the opposite shore
raised their heads and signallcd attention This
forgetting for the the Edgar Smith lbreto
factory at Elmhurst, might be called the Potomac
River Colony of Playsmitbs Paul Armstrong has
vast estate at Annapolis. and Paul Wstach and Paul
Kester are located in fine old Colonial hall on the
river at Gunson, Va 1t is only fair also disclose
the fact that at Merriewold Park Sullivan county
~ Y, thero is another aspiring camp of paysmiths,
Charles Klein. of the stars Of the Great
rirxht
anchorage OF genius The curious will find there
siding Martha Morton William G. De Mile and Harry
Mawson. After Mr.. Klein's removal to Connecticut
Mt. De Mile purchased the Klein home But these
Oval dramatic blvouacs, compared TO the Great
American Playwright Belt located the north shore
bf Long Island Sound, are lean, hungry and anaemc
sIvals.
1t the late Clyde Fitch who gave the first
powerful impetus to the dramatic colonization of
Connecticut He built for himself at Greenwich a
lovely Italian villa, filed 1t with works of art
from all quarters of the globe and named It Quiet
Corner. 1t was at this charming home that Mr.. Fitch
wrote of his most popular plays. There. high
above Greenwich. he drank "the pale drug of silence
and evolved things" Connecticut was Nj. Fitchs
native State. He loved its rolling country It's old
stone walls Its lovely trees and general air of peace
This part of Connecticut Is much like the loveeSt of
English country, well known to and loved by the
dramatst. From his garden he looked wide
expaDse of green fields and abundant woodland
Here 1t was that the muse with discord loving
clowns about, was given janglisb strain.
Through the Belt.
An automobile ride through the Great American
Playwright Belt discoscs fact to ent sat
sfacton-'the play is the thing that provides the
country estate. Journeying from New York the first
dramatic celebritys home that meet with Is
George V. Hobnrts Ruraldene. at Pelham Manor.
Of Rroa dNnV 10
sally in Our Alley" THE Ham Tree" Coming
Through the Rye" "Wlld6re" THE Boys and Betty"
"rhc Candy Shop" and The Yankee Girl" the lord
of an expansive and ttracuvc estate. The -oyalties
from plays and the authors books such as John
Henry Down the Line" Back the Woods
You Can Search Me" and Jim Hickey" must have
u en- ample and continuous. for Ruraldene comprising
four Of ground, is charming place, beautifully
kept The house Is large one, the lower half being
of bowlders and the upper of shingles A garage
and stable has been built to match the home.
The dramatlsts workshop Is located on the second
floor, The walls packed with choice volumes. and
there is work table which Is quite a wonderful
Affair." resembling the oval copy desk that only
In metropolitan newspaper Offices In fact is three
big fat topped desks oinel into Then there are
cabinet files and pgeonholes and all the other para
phcrnalia that only In the workshop of an
active literary Mr.. Hobart is busy Just now
with next years output He has "Grlies" running ut
the New Amsterdam Theatre; Maclyn ArbuckIe
viii appear in Welcome TO Our City," he has about
completed the adaptation of ALMA. Wo Wohnst DuI'
In which Joseph Weber will star Kitty Gordon next
season. hnd Is giving all his spare time to Sweet
Sixteen" which he is wr.tng for Low Fields and for
which Victor Herbert Is composing the music
One of the most popular diversions Of Ruraldene is
tennis. and here Is of the best equipped courts to
be found along the Sound, But when 1t rains billiards
Is inc game Alr Hobart is of the active of
Lambs, and the week always finds several Of them at
huraidene The guest rooms abundnntIy supplied
with various sizes linen trousers and tonns shoes
no that there may be for not playing The
autnors fayorlte game The Hobarts have two chill
hrel Georgia lcaled Peaches" by her fatber) girl
pt eleven and Bayne a lively boy of SIX
Within short distance OF Ruraldene WAS tle homo