New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-14
~PauT Pry," by John
Poole. Would Be Called
a Farce To-day.
xCopyright, 1910 by Howard Herrick and
Henry NcMahon-l
NO. i.

paul Pry'' would be called a farce to-
day. though it was styled a comedy on its
original production at the Haymarket
London in 1925. At the first reading the
actor f'arren refused to play Colonel Hardy,
deeming that a minor part, while the actor
Iiston objected TO the name character on
the ground that Paul Pry, purely comic
figure wasn't essential TO the development
of the plot The event proved they both
Judged ILL., Hardy has been the means OF
making many a reputation, including that
of Henry Placide, the foremost American
comedian of his day. The impersonation OF
Paul Pry not only won LiStOn a fortune,
but subsequently displayed at their best
the laugfmaking talents Of w Z. Burton,
James X. Hackett and John Sleeper
Clarke 1t is related that the elder Hackett
enacted Pry with a Yankee dialect. and J.
6 Clarke in 1862 further Iaturalized the
English busybody IN an adapted pleasantly
entitled Paul PTy in New York
The original play was written by John
Poole. an Intimate of Charles Dickens.
Douglas JerroId. George Cruikshank and
other English humorists- He was born IN
17s5 and died in 1872, his old age having
been rendered comfortable by a civil list
pension of a hundred pounds year. which
rhe friendship Of Dickens procured. Poole
got his idea for the character of Paul Pry
from the story of an old lady who lived
in ? narrow street and spent so much time
in watching the affairs Of her neighbors
that she had acquired the power of Tecog-
nizing the sound Of every khocker in the
neighborhOod.
One day she was confined TO her bed
with Illness Her curiosity was as alert as
ever. however. and so she stationed her
maid at the window.
Betty. don't you hear the double knock
81 No -" she querulously said. who
is it?'
The frs, foor iodger. maam." replied
the maid.
BETTY. Betty. I declare must give you
warning. why don't you tell me what the
knock IS az No. 54?''
why, Lord. na'am, it's nobody but the
baker with pies
pies, Betty. Why. what can they want
with pies al "a? They had pies yesterday.
The story Of the play is as follows:
Colonel Hardy was a clustering, old
school father. who believed in debating
whom his daughter should marry. The
family lived in a sleepy little village. nifty
miles from London, and included the colo
rel pretty Eliza and Ph1be, her maid ser
yanr-
THE country may be very pleasant TO a
romantic young LADY like you, miss re
marked city bred Phoebe one day. but for
NY part should like TO see a little agree
able society here"
Well prettled Eliza, there's my pa,
and there's Mr.. Paul Pry, who drops In
sometimes 49,
Mr. Paul Ply" shifted the maid.
charming company. indeed With his Il
hope 1 cont intrude' end his prying ques
tons
But -.1y cousin Frank" continued Eliza,
WHOM we haven't seen since he was quite
a boy, viii De home from sea in about a
week and he'll be good company"
And meantime who'll amuse us?" in
sisted ph1eDe. MISE the country's no life
for single woman. and, my old mis-
.ress used to say, only three circumstances
mako IL tolerable TO q married one"