The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-03-03

{ tons UaQ DOT luFlIeu lid 10 LDelF sup
per party. and. strange as it doubtless
would have seemed 10 the many
friends in the theater who would have
liked TO have him for guest or host, be
wandered out through the stage door.
solitary. saddened and wondering
where the deuce be would go 10 get
the bite Of food and drink that be
needed and yet not run into some gath
ering connected with his own produc-
ton. He was bitterly commenting to
himself on how lonely a man Of pride
can be when he met two or three Of
the minor actors Of the company and
Joined their party gladly. and with
them he SAT- up until those fateful
early editions were spread before them
and he knew that his play was a dis
astrous failure.
He would have given a great deal
TO be able to talk to Dora that aft
ernoon. for the evening papers only
REINFORCED the judgment Of the morn
ing papers, and the sale" at the box
office indicated that the public had no
intention of quarreling with the critics.
He was in and around the theater
most Of the day. hoping that Dora
might come to the playhouse or that
she might at least telephone to him
and condole. there being absolutely no
reason for congratulations.
Night at last came. and be had an
excuse for seeing her. but she merely
6 nn6Had fo d i'm che 4 II
the wings. and he turned bitterly away
from the stage and went out to the
front of the house to watch his play
and see If he could see it as the critics
had. He was not entirely successful
in getting their point of view. He
saw many faults. but he still felt that
the play had merit and that II simply
had missed fire. but just where the
fault lay he was unable TO discover.
He was glad. however. that he had
the engagement with NJ. Vavin. for
the idle chatter of his associates meant
nothing to him. he reached the hotel
shortly after Vavin himself had ar
rived and found that the old gentle
men had already made preparations
for a supper for three
81 hope" said Yayin. that my re-
quest was not too much like a com
mand."
ANY request of yours, monsieur"
replied Holcomb. will have that
force" For the younger dramatist
not only knew how deeply he was
obligated to the Frenchman. but he
had a genuine reverence for his abil-
ity and affection for his kindly ironic
personality.
You are respondent" said the old
man. Let me offer you glass Of
wine" And under his kindly treat
ment Holcomb poured forth what be
called the wretched climax of a
wretched endeayor
You are wrong there" said Vavin
You have written a good play-not
remarkable play. but 1t is damnably
prepared. that play of yours. You and
will see that ii is still made a sue
cess"
"You and IT' repeated Holcomb.
"Yes. you and |. You have never
been in Paris? Then you do not know
why French plays succeed There
are many reasons. but those plays.
monsieur, are wonderfully well re-
hcarsed. Pardon me if for a moment
| change the subject You love Miss
Fullerton?"
II do"
You have told her?''
II have"
Tell her again and again. The spirit
is wounded You have been weak. my
boy. sensitive girl who has had
fighting conditions all her life cannot
be handled at first as the woman who
is grown up and who is strong. who
has had sympathy and who has tasted
of success. Now. again. this profess
sion of yours. You are anxious to
write plays. Why-the money!"
Not entirely" replied Holcomb. II
have made a living ever since | was
ten years old. but | see things that
way. Some fellows see pictures-they
paint. Some see buildings-they plan.
see men and women. and my men
and women collide and persuade-and
fight"
You see them here" said Vavin. in
dicating his forehead You have
BEEN
Certainly" replied Holcomb.
But the public said Vavin-"what
of It? DO you think of the influence
that you have on the public? Are you
thinking of your public when you
writer"
Holcomb hesitated. He was not
quite sure that he had thought of his
public
ut occurs to me sometimes" he said.
ut must occur always" said Vavin
impressively. There is no suggestion
so subtle. so sure, so strong. as the sug-
gestion the playwright makes from
the stage to the people. | have white
hairs Yours is dark. Believe me, ]
would give the rest of my life to 90
back and take from my plays every
word that has made any man less
honest, less hopeful. less kind"
1T is my play that leads you to say
this TO me, MONSIEUR
"Oh. no; pardon me-" replied Vavin.
"it is you. | have been asking ques-
tons about you. and learned that