The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-31
|REBECCA AND MRS. WIGGlN BRING TEARS
AND REAL JOY ON FIRST NIGHT HERE
Mrs. Wiggin Literally Forced
to Stand Up and Speak
After Third Act.

After the third act at the Academy
of Music last night Mrs. George Riggs
(katc Douglas Wiggin). who wrote
"Rcbecca of Sunnybrook Farm" was
literally forced to say something to
those who had vociferously applauded
her most delightful play. In twos and
threes, then one by one the players
were brought out upon the stage to
bow and smile. and Miss Ursula St
George (Rcbecca) was given a demon
stration which must have made her
heart beat faster with real gladness
When she disappeared Mrs Wiggin
and bowed her thanks
But that would not DO. The applause
came again, and then Mrs Wtggin.
touched by the tribute to play and
players. said something which was
just as bright and graceful and
made her book.
AN authors best spaech should he
his play she said. Perhaps it is safer
that 1t should be his only one. and If
| add word it Is only because meet
ing Southern audience for the first
time In my life makes this evening q
memorable one to me.
1T is wonderful to feel at the end
of three short days that instead of
being 81 New England-bor stranger
in strange land one has somehow
become u part of Richmond's daily life
wonderful to realize at this moment
that | am perhaps looking into the
faces OF two or three hundred new
friends. That of course. Is an old
tale to YOU You have been drawing
in strangers and sending them out
lovers for many long year down
South. L came because i had q great
desire to see If you, with your mag
nolias. your pomegranete blossoms and
your scented jasmine flowers. could
make room for State O. Maine clover
blossom in the guise of Rebecca.
You have answered the question
more eloauently and happily than IL
ever dared hope. by your presence, by
your applause and by your sympa-
thetic silences. II you have found a
little beauty and fragrance in this un-
pretentious play 1t is because of the
childlike spirit we hope we have pre-
served in 1t.
"'Alrs from the Eden of youth
Awake and stir In the SOUL
when we look backward to somo
half-forgotten scene in an old barn or
in some country village by river side.
What YOU have been seeing has
been gildod by something other than
the art of the electrician. You have
left your critical spectacles at home,
and the glare of the footlights seems
meloWer ana softer. When we enter
the shining world of a childs mind
we drop all the differences that sepa-
rate us at other times. There is Meth
or North nor South, nor white nor
black in that world. The child Is
the eternal solvent of human problems,
the eternal healer of human preju-
dices.
ITO try to communicate to those who
are no longer young. some intimate
and vivid sense of the dreams and
imaglnings OF childhood and girlhood,
that is my unspoken hope in book or
play. Whenever I achieve 1t in part
have done by little best.
"Thank YOU for liking the play;
thank you for liking the work OF the
players and all the helpers behind the
footlights. Rebecca would never have
been there but for tho faith of a
warm hearted manager who has watch
ed over her fortunes as II she were
the child of his own body. Thank you
then for everybody concerned, and II
little OF your pleasure has come from
! the author. as I hope. thank you for
myself. humbly, proudly. gratefully
with all my heart"
Really. the greatest demonstration
came when Mrs, Wiggln sat down, and
brushed away the tears.