The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-04
Gives Impression of Production
Of His Play.
He Tells of Experiences While
Waiting fer Event.
AT MANY BANQUETS,
Complains That the Speeches
Are Too Long.
Pleased at Manner in Which the
Audience Received Comedy.

re- w Howe in the Atchison Globe.l
went TO Topeka last Monday morn
ing and the Santa Fe conductor sald
10 Wen. We; this is the night. How do
You feeI?"
That night was to witness the first
oarformanca of my first play, and l
confessed to the conductor that was
nervous. + - the
Majestic theater. Gong lnslae, aIe
actors were rehearsing a new play;
they had apparently forgotten all ABOUT
me So / didn't disturb them, and
vent IN town. There I received an
invitation to attend a luncneon, At
noon to be given at the Capital build
inc nv Arthur Capper. in honor or
Norman j. Hapgood, a Big Newspaper
Man from New York. Arriving at the
Capital building, / found the guests
waiting in Mr.. Capper's private ONCE.
After lot of the Same otu lelA, W.
vent to the elevator and were carried
70 fba ton story of the building; 10 a
rooro where the employees of the pa
ner usually dine. We we're soon seat
ed at q, long table. There We're n1teen
guests, including Governor S.upos, anu
~ Toore notable members of the KAN
sas Editorial association, which was
neetinp in Topeka that day. The
luncheon was a very GOOD one, lIlcluo-
ing oyster cocktails. Topeka seems as
fond of oyster cocktails as OF Speeet 1gss
sat on Mr.. Capper's left: MI
Hanrood on, his right. Governor
Stubs at at the foot of the table L
don't remember who sat on his right
bUt remember that old Bill White was
on his left. The luncheon was IN
formal. and very enjoyable.
Some time during the afternoon, 1
found myself in the rooms of the Com
mercial club, where the Kansas Ed
toriaI association was holding its annual
meeting Il had followed FRANK Mac
Lehman there, not knowing where ne
was going.O I looked in at the door
of the assembly room; a lady was
reading a paper. The president OF the
association came out on tip toe, and
asked if I would make a few intormaI
remarks. About that time, the lady
completed her paper, and soon there-
after I found myself on my feet before
a large crowd, making few informal
remarks. AT half past 5 in the
afternoon. found myself in large
crowd, making my way slowly into the
banoueting hall of the Masonic tenn
pie. The Topeka Commercial club was
giving a banquet to the Kanass editors
and the members of the legislature
The arrangement was that after the
banquet, the guests We're to attend the
play. The afternoon paper announced
that the curtain would be held until
$50 to accommodate the guests at
the banquet. Therefore I was joyous
when Governor Stubs, one of the
speakers. said he would make one
minute speech. My joy soon changed
to gloom, however. for after the gov
ernor had made the banuueters good
natured by promising a one minute
speech, he proceeded to talk a long
time. The governor seems very popu-
lar in Topeka. Old Bill White, who
sat beside, said:
Charley Curtis might as well get a
government appointment, and retire
gracefully. They can't beat Stubbs.'
The other speakers talked too long
to suit the author of the play. CThe
speaking began after the guests had
devoted half an hour to the food, which,
of course, included oyster cocktails
The speaker of the house, and the pres
ident of the senate. and various officers
of the Kansas Editorial association,
made talks. And then the real
calamity happened: Norman J. Hap
good, a Big Newspaper Man from New
York, began. He was the last speaker,
and seemed wound UP for two or three
hours He had a Reform which he de-
sired to call the attention of the edi-
tors and legislators. l was so nervous
that 1 cannot now recall what his Re-
form was, although it may have been
to provide a Bible for every hotel room
in the world. But he talked too long
to suit the nervous author Of the play
so at 500 l made a Sneak-I was sc
anxious to be at the theater at $3.50
| and see the beginning of the play. A
good many of the other guests follow
ed me down stairs. walked with me tc
the theater, and went in with me. The
house was about half full at $50.
l had d good seat down in front, anc
spent a miserable half hour waiting foi
the play to start. I knew the actors
4 were furious, and I knew that the peo-
/ pie in the audience were mad because
/ of the delay. But people were coming
all the time, and at $50. there was 9
perfect mob croWding into the thea.
ter. At 9 o'clock. Governor Stubs ane
Mayor Billiard, and the officers of ths
legislature, and of the editorial asso
citation arrived. That seemed an indi
cation that Mr.. Hapgood had finally
| concluded. AS a matter of fact, Mr.
Hapgood himself finally arrived and a
sos, the lights in the auditorium wen
out, and the curtain went up, By THU
time, the theater was packed, and many
were standing up.
The play is opened by big Adam
This part is taken by Sport North
an excellent actor and it seemed t.
! me that the play was going well. Their