Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-18

az iOl II was AAA NtAAA w
to get nd OF those didn't need. They
would beg for a trial sometimes with
tears in their eyes, and since | am of
sympathetic disposition my feelings
were often racked almost beyond en-
durance. As for the women who were
trying to make a living on the stage
they nearly drove me distracted.
As for getting rid OF the playwrights.
found II a much easier matter Most
plays | received were sent by mail or
express, and when found unavailable
all had to do was to send them back
by the way they had come. True. now
and again an author would bring his
| play to my Office and tell me all about
how he got on TO the theme and the
suggestions that led to his happy hits,
and after occupying three-quarters OF
an hour of my time he would go away
satisfied he had made an impression
/ that would insure his work special at
/ tention. l had a reader whom / kept
all day porting over these manuscripts,
and after the authors departure L
would toss his production on the read
er's desk without word. he knew
that he was TO look into it and make
report upon it
! After paying my reader his salary
for a year l became satisfied that 1t
didn't pay me to keep him. Not that
he was incapable of doing the work
assigned him, but little or nothing
came IN that it seemed TO me was
worth producing. So l discharged him,
and after that l relied for plays upon
such playwrights as had established
regulations.
1t was about this time that 1 became
inoculated matrimonially. The young
lady upon whom I placed my affec-
tons was Miss Jenetta Starkweather
and we'll worthy the love of any man.
Unfortunately she had a father who
was a very difficult person TO handle.
In early life he had tried his hand at
acting and playwrightIng. After e
brief time at each he had failed as
signaIly at one as at the other.
1t is needless to say that when I was
daughters hand my calling was great.
ly against me. Few persons have fail
ed in any artistic line who have not
blamed almost any one except them
selves for their failure. Among actors
the person blamed is the manager, who
will never assign an aspirant part
in which he can show his powers. Play
wrights blame the manager because he
will not produce their plays.
Old Starkweather. who, having fall
ed histrionically, turned his attention
TO the leather business and made for
tune at it, had passed the principal par
of his life grumblinG ut theatrical man
ayers, whom he accused of being thf
cause of turning him from what he
was fitted for to that which was com
monplace and altogether embarrassing
Be this as it may, there was not bet
ter buyer or a better seller in the
leather district than old Starkweatber
When | applied for the hand of Jenet
Ia the Old man looked me over from
head TO foot, and could see that some
thing was moving him against me. IL
spent a long while talking to me about
my affairs. then, after u thoughtful
pause. said:
MY daughter seems TO have set hel
heart on you; why | don't know.
never could find out why her mother
set her heart on me-natural feminine
cussedness, l suppose. But Jenett;
seems to want you, and her marriage
with you will give me an opportunity
to go into a line that l have always
wished TO enter. | wish to prove tina
the reason there are no good plays OF
the boards or very few of them +
that the pays sent in by playwright!
who have rot achieved a reputation Il
owing to the fact that the plays are
not read / am ready to put up the
money TO hire a corps OF readers L
read carefully all plays that are sub
mitted for examination and to produce
on the boards those that are found Il
be meritOrious. I wish TO be siien
partner. having nothing TO do with IN
management of the business. How
would you like to be the active part
ner?"
1t was plain that Jenetta might pas
peaceably into my possession if
should consent TO enter upon schcm
which would t-Ee up n great deal o
my time TO no purpose and would sinl
considerable money for my prospective
father-in-law. | set him down for on,
of those persons who know IL all' ant
believed that any attempt to cOnviuc
him of the futility of his proposed en-
terprise would be useless. By such al
tempt I would risk losing his daugh
ter; by consenting ! might possess he
at once I was anxious for an imme
date marriage and chose the latter al
. tentative.
Il would be very happy. Mr.. Stark
| weather" said. Ito manage you
scheme for you. Indeed. 1t will onl
, be an addition 10 what am now Dc
, ing We shall at least prove whrthe
good plays are being wasted or whcth
er authors having strong dramatic in
. stinct are being lost to the world o
playwrights through lack OF encourage
mcnt-
J VERY well. sir" he replied II wi
, place $4,000 to your credit al the tt
No Mt fnp al "A,