The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-03
N:ZA

"A occupies a more enviable possi' 4 tion than Mrs. Flournoy Rivers.
 An accomplished musician, a fluent lin gust, a woman of remarkable charm and magnetism, whenever Mrs. Rivers ha: anything to say It may be depended upor to be interesting and during the past six months she has had such unusual ad vantages, studying the drama and music with New York's ablest artists and visit ing in the most exclusive homes in Lon don. her experiences read more like 2 fairy tale than the things we encounter in real life.
 Snatching few leisure moments from the busy life of this charming woman one afternoon during the past week, asked Mrs. Rivers to tell me something about her recent trip.
 Begin at the beginning and tell me everything Don't skip" I begged h
 Mrs. Rivers laughed merrily and took the cue.
 Once upon a time 0ast March) I left dear old Alabama and made my way to New York as fast as steam could carry me. meant to do just lots of things. and could hardly wait to journey to Broad way. Do you know, do you realize, that within 200 yards of Times Square there are 30 of New York's foremost play houses? Now then, I've let the cat out of the bag by beginning with playhouses, because I've shown you what I'm most interested in.'
 But you went to New York to study the drama I interrupted, "and can't l call you a playwright?''
 i. a. Not yet" she said modestly "only a Iwould-be.' Still I've sold one play and have another with my broker"
 That sounds Wall streetish," cried. Also Broadwayishl I meant play broker" said she
 How did you begin your work?'' I asked.
 'As a child I was passionately fond of playing paper dolls, and this seemed a sort of adult paper doll business Mrs. Rivers said. 'It is fascinating, and my vivid interest in life is a godsend. It is a play for self-entertainment that has tremendous financial prospects too, you know. I had tried my hand at it little before going to New York this time and had gotten sufficient ,encouragemen from Edwin Markham and Belasco to warrant serious effort. I believe I showed you letters from these two great folks last winter, did I not?'' Yes, I recall that Belasco said you had flaming dramatic imagination" I said
 "And no stagecraft" Mrs Rivers inter rupted. Just SO | had world or p1c- lures in my mind clamoring to be ex- pressed in word and action, but did not know the rules of the game l knew what appealed to me. of course, and I was fairly familiar with the modern stage and with the great classic dramas as lit- erature, but it was a new world to enter therefore delight. found there were two places where one might gain real help--Columbia University and Harvard. George Baker in the latter had collected about a dozen men of promise, known famiilarly as the Bakers dozen, and in- cluding Winthrop Ames and Percy Mackye, and taught them modern play making. And Columbia, had ,Brander Matthews and Charles Sears Baldwin at tempting to found a school of drama. meant to learn the scholastic and literary side of construction Therefore had need of special libraries and such), but meant also to see fl from the actors standpoint and the managers stagecraft. The very term was alluring and sophisticated''
 Mrs. Rivers smiled wisely. T agree with you in the main. but it was impressed on me very deeply that genius may fail, will fail. unless it understands conditions of supply and demand, and that medocri- fy that knows the market may achieve most excellent results. So you see it be-