New-York tribune., 1912-01-28
Broadway Has Been Invaded by Its First Really Auc Press Agent
The "Kindling Association 7"
Presents an Episode
Unique in the History
of the Stage.

were the authors. Both cherished amoi'
tions then to be playwrights' braoiey 10
now n lawyer in Oklahoma and ErD MN
ing man in Nevada and Caifornla' "niio
the unconsidered leading man hVeo "
write "Kindling" proves tha' q"
the twig ix bent the tree is disinciiheo.
KENYON, however, cherished the saho
ambition, but I'm secret lie went on ,"e
stage after he left college with the ih-
tention of learning enough technique 10 %
a playwright. Then tuberculosis so'
him" He spent several years riding 'ne
range in Nevada before he conquered IT.
To digress-herein again comes the IRONY
Of fate. One OF the brilliant students III
Kenyon's class, a man for whom every
one nrophesied great literary success, was
larry MacFadden Bowman. lie, 100
caught tuberculosis a little after ne tooh
avav his diploma, and he, too, went ou.
an the desert ranges TO night It. But
got the better of Bowman. lie ala htue
brilliant work for the magazines ana dieo
At about the time when Kenyon returheo
10 the stage sound Of lung
Kenyon scratched off his first produce
able" play in the Lambs, New YORK
a one act vaudeville piece called ne
Onerator." This had an intermittent sue
cess. During that visit he saw In news
r.nar a news story, written. as the public
has since learned. by Acton Davies ABOUT
a uonan who was arraigned for theft ana
n,hoss husband volunteered to serve her
,,r,. He cut Il out and slipped IL be-
tween the covers of magazine Wheh
later he opened the magazine to nna tha
Ginning his eye fell upon an article ABOUT
the Trinity tenements. The two facts
,uuned together in his mind. and hln-
aine" took shape He wrote the play DUR
ING an actors enforced idleness, ana no
visited New York to peddle It.
Mrs FIske was almost persuaded out
she decided against Il In the end-pernaps
because the atmosphere was too IKE that
of salvation Nell" and she preferred 70
vary her work The New Theatre also'
tottered for time on the edge OF decision
with the same result. Kenyon went oaoK
10 California, where he did newspaper
work for a time. Just then Marsdro'
Ellington, about TO return TO the stage
heard of this play. Bowes received H.
dog cared old manuscript, just as ne was
leaving for Portland. lie read II on tho
train. At Portland he telegraphed an ac-
ceptance and an offer for an option on
xenyon's future work Miss Ellington tried
II first in stock at Los Angeles. henry
| Miller came to zee the performance he
was tremendously interested, but ne haa
his criticisms. There should be three acts
instead Of four" he said. Your second
act can be told in dialogue during the
| third And 1t is too narrowing now. You
can suggest some things that you're tell
! ing out In meeting. Send your playwrighu
| Nnr NrzyAU
Kenyon travelled the one-night STANDS OF
! California with Miller while he revised
"Kindling" Finally Miller said, You
have IL right now, except for the plans
clothes man. You've great chance there
II YOU expand the character" Bowes. 10
hsppened, knew intimately w. J. Burns;
he needs no introduction. Burns was the
detective who worked up the evidences
against Schmitz and Ruef in California,
and Bowes the foreman Of the grand jury
| which indicted them. Kenyon interviewed
Burns, who filled him with information on
the ways of real detectives.
And so. finally, "Kindling" assumed its
present form. II its authorship seems a
little composite. that is only because this
story is a frank presentation Of the his
tory Of a play. plays are not written;
they are rewritten" and most dramatic
works are not merely collaborations; they
are co-co-collaborations. A recent Broad
! way success had six authors-but that
would be telling. The real point is that
the credit for the play as IL stands belongs
! to Kenyon, plus a little expert advice, and
that in its present form 1t is written, as a
playwright in the "Kindling'' Association
puts IT.. like the work of a man who has
been building plays for twenty years. II.
with this volunteer assistance from the
| craft it finally fails with the public. the
failure will definitely prove the wide diff
ference between expert opinion and public
! opinion.
Hotel clerk (blandly)-Oh, yes; we hava
dollar-ffty rooms, but they're all taken.