The daily Alaskan., 1912-11-25
THE BUREAU OF PLAYS It Brought Out Some
 Curious Facts
By EDWIN 3. HENRY

I started my career as theatrical manager. had no trouble in getting actors-indeed, it was an I could do to get rid of those 1 didn't need. They would beg for a trial sometimes with tears in their eyes, and since | am of a 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, I found lt a much easier matter Most plays I received were sent by mall or express, and when found unavailable all I 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 hls happy hits, and after occupying three-quarters or an hour of my time he would go away satisfied he had made an impression that would insure his work special at- tention. had a reader whom kept all day boring over these manuscripts, and after the authors departure l would toss his production on the read CTS desk without a word. He knew that he was to look Into 1t and make a report upon it.
 After paying my reader his salary for a year 1 became satisfied that it 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 discharged him. and after that I relied for plays upon such playwrights as had established regulations.
 Ii was about this time that I became inoculated matrimonially. The young lady upon whom I placed my atec- tons was Miss Jenetts Starkweather and we'll worthy the love of any man. Unfortunately she had father who was a very dlfncult person to handle, In early life he had tried his hand at acting and playwrighting. After a brief time at each he had failed ss EignaIly at one as at the other.
 It is needless to say that when l was introduced to him as a suitor for his daughters hand my calling was great ly against me. Few persons have fall cd fin 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 a part in which he can show his powers. Play wriChts blame the manager because he win not produce their plays.
 old Starkweather, who, having fall ed hlstrionically, turned his attention Go the leather business and made a for tune at It. had passed the principal part of his life grumbling at theatrical man agers, whom he accused of being the cause of turning him from what he was fitted for to that which was com moupIsce and altogether uninteresung. Be this as 1t may, there was not bet ter buyer or a better seller In the leather district than old Starkweather.
 When applied for the hand of Jenet- ia the old man looked me over from head to foot, and I could see that some thing was moving him against me. He spent a long while talking to me about my affairs, then, after a thoughuui pause, said:
 'NIy daughter seems to have set her heart on you; why I don't know. l never could find out why her mother set her heart on me-natural feminine cussedness. I suppose. But Jenetta seems to want you, and her marriage with you wIu give me an opportunity to go Into a line that I have always wished to enter. wish Co prove that the reason there are no good plays on the boards or very few of them Is that the plays sent in by playwHghts who have not achieved a reputation Is owing to the fact that the plays are not read. l am ready to put up the money to hire corps of readers to read carefully all plays that are sub mitted for examination and tO produce on the boards those that are found to be meritorious. wish to be a silent partner, having nothing to do with the management of the business. How would you like to be the active part nerT'
 It was plain that Jenetta might pass peaceably into my possession if | should consent to enter upon a scheme which would take up a great deal of my time to no purpose and would sink considerable money for my prospective father-in-law. I set him down for one of those persons who "know it all' and believed that any attempt to convince him of the futillg of his proposed en- terprise would be useless. By such at tempt would risk losing his daugh- ter: by consenting might possess Der at once I was anxious for an imme- diate marriage and chose the latter al- formative.
 "I would be very happy, Mir stark
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