The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-21

sation, and SO ina afew moments Mrs.
sation, and so in a few moments Mrs.
she) said something about the cure,
and so the ball was started a-rolling and
before 10 minutes had elapsed we had
exchanged, after the manner of women
for who will deny that women have the
genius of friendshipD the names of the
towns we lived in swapped corset cover
patterns talked about the latest style of
fixing the hair found mutual friends liv-
ing in Chicago, taught each other the
latest crochet stitch. told about friends
of ours where a little girl who had Just
had her adenoids taken out, and whether
either of us had ever been operated on
for appendicitis.
OF course, in the meantime Mrs. Hop
wood had told me about her clever son,
and so here at last was my chance!
She mentioned something about how
busy he was finishing the third act'
of his new play, which Mr.. William A.
Brady has announced for one of his
Broadway attractions this season, and of
how temperamental .genfuses" are, and
all that, but in the long run she prom
ised she'd arrange an audience for me,
and SO 1 felt that the matter was safe
In her hands
later had the pleasure OF being intro
duced TO one of Americas foremost play
wrights and 1 was dee-lighted!
Later, when made my real wants
known to Mr.. Hopwood he very kindly
consented to be 'Interyiewed"- about any
thing and every thing but-himself-for
he's very "un-get-at-a-ble" on that sub
ject. as I've remarked before!
1t was like rowing up stream against
the current to get him to talk about his
successes his talents and his ambi-
tions.
Gracious enough he was about every
thing else, from his fayorite authors
Henry James, Oscar Wilde-a discus
sion Of
"A little book I've just finished, The
Powder Puff Ever read it? transla-
tion from the German of Franz Blei? And
I've recently read La Bas of Huysman's 8
and enjoyed it so much"
Even unto the 81 varieties of the Tango
and the Turkey Trot, he'd talk unceas-
ingly-or of Browns" where you lose
your money on the ''Ponies'' or the "Rou-
lette Wheel" but of himself-nevaire!
In order to draw him out you'd have
to take the advice Of the Kentucky Colo
mel. who said you'd have to do 1t with
a corkscrew.'
But then Mr.. Hopwood isn't from Ken
lucky, although he's a next door neigh
bor-from Cleveland-just across the line
up in Ohio!
But you must tell me something of
yourself l heard my excited voice beg
ging, as it played arpeggios all over Mr..
Hopwood's sonorous baritone About
playwrights and all that!'
"Oh, playwrights?' Mr.. Hopwood re-
peated quizIcally. 1T seems as If I never
could have been anything else, somehow.
I wanted to be an actor-that was my
first ambition-but as things shaped
themselves I-well, l wasn't, and so I
decided to do the next best thing-write
plays That's as near the stage as
could manage to arrive. OF course, it
was out of the question to do both-act
and write"
After the manner of Mr.. Barries char
acter in "A Window in Thrums. who
declared he couldn't tell joke and laugh
at it too?' ! remarked.
Few have been able to become sue
cessful actors and playwrights too," Mr..
Hopwood added. 'Modernity suggests Mr..
William Gillette as shining example
that it can be accomplished. but he is an
exception. If we are to believe tradi-
tion (there was merry twinkle in his
eye as he said this) Mr.. Shakespeare ef-
fected the combination rather successful
ly. although I believe he is more widely
known as a playwright than an actor"
ing, I centured ito become a play
take notice and write a play?"
.'Of course the technique of the drama
is first to be considered. . said Mr. Hop
wood. In fact, there is a lot to be
learned and then--well--then you must
forget it, Do You understand? An au-
thor may write book introducing -