The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-07
ArriUal of a
Neu Drqndtist
CONTINUED From Preceding Page.)

didn't look as n ne could do II. but in
few minutes he flopped the big fol-
low. md With a scientific half Nelson
pinned his shoulders down 10 where the
green grass grew all around. Somebody
slapped the newcomer on the back and
there was a new champion.
All these details lest you forget that
i'm other games besides wrestling II Is
often the man close 10 the ground who
gets the pat OF victory. Just such n
stocky winner came 20 New York last
week In Frederick Ballard. the author OF
"Believe Me. Xantippe." Certainly he was
play from becoming so popular that on
the second night you had 10 ask the
freman TO shove over so that you could
put your other foot down AS n matter
OF fact. the critical f1rst-nighters were
rather proud 10 have been there when
the young playwright was discovered,
this man who had come down from Har-
ward with a prize play.
But don't make the mistake OF think
ng that Ballard falls under any classi-
flcation OF Harvard men. (The MI
tiesD Although ne attended classes In
the university these last two years, he
spent his time. not IN tracing Nietszche' 4
Indebtedness 10 Schopenhauer, but In
writing plays For Ballard had already
received bachelor degree from the Uni
versitv of Nebraska. spent two years In
graduate study there. two years In actual
work as stage hand IN Chicago and
All had been merged into bis own i'm
press!ons OF plays. human nature. ranch
ing. and the general fitness OF things
when a man works hard Now he has
a Broadway hit" TO his credit. a play
10 bc produced In Boston this fall. one
TO he produced by David Belasco, and
another one attracting prominent ac-
tress. He Is - years old. but much
wiser.
on the opening night Of Believe Me,
Xantippe" there were evidences. not only
on the stage. but IN his own actions, that
Ballard was on the nigh road TO success
Those years Of training have done more
than develop good workmanship: lhey
have made p man.
Ballard IS westerner from the west
and not ms a New York critic wrote-a
citizen OF Boston This critic, by the
way. was one Of the few who didn't give
the comedy a favorable notice. The au-
,hor's home is on the outskirts OF LIN
coin, Neb He graduated from the Uni
vcrsitv OF Nebraska in 1905, but con-
tinued there for two years. taking spe-
cial work in English During that time
he wrote 10 Clyde Fitch. Augustus Thom
as. Charles Klein and George AIDE. asking
what manner OF work each would advise
for Young man who aspired 10 be
playwright Out OF the three answers,
elected that from Mr.. Klein. 20 get stage
experience, either as an actor or stage
hand
t,, Eriraco hustling props" The time
not actually spent In work was given 10
stuvdlug all the shows that came. In
Guiding musical comedies. and when n
play remained for several weeks he took
advantage OF a visiting custom, INDUCED
i'm by stars. clergymcn and stage hands.
and worked at other theaters. In this
way he saw practically every play that
a., mo 10 Chicago In those two years. and
learned not only what the public liked
iN tho thaatsr but what good fellows
tie stage hands were. and a few OF the
stars. To this day Ballard preserves
Autographed n!ctures OF Elsie ia mis- and
George Arliss given 10 him az stage
Bv tho second year ne was assistant
Master OF properties, but his salary still
ranged downward from SIS. 7 remember
asking him while ago how he ever
lived iu those dnvs, and ne answered:
walking 90 and from work and wearing
soft shirts" tie stin wears them. After
two years' raHchmg In Colorddo-wherc
he earned money and got the setting FOR
Believe Nc. Nartippe '-and two years
AT HARVARD. studying playwritlug under
Prof GrogSe i. Baker, he has comc Into
New York Just about ~ plain iu dress
aIi manner Ga lie could possibly have
been iu s,arr-haui DAYS The fact thar
ltc won tUc 'rliE uylzc last spring and
his play nan TEN weeks al The Castle
square tac1tcT didn't make the slightest
oppression on his theory thnt 10 isn't
the way YOU dress. but The plays YOU
turn 0rt tGat make YOU n playwright.
In t.s few days before the opening, when
he wanted 90 work on some other plays.
he began at o'clock In the morning.
Tho curtain rising on 'R"llcN" Nc,