The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1913-04-28
DEATH May FINISH
ORAMA1ST SAyRE'S
LAST MANUSCRIPT
Playwright Lies Dying From
Overwork on Drama He
May Never Complete

Theodore Burt sayre. the prolific play
wright and reader for Charles Frohman,
may never Hnish the last act Of his last
play. 'Ransomed." For death stands
very near his bed In the Fair Oaks SAM.
tarium at Summit. n. j., to scratch with
unrsientinG dnser the single word Cur.
tain" In the unfinished manuscript.
sayre. broken down from sheer over
work at the ago Of thirty-ssven. suf-
fered a stroke Of partial paralysis. az
sravated by hemorrhaue. q few days
ago. while he was secretly disobeying
the orders Of the sanitarium physicians
forbiding him further work. Now, Il 10
thought to be only a question OF hours
before death tntsrvenes: tho play wright
lies heiples and unable to speak, but
with mind clear TO the appr collation. OF
the impending end.
Sayre's many friends In the theatrical
world will accept as characteristic Of
the man the story 81 how he worked in
defiance Of doctors orders almost until
the hour when paralysis afflicted him.
John Cort. the producer, had already
contracted for the play "Ransomed;"
Sayrs had Il all written except the
latter part Of the last act. and the cast
which was to produce the play had al
ready been picked.
WROTE ON PLAY IN SECRET De.
FiANcE OF DocToRs.
Thsn. . few weeks ago. came the
ANAL breakdown Of his strength. He
was ordered to the sanitarium in Sum-
that hs was not to think Of his work.
nor engage In any. until he had re-
gained his strength. Sayrs knew. 20
his frisRds believe. that his condition
was serious and that. the chances we're
against his ever leaving the sanitarium.
When he went to summit he took the
manuscript Of the unfinished play with
him.
The sheaf Of monuscsipt, made pre-.
cious Ny rsaiisatioh Of the short work.
Ing time left 10 him. sayrs concealed
in the springs Of bic bed. when TIE
doctors ana nurses wore MT IN hts
room the playwright would reach under
his mattress. draw tia manusstipt from
Ito hiding paaos and. cropping Il on his
knee. write flriously until he heard the
approaching footsteps Of one Of the
house physicasns. Then he would wh!sk
the shsaf Of papers back to the hidins
place beneath him.
1iis strataSsm was discovered - the
doctors only . few days before the
stroke Of paralysis was visited upon
him and his precious play wss locked
w despite his protests.
oAvRg oTARrg0 cAAggA ~ A
DRUG Stone CLERK.
eayrs was . clerk In his dathers drul
store on Sixth avenue. when his mrs,
play wNs produced successfully In New
York, not moro than hfteen years ago
Since that night. when he heard succesI
In the applause Of the audience. he ha<
worried with unrelenting energy and ha<
smasssd fame and . fortune. when hi
final illness overlook him.
Many Of his plays had Irish themes
Nor Chauncey Olcott. sawe wrote
"o'Nein OF Derry" Eileen ASHORE
and ''Edmund Burss." Andrew kaca
starred IN his TON Moore" success
here and In London. Fisks O'Hars
played In his Wearing Of the Green.
Other Of his plays were ''Manon Les.
caat." IN which Wilton Lackaye starred
The Commanding Omcss'' and Tn,
Wife Of wtlloughby." which hs wrot,
In co,ia;borataon with Helen Bogart
sayrs married MIS- Laura Helen d,
0umsons In 1904