The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04
THE OPEN WINDOW.

Mr.. DE Wolf Hopper has said some very
sensible things about vice plays. Tie
thinks that they keep people away from
the theatre. So they do; they keep some
away and attract others. To Mr.. Hop
per's credit be II said, he has always
given the public wholesome amusement.
As far as l can recollect he has never
appeared In any but decent plays or
musical comedies from the day he started
out as a professional actor to the present
time He may have given US horse play.
but never vice play.
When I first knew Mr.. Hopper he was
playing girls parts In amateur theatre
calls. This will sound funny to those who
know him only as big burly man who
boy I should say. for he was not 20,
Mr.. Hopper had beautiful curly brown
hair and a wonderful complexion. He
made UP as a ravishingly beautiful girl.
, He and Fred Stedman, the eldest son
Of Z. c. Stedman. the banker poet. were
famous In the old days for getting up
private theatricals in which. Hopper was
always the girl. This Is not 80 amusing
perhaps. because young men often take
girls parts, particularly in school and
college theatricals. but what il amusing
connected with Mr.. Hopper Is that he
used to take up the collection In church
have been ushered TO a seat more than
| once and had the plate passed to me
more than once by Mr. Hopper in DR..
| Frothinghams house of worship. which
was In the old Masonic Temple at Twen-
| ty-third street and Sixth avenue.
! Mr.. Hoppers going on the stage. II 7
, may be allowed to look into the reccsses
of my memory instead OF out the open
window. was purely accidental. He was
at play one night. which he enjoyed
hugely. and laughed long and loud over
the Jokes. Sitting next to him was
we'll known manager of those days by
the name Of Jacob Gosche. Gosche had
| been the manager Of the famous prima
| donna Mime. Sontag, who died In his
arms in Mexico or somewhere when she
was on a concert tour. At the time
speak Of he was the manager OF Theo-
dore Thomas's orchestra. The heartiness
aid boyishness of young Hopper's laugh
| ter p,es s.d the old gentleman and he
picked UP an acquaintance with him
He invited him to his rooms and was
delighted to find that he had voice.
! and later he took him on a concert tour
with Annie Louise Cary. Mr.. Hoppers
| first appearance upon the stage q be-
lieve In concert they call 1t the platform)
was In a drama where he acted the part
| OF II Western miner. II WAS Joaquin
/ Miller's first and only attempt at play
writing. The play was called THE Dan
! ties II ] remember correctly.
u
am sure that ne will. for every good
New Yorker reads THE Sun, ne will have
ali the sensations of "A Rip Van Wrinkle.
wonder II Mr.. George Arliss has read
the series OF stories called Anthony the
Absolute" by Samuel Merwin. now run
ming IN McCi1c's Ma0dsine. II he has
not beg to call his attention to Anthony
E,,l<hart as a character made TO his
hand. Mr.. Merwin has never done any
thing better than this romantic story
OF the China coast. nor has ne ever
drawn more lovable hero than the young
American scientist or more bewitching.
bewi,derng heroine than Heloise Croker.
Mr. Merwin Is doing for China In his
stories what John Luther Long hassdone
for Japan in Madame Butterfly
| II has been long time since any
! serial has attracted the attention OF
Home" the anonymous novel that has
about run its course through the Century
! Nagd.ine There have been thousand
and one guesses as to the authorship. and
most Of them. curiously enough. have
named women writer's. suppose that
this NAV be because Of II certain domes'
tic episod. that is described with detail
and knowledge that men rarely attempt
though George Moore gave II to us II
Esther Waters to be sure. As a matter
: of fact the story was written by man.
and a man whose name IL not known II
the world Of literature. There was some
thought of printing IL Oh the title page
! OF the book. but on further consideration
il was decided to keep up the mystery
Who the author is may never be told.
The Century Ndgnsirc has had good
7 | deal OF success with Anonymous serials, be-
ginning with The Bread Winners at
trihuted 70 John Hay, bur never con
ffessed by him: The Anglomaniacs. pub
llshsd anonymously, but In book form
announced a. the work OF Mrs. Burton
Harrison. and later "rhe Confessions q
n Wife" supposed TO have been writer
by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
J. l.. G.