The Washington times., 1915-03-31
Persian Play Was Written
Years Ago, Only To Be
Revived At Unexpected
Moment, Says Mrs. Hem
mick.
Surprise In Store For Those
Who Witness Its Presenta-
ton, But Secrecy Is Main
tained AS To Its Nature.
By FLORENCE E. YODER.

Dy rLORENCE II. 1ODEh.
When announcement was made
that Mrs. Christian d. Hemmick. au
thor, playwright, and artist, had
written a play called The Opium
Pipe" to be presented on April 12,
Washington society and other busy
people gasped.
Well they might, for had 1t not
come, as 1t were, out Of thin air, at
the psychological moment, when ev-
eryone was talking about the drug
evil Investigations, and was not Mrs.
Hemmick, as manifestly engaged In
divers duties as before?
when in the world did she get
the time to write 1t? And how on
earth did she manage to obtain so
much material on a subject in such
a short time, not to mention the fact
that she had made a very good
play?"
These were just a few OF the hest
of questions this new Persian play,
which has followed SO close upon
The Awakening" by the same au
thor, has aroused. II Is true that
Miss Maokaye wrote the verses
which were read with the prcsenta-
ton Of the tableaux, and that Mrs.
Hemmick names ner daughter as
co-author OF The Opium Pipe. but
even then the odds are two to one q!
The answer to the questions, how =
ever, is easy, as Is the explanation
OF any wonder, and the authority
for the explanation Is Mrs. Hemmick
herself. In a way It Is quite a lit
tie story, II one can think Of play
AZ q real person instead of just
pieces of paper.
For in much the same manner that
the ingenue or the understudy of the
leading lady jumps into prominence
over night did Mrs: Hemmick's play,
THE Opium Pipe" come into its
own after years of obscurity. and
reap the rewards OF Its excellence.
Incidents Unusual.
THE Incidents which led UP to the
writing and producing Of The
Opium Pipe said Mrs. Hemmick,
ARE unusual
Many years ago. a young girl who
had everything in life that one could
friends too, began the use of the
fatal drug. The story Of her life.
and the ruin of her career OF so
much promise. was terrible les
son to everyone who knew her.
From bits of her own tragedy.
my daughter and I wove the story
of the opium pipe which Is to be
presented in April, only placing the
whole thing In an Oriental. instead
Of modern settings.
But We laid It aside. for II was
very hong, and for some reason or
other. one cannot just tell why some
things are done. I did not feel that
it's time had come.
MOT long ago. at a meeting of the
Players and Authors Group of the
Drama League, Of which I am presi-
dent, q member was to read a play.
Every arrangement had been made.
but, fearing at the last moment that
he might disappoint US, tried to
think Of something which In case of
a failure. would save the day, and
at least fill up the gap. My play.
The Opium Pipe was snatched up
and taken along without the slight
est certainty on my part that 1t would
come in handy.
Given First Reading.
Then. very casually. just as all
things happen for which we do not
strive, did I discover that the man
who was to read his play did disap-
point, and I took out The Opium
Pipe for its first public appearance.
1t Is the custom to read plays. then
take a vote as to whether they will