davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15

with whatever 1t is that makes Il play
throb tblasting in the next block. per-
haps)? Again no. What is it then? Read
or. II is simply this 1t is because ION
Trial was taken from the movies"
Surely that Is apparent TO even the most
casual observer. Indeed the thing is so
palpable that II is only the abiding dread
of penury which inhibits me from making
over my royalties to Edison or Ford or
Marcus Loew, or whoever IL Is who in
vests in moving pictures. The plagiarism
| Is obvious to the point of naivetc. Reader,
at bottom, / am an honest sort of person
/ shall not dissemble: l shall tell you,
without reserve, In what manner the NOV.
lng-plcture art is responsible for ION
| Trial"
Thus did II befall Some ~ months
ago I saw the pictures OF Captain Scott's
expedition to the South Pole. Here"
said to myself. "is Il anime of dramatic
material. Think of writing a play that
shall, In every detail, be unlike the Cap
tain Scott pictures!"
The idea was magnificent, stupendous.
monumental / set to work. 1t was no
child's play Cthough | say SO who should
noD, but / stuck to II grimly bent upon
vindicating the movies" ION Trial" Is
the result, Wherein 1t has fulfilled my
aim, modesty forbids me to suggest
Suffice it Is TO say that was sufficiently
skilful to make the source of my idea
apparent to every one.
l was greatly interested in learning that
in ION Trial have employed cut
back" 1 haven't the faintest notion
what n "cut-back' is, unless II refers to
an evening dress worn by one OF the
ladies in the first act and for which !
hasten to disclaim any credit.
Does 1t RevolutiOnize Drama7
For the rest, when I have told you
that the technique of "On Trial" is des-
tined to revolutionize not only the dra-
matte art, but the entire system of ma
tional Jurisprudence. the science of deep
sea diving and the briCklaying trade;
that the story Is the most ingenious, tha
most inspiring, the most absorbing since
Homer Il mean the Greek novelist, not
Mime, Louise): that the characterization
is nothing short of mastery; that the
dialogue would put Shaw, at his best. TO
the blush. and that, on the whole. with
the possible exception of the Panama
Canal, George Stallings and-well, per-
haps-wireless telegraphy, ION Trial is
quite the thing of the age. l have
summed up the situation with a fair de-
gree OF accuracy. IL l have understated
the case II Is because ! want those OF
you who haven't seen ION Trial" 10 be
agreeably surprised.
p. S.-Be sure to tell the young man in
the Garrick box office that you went to
school with me, He's an awfully nice
chap, and he feels terribly disappointed
ii you don't
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15
HOW AN INFANT
INDUSTRY AND l
GREW UP TOGETHER
The Star of the New Stanley
Photoplay, "The Ragamuf-
fin," Recalls Her Beginnings
By BLANCHE SWEET

AS | look back over the last 10 years
and compare the cheap little sets, the
crude acting and photography, and the
hastily written stories-mostly made up
as we went along-with the elaborate
productions, the painstakng attention to
detail, the careful direction, the care
fully selected casts and the scenarios de-
manded today | feel much older than |
really am. and wonder what will happen
in the next 10 years.
was a stage child from the time be-
gan to talk. I was born in Chicago. on
June 49, 1896, and went on the stage when
I was 3 years old, playing in support of
Marie Burroughs in THE Battle of the
Strong" with Holbrool1 Blinn and Maui
rice Barrymore. l was with that company
for a year and then went with Chauncey
olcott for three years, again playing "A
little girl part.
The members of the company looked
after my education. and every day for
| certain number Of years | was forced 70
study, whether ! liked 1t or not.
When l was . years old left the stage
and went to fashionable boarding school
at Berkeley, Cal. The school was so strict
that 1 never mentioned being on the stage,
for fear the other girls would snub me
and the teachers would send me away.
When l had reached IA returned to
New York and decided go back on
i
| dance. Music seemed to thrill me and
| l could not keep my feet still. so when
| Gertrude Hoffman selected me as one
| of the children to appear with her in
| THE Spring Song" 1 was delighted.
! When vacation began after long tour
| | went back to New York and was Of
| fered the position as leading woman, "a
childs part. in a play called Charlotte
| Temple"
After Charlotte Temple" I began to
| feel that | was an established actress,
| and through Thomas Wise, the we'll
! known star, who was then appearing In
THE Gentleman from Mississippi" Sc
4 cured an Introduction to William A.
| Brady, the theatrical producer. Mr. Wise
recommended me for the leading feminine
| part in a second company of "The Cen
| tleman from Mississippi" which was
! about to 20 on the road. | talked to Mr..
| Brady and was making decided impress
! sion until, in an unfortunate moment,
smiled, Mr. Brady threw up his hands in
| horror and said, Great Heavens. Tom |
can't hire n leading lady that hasn't all
| her teeth yet"
Undismayed by this blow to my artistic
| ambitions, decided to go into the motion
| pictures.
Accompanied by n girl friend who had
| already played extra parts. l descended
| on n studio.
We climbed three flights OF carpctless
stairs and entered the ballroom, which
! occupied practically the entire third floor,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15
JOHN DREW'S NEW TAILOR

TT is seldom that the theatrical world
i is startled or even mildly ruffled by
the appearance of a new playwright. A
new play that has strength and some
originality may come into view 10 in
teTest and even enthuse one, but as re-
CARDS its author II merely leaves a hope
that he may labor to advantage again.
The mere fact that he has turned out
one commendable work proves little or
nothing; he may never do so yell again.
There are so many cases in point.
But there came into bloom I'm England
this season Horace Annesley Vachell,
who had success as a novelist and had
taken TO writing for the stage Hardly
had the public ceased to applaud his first
effort when another one from his pen
appeared, 1t was rather good so
that play-goers began asking about the
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15

author Evidently he was no man of
ordinary ability, and he proved this i'm
medlately by having two more comedies
accepted and produced Two of these
plays have already been produced in this
country, "Quinneys," which has been
on sale as a novel, and 1.-The Chief" the
comedy in which that finished actor,
John Drew. Is to be seen at the Broad.
Any man so prolihc-he is likened to
the late Clyde Fitch in his love OF and
ability to works. certainly worthy OF
consideration.
Horace Annesley Vachell was born In
England in 1861, and one is assured by his
publishers that his family, on both sides,
had produced generals, statesmen, aTis-
tocrats." In their little biographical book
about him, his publishers also print
picture of him Devastating in Scotland.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15

ever see barberrles In n lavender dish
The combination is wonderful. Then the
dancers enter, and their gowns are either
the blue Of the pervadinE radiance, or else
the lavender of the flowers ten feet aloft
They do not dance, they flow about the
stage. There is no spot turned on therl,
no glare of footlishts. only the hush and
mystery of the blue radiance.
The scene, dramatically of no impor-
tancc, lasts but n brief time. Then we
are back in the chaotic wnirl of the play.
But while 1t lasts 1t is feast of beauty
We wonder If sometime n manager will
not permit such man as Urban to stage
an entire romantic operetta in his own
way and create what would amount to
for us new genus of stage entertain
ment. We believe the public are ready
for it In musical comedy, if not yet. per-
haps, on the dramatic stage, where con-
ventions of reality still bind us.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15

XHHAf1FN A1hloEN llluf lldhlllk lltl III ~
i Rcfessional s,a,e appearance since she
nilFed more than a dozen years ago into
. latrimony and Boston. OF course, the
4 appearance of Miss Arthur is a matter
n moment
But the play itself IS of very little con-
Isluence from any point of view. The
rnic who said 1t should be called "The
Etrnal Magdalene," following the pro-
luneiation In use at oxford, was possibly
little severe. Yet it is impossible not to
+ ZHmpaihize with him. That good actors
nonld be employed and good capital used
On material so crude and undigested
seems thousand plties.
IN the first place, the author who is
PROBABLY quite sincere, strives for an ina
1native effect and knows how to achieve
only by writing a dream play. We
nov manager who will not read the
nAnuseript of a dream play, even If II
mould bear the name of Pinero or Barrie,
aRl we tend TO sympathize with him. 1t
'ne cheapest and most poverty-strucl,
=sy OF achieving unreality and for any
R''ly serious purpose quite unconvincing.
For Instance. the leading character in
ihe Eternal Magdalene" Is a rich,
Mas, pious banker in n mld-Western
j ~, who is backing Gleason" (Billie
-1"eass oI coufse) In great crusade 10
se'e up the segregated vice district and
1e,ls all the women out of the city. One
'nese women writes to him. cursing
.ln' saying that she will live to see his
- athief. his daughter ruined, his wife
- Our pious friend is not troubled
MS epistle, but sits down to his
- 70 prepare final statement for the
<~psfs. Then he falls asleep. and dreams
couple Of acts. In his dream the
rslnai Aiagdalene comes 10 him. in the
10y OF what he thinks is the daughter
woman he wronged years ago-his
ssseSsnier' that is. Sc is one of these
f+ f'sa women. He takes her into the
'A's as servant, and chen disasters
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15

and a picture OF his English home, one
of those fine. low houses sinking comfort
ably into luxurant foliage, covered with
ivy and faced by magnificent open lawn
i'm short, the type OF house and land
scape gardening that only 200 years Of
English mist and English money can pro-
duce.
In shaping his literary career America
played a large part. Graduating from
Harrow. the young man was destined for
the army, but instead of taking up his
commission he remained in California,
where he had gone on a visit. He bought
a ranch at San Louis Oblspo. and for two
decades he was in active pioneer life be-
tween the SierTas and the sea, His broth
er Joined him there and is still a member
Continued ON Page Four
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15
90 Ana Reban, lseo-lsle
By JUSTIN HUNTLEY MCCARTHY

TIOW praise you2 Were l asked to sing
i An empires fall. the conquests of king
might undaunted, entertain the Muse
Might hope 10 win, greatly fear TO lose
Might through the past with Alexander pace,
Or tell anew the tale of Troy's disgrace
But here ah here happier task invites
The heart that worships and the hand that writes
For here Ambition sets my heart ablaZe
To be the laureled singer OF your praise
SO great deed Ambition should not ask
OF luckless rhymer. renounce the task,
Tear up my paper. fling aside my pen,
And most detected of the sons OF men,
Go signing hence.
Yet stay Hopes hattering tale
Bids me reflect that though foredoomed 10 fail,
NJ failures but question Of degree.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15

and, in conjunction with the roof, was
used as the studio.
People were packed in like sardinos.
all hunting Jobs. over in the corner on
a platform. Director Frank Powell was
taking a scene for "a Corner in Wheat"
Every one was making n fuss over the
money spent on the production, but 1t
was n very cheap little affair compared
with the productions of nowadays,
One day we were working in the studio
when Mary Pickford entered. Sho was
the only one with regular contract from
the company and had just been on n
vacation to Maine. l remember exactly
how we all looked at her and marveied
She had blue beaver hat on and simple
blue dress
Miss 'Pickford looked then just as she
does now, and. as she was the first per-
E,ntfuue1 ms, Para Eour
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15

For greatest bards must come to grief like me
Must. like me, halt adventure and despair
For lack OF words to praise that passing fair
Oh happy generation that can see
The dearest daughter of Melpomene
Play all those queens Of gracious carnival,
From passionate Nancy to enchanting Val;
That can behold the wild Miss Hoyden curl
Her laughing lip, or love the Country Girl
or, in the shade Of Attic olive trees,
Pay homage to the Wife Of Socrates,
And with Petruchio kiss the silken shoe
OF Katherine, the divine Italian shrew;
or tread the ways of Arden wood 10 find.
How blest in you the Heavenly ROsalind."
Enough Farewell And when another age
Delights 10 count the glories of our stage,
The highest altar IN the shrine OF Fame
Shall number with the noblest Rehan's name.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15

=
in the Ohio city.
This production at
tra cted so much pat
ronage that the play,
which had previous
ly been refused. we
understand. by many
managers, was now
eagerly bid for by
these same gentle
men. 1t was finally
secured by the Sell
wyns, and by them
has been brought to
New York, wi I II
Julia Arthur in the
title role. Miss Ar
Al - A
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15
au,HE Eternal

|aT,HE Eternal Magdalene." a much
lheralded work, was written by Rob-
|t Mclaughlin, a Cleveland newspaper
reporter and local theatre manager, and
Twas produced first by n stock company
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15

po CnaI. l., tmey al shown in the ec
enmntin % f much o lie h in the making nd
hmt
which e by with terra al We les o in ie
a
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15
A Heavy Score With Conscience

"a hSdfy pCoIe WIN SOnsCleHCc
On the other hand. II should pretend
to agree with what most of the other
| interviewers have said, | should have a
one alternative, starvation and gross
misjudgment the other, the ceaseless
gnawing of the worm that never dies
Hydra-headed Scylla on the one hand
yawning Charybdis on the other I'm
agine tragic Lancelot Gobbo-a Lance
Macbeth-and you can conceive In a
slight measure the task / have set my
self, The choice, believe me. gentle
readers. is not an easy one.
Well, I have fought 1t out. have
wrested with the good angel and Ito my
sham be 1t written won. My justlfca-
tion? None, except that despite Voltaire)
a man must live-that conscience must
yield to the stomach. Farewell then.
| principles, hopes. aspirations, ideals!
Sacrificed to the spectre Hunger!
Know, then, that "On Trial is a great
play. nay. more, it is a phenomenal play
gigantic play, colossal play. You are
all aware, by thu time (thanfs TO the
activities OF the press AGENT that "On
Trial. Is THE biggest hit In 25 years"
/ deem that an intensely interesting fact
1t seems TO me rather remarkable that
since there was a bigger hit / wonder
what II was! My recollection of the the
atrical season of 1SS9-ls9O are somewhat
vague. Perhaps some kind reader can
enlighteR me. What was the play that
scored such tremendous hit in 1889 that
for a quarter OF a century l. has remgined
unchallenged? Mercy. that's a long time
CO. Why, Sarah Bernhardt must have
been retiring from the stage just about
then!
FOadness for Round Numbers
I'm glad, though. that II is Just 25
years. / have fondness for round num-
bers. Now, If It had been 27 or p years,
S months, 1 should never have been able
10 remember II. l have no head for fig
ures at all What excellent memories
press agents have, though. 1 marvel at
them.
want TO digTess, right here. TO say
word in praise of them; / arrogate the
function merely because 1 want 10 see
Justice done 10 a much-maligncd and
underestimated race of men. Let me
say, then, without qualification, that tax
ing them by and large 1 haze never met
a more consistently optimistic set Of
folks than press agents.
From the press agent, then. We learn
that ION Trial Is the biggest hit in rs
years Now, why is Il the biggest hit In
Is years2 Is It because, as l have said
il Is a great play2 Not at all. Is il be
cause Il tells wildly realistic life story
Ill think that's the way the thing goes-I
haven't my serapbook handy.) Not a bit
Of Il. Is il because II throbs with-Eith-
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15
EVERY PLAYWRIGHT HIS
OWN DRAMATIC CRITIC
The Author of "On Trial Tells Why That Play
Is-or Is Not-the Great
American Drama
By ELMER L. REIZENSTEIN

by ELM E-IS ~
MATURE did not destine me to be
IN dramatic critic. l have no heart; l
lack discretion. When go to see play l
cannot resist the temptation to tell all
the world how bad it is. I do not consider
the feelings of the pale young author
munchlng his crust of dry bread in
squald garret that, I believe is the ira
ditional occupation of pale young au-
thorsl; 1 do not think of the benevolent
producer, who has exhausted his eN-
choQuer and his vocabulary OF eXpletives
In placing before an ungrateful public a
work of art; | do not think of the actors,
to whom the failure of the play will mean
an enforced return to the stimulating, but
unrcmunerative pastimc of detailing the
nattering managerial offers, which their
artistic senstbilties have prompted them
to decline.
The milk of human kindness does not
course through my veins. l have not
learned the art of employing gracefully
and convlncingly such mild and treacly
adectives as agreeable" pleasing"
Interesting" entertaining" amusing"
For me- rather. the virile and belligerent
'rotten" or awful"
Hence 1t is with some trepidatinn that
| undertake to review ION Trial''--trepi-
d. lIOn born OF my warm personal regard
for the author. My position is not an
easy one, If l We're to write what
really think Of "On Trial" 1 should find
my readers Il trust that the use of the
plural Is justified) divided into two
classes: The first a small group of lit
eral-minded individuals who would be-
lieye what | said and accordingly would
refrain from going to see the play: the
second, large group of persons who
make 1t n point never to believe anything
they see in the newspapers and would,
therefore, mistake my candor for diff
dence-a pale virtue, whose possession l
violently dsclaim.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15

Continued on Page -Four
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-15

Continued ON Page -Four
Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-01-21
Ancient City,.
COFFEE COMPANY
r.. L. DUyALL, Manager.
Conduit Street, AnnaJ

N"HANAtaHt 'SNH W ~AHHNhssEVEASs N Us
wish to announce to the public that
The Ancient City Coffee Co. has opened its
store on Conduit street, with the best line
of COFFEE and TEAS at the best price
that money can buy, and the patronage of
our goods trial, when our solicitor calls
on them All orders taken and delivered
and Satisfaction guaranteed. Once tried
ALWAYS used.
Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-01-21
MEMBERS OF NAVY
LEAGUE NAMED.
Several Cambridge Men to Represent
That Organization in That Section

A strong section of the Membership
Committee has been appointed to take
charge of the campaign of the Navy
League in Cambridge, Md. Those who
have been appointed to the commit
tee are: VIM. d. Powell. DR.. Guy
Steele, S. E. Stevens, DIR. $. A.
Stokes, of Cornersville; DR. f. 4.
Wolff. DIR. B. w. Goldsborough, and
W. Laird Henry.
They will help 10 represent that or
ganization in their district Ina the
active. aggressive campaign which q
Is carrying on in all parts Of tie coun.
try In behalf of adequate preparedness
against invasion and disaster. They
will co operate with the members Of
the Navy Leagues State committee
of Maryland. and will lend their en-
ergetic support to the work under
taken to consolidate and organize the
overwhelming sentiment Of thinking
people of that State in behalf Of meas
ures of adequate preparedness
A special letter has been forwarded
to the gentlemen appointed by the
Navy League. notifying them of their
appointments.
Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-01-21
BIG U. S. NAVY AID
TO WORLDS PEACE.
Secretary Daniels Thinks it Would
Further Limitation of Armament.


Backed by its great wealth and re-
sources, and with an established naval
building program, the United States
will be in position at the close If the
European war to call an international
conference for limitation of arns-
ment. Secretary Daniels declared yes
terdsy before the House naval commit
tee.
IF these nations know that we are
rich enough and big enough and pre-
pared to build more dreadnaughts an
anybody else it viii give as strong
voice. he said
agree y Cd you there, said Rep
resentatfve Butler. wh5se questions
had brought out the Secretary's state
ment. "but as 70 one point | would
wait until then. and if they refused
our suggestion and kept on building.
I would borrow hundreds of millions
of dollars and build twenty-four shi ps
in four years.
Where would you build them"
asked Secretary Daniels.
I" would devote every facility in
the country TO il. said Representa-
tive Butler
Pressing the Secretary for any spe-
cifie reason for increasing the navy
immediately. Representative Butler
asked if ie had any knowledge of i'm
pending danger he had not revealed.
I'VE cannot be indifferent to the
present madness for war. the Secre-
tsry said DO not believe to at
tack US. but it is possible. If we
wait, * takes three years to build a
battleship and they are building
now.
Secretary Daniels ted the commit
tee he favored legislation to compel
naval officers to devote their lives to
the government instead of being &C.
tualiy required to serve only eight
years after graduation from Annspo-
lis
"lsn't it fact, asked Representa- a.
tive Tribble, THAT private manufac-
turers' plants are filled with capable
officers whose service should belong to
the government"
Il think you are right about that. -
replied Secretary Daniels. II would
welcome bill to correct it. 1t takes
three years TO build battleship and
four years to make an officer. We
ought to carry along our instruction al
a better rate
The hearing was on a bill to in
crease the number of annual appoint
ments to the Naval Academy. w Wash.
ington Star
Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-01-21
ROUGH on Tommy.

The mails from home had Just been
received by a certain regiment Not
only We're there letters. hut many
parcels from relatives and friends at
home for lucky soldiers One Of the
Tommies received large box I'd
dressed TO himself and with tri-
umphant yell he rushed Oft to ris
company's lines and gathered sI
around him TO share ia the eagerly
anticipated contents OF his box
Smokes. lads." he cried as d "a
did the wrapping From the "a
man: I know it an there's sure 10
be bottle or two u Scotch
lie opened the box. gave one cook
at the contents and collapsed il 2
hcap.
What Is it, erred his comra dos,
pressing around
"It from ola Aunue Mary"
sroaned the disappointed warrior.
"Handares an r nt an enbr 81
ton an spiints. ar book on 'O7t 0
BE Your Own Sursin' London Tit
Bits.