The sun., 1916-11-18
HOW THE CHARLES FROHMAN
BIOGRAPHY WAS WRITTEN

terest was concerned. the most p!ctur-
esQue feature OF that trip was my So
journ al NARROW on Thames. the drowsy
little town where Frohman went every
summer; where all the townspcople
knew n loved him and where he was
always the guest Of Haddon Chambers.
tho playwright. As soon as the towns
people knew that I was over there as
Frohman's b.ographer. they Immediately
took what tho yac,ied a grand pride in
the gallant little American who had died
SO courageously.
"A cur,ously dramatic thing happened
there. One 81 Frohman's hest friends In
he little village was Mr.. Clark. the
butcher. u typical John Bull looking per-
son. on whom Mr.. Frohman called every
day on h.s walk up the High street Of
the town. II vas with Clark that Froh-
man had one OF his Interesting passages.
lie met Clark all dressed up in his sum
day clothes. When he asked the butcher
where he a going, he replied ! am
going TO see my pigs
The nrst day that I went to see
Clark. ! vas accompanied by Haddon
Chambers. ! found him very amiable
and tremendously Interested In Frohman.
As | stood In front Of hts quaint shop
and listened to tho simple minded
Enelishman discourse upon the fine
qualities OF tho American Manager I
suddenly looked across the street and
saw a huge poster headed ny these
words: Remember tho Lus!tan!i" II
vas one OF the many stirring appeals for
recruits with which Kitchener plaStcrcd
the whole Kingdom IN the FIRST year %!
tho war. and Il struck me as being Il
specially striking contrast.
Near NARROW lives Pauline Chase, the
actress. who wAs II cf Frohfran's
. rrn.t fyAanda upA .lL.. snptit.t p,a ut. n
a erea, deal Of Information about tho
manager. Shc has n charming little
house called "Trcetors,' about SIX miles
from Marrow, Here Frohman used IN
como to spend hts week ends. and ono
~ his diversions was TO pay croauc, or
feed Miss Chnse's chickens.
zone OF the things that struck ms most
Yorcibly about Frohman's English friend
ships was the loyalty ~ them. They
ranged from men Ike Cir Arthur Pinero
and Sir George Alexander 20 walters IN
the Savoy Hotel. where he always lived.
As a matter Of fact. Frohnan had q GER
tain little able In tho erili room at the
Savoy which was always called .hs
Frobman table To this day whom
Barrie, Chambers. Pinero or Cyrt! Maude
come to The Savoy 10 dine the head
waiter. knowing Of their friendship for
the American theatrical man. invariably
b pltcto tterN " tUlb particular lfuNc- .
IL part of n larrer sentimental recol'ec'
tion Of the man that never could possibly
exist In America.
ITO all these men Frohman's death
was. OF course. n great loss. ] rcnen
her IN talking about him with SIR Arthur
Plnero VI having asked II he ever had Q
contrac, with him. He replied. and al
mos, with indignation. tina, the idea Of q
contract with him was beyond belief
There was never a scrap of 81 per be
tween us. II was always understood tina
anything ! had for America would 10 e
him nrst' This was tho view that
found among all the great English au
thors. who took n curious delight In hav
ing their plays produced nv FrohnIan h"
cause no did things In such a splendid
and generous fashion.
Typical Of the many rStraord'nar r,
contrasts In Frohman's life was hi
friendship with George Rernard Shaw
who was very much affected by his death
shaw always idolized Frohmnn into
romantic figure. What he loved abou
Frohman was his wild disregard "
money. Shaw md Frohmsn frrauen,l.
met At Barric's nat In Adelphi Terrace
which, az most people know. IL ono Q
the literary stronghoids OF London.
II can give you no more striking cx
ample OF the amazing variety OF Froh
mans English friendships than to tel
the story OF what happened bctwcen hin
J and haddon mbrrs'a valet, Hogs
Every one who knows itaddon Chamber
ut ali knows about iipgg, who 10 the per
feet servant. In fact. Chambers has pu
Hog In most OF hts playa, lioGe ts III
first and most rigid critic Of AL tn
Chambers output-indccd, Chambers IRE
quently dictates his Dialogue to thls In
. disporsahlo person. Chambers work
very slowly and there are long lapses !
his dictation. Horg usually. therefore
f~crtiiies himself with a detective etor
while his master collects his brllliar
thoughts,
Every one who visits Chambers. c
course. comes to know and like Hogs
who rules the Chambers domlcilc at Mar
low. When Frohman first went there I
visit he did not pay the slightest after
tion to llogg, and although lie came yea
after year he scarcely exchanged a wor
with him. After five years Hogg wa
very much surprised to lind himself 40
dressed ono morning IN very rordii
terms, and from that time on Frohma
n Iiogg were fast friends, In ever
letter that Frohnan wrote to Chamber
there was always an inquiry abo,
hogg $ health, and no one mourned Il
loss of tho American manager moi
keenly than this English valet. who ha
|. come to know him 30 WELL"