Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-12

tne frencn ana herman, the revival OF
delights OF the Restoration and eight
eenth century drama, illustrated by
presentations of wycherly's "The Coun-
try Wife trenamed THE Country Girl')
and delectable examplars of the talents
of Mrs. Cowley, Mrs. Centilivre, John
: Tobin: the above mentioned Tenny-
sonian experiment and the consistent
refusal throughout his career to put a
dollar in his pocket by vulgar and mere
triclous methods.
This policy was maintained also In his
musical ventures. In "The Runaway
Girl and It's companion pieces he fos-
tered dainty musical comedy at its best
He was responsible, moreover. for in
Producing Worinscr's exquisite panto-
mime. 'LEnfant Prologue" (revived last
season In New York; and Humperdinck's
charming "IIaensel and Gretel" to the
American public. In the literary field
his activity was prodigious. Besides the
adaptations, he was the author of orig
lnal melodramas, and even found time
to write the most authoritative and
comprehensive life of Peg" Wellington
ever pcnned.
CT1MULATING, however, MS sum
~ married. record of Days energies
and initiative may be- the special appeal
of the book lies in the quickening OF
precious memories Of the theatre, OF eve
nings OF wholesome ana delicious en-
joyment inspired by the radiant art Of
comedy. and in the extremely interest
ing collection of letters interspersed
through the volume. IN the light of
present situations, some Of these epstlcs
are quantity entitled TO preservation.
Does John Drew recall a valuable little
note OF his boyhood days. intrusted TO
him by a solicitous mother? j. l.. Daly
has happily preserved IT, II was ad-
dressed TO -Augustin Daily, and here it is:
Arch ST. Theatre. Philadelphia. May -. -
Ny Dear sir-lf not Inconsistent with
my son (the bearer Of this) two seats for
each OF your theatres?
~ LoIr'isA DREW,
Another letter also OF interest TO
contemporary theatre patrons runs as
follows:
city. July ), 1852.
Dear slr%f take the liberty Of pernlng you
these few lines to ask IL you have vacancy
in any department. as I would like TO place
Callboy, oiice. usher. or anything, lie is
eighteen years Of age; W. good H p@nm9n az aFa "a
get him in a theatre Is he is not strore
enough and cannot do very heavY work work .,,,if IL
him consideration YOU VIII confer q taIor
iGG West Fourth steet. New York.
Young Willie got the job lie held It
faithfully for five years, at the end Of
which time he was bold enough to whis-
per his dramatic aspirations in the ear
of the great manager DAILY cast him for
the small part Of the clownsh Grumio in
The Tanning of the Shrew' and one of
Americas favorite comedians began his
matchmaking career. That his droll
methods We're founded on the sound art
of James Lewis, on whose drolleries Col
lier's attention was riveted on hundreds
OF evenings, was evident az recently as
during the production of Nothing But
the Truth" at tile Adelphi Theatre.
Luckily for the theatre. the wonderfule
DAILY schooling has stamped itself on
some of the most popular actors now
before the public. John Drew is still
deeply indebted to II. His departure
from the DAILY company in 1892 tdue
solely to a disagreement over salary de-
mands) was a great shock to the in-
presario. Any feeling that Drew was
ungrateful was, however, Immediately
dispelled by the generous tribute paid
by the new star" in Palmer's Theatre
on October 3 of the same year as the
curtain fell on the first metropolitan
production of "The Masked Ball" The
concluding words of the little speech
which J. L. DAILY has preserved We're
But feel that all these plaudits and that
this great greeting might not have been for
me had II not been for one who taught me
how to merit and deserve it-who from the
beginning of my career has watched and
guided my steps. smoothing the way TO suc-
cess for me and encouraging me in momer.ts
of trial and dlscouragement and. In Me.
striving to make me worthy Of this honor to-
night. feel. too. that this poor and haltlng
tribute Of the heart IL little TO offer for the
years OF care and trouble he has bestowed
on me, but II Is from the heart and wish
to offer 1t. I am glad. too. to offer IL before
youths frieLds az well mine. | see
need not name hlm--my friend and precep-
tor. Mr.. Ausustin Daily.