Evening star., 1937-06-19

to say and now he's dead. I suppose
I shall be dead shortly"
Met Davies and Brothers.
Thirty-f1ve years ago Davies and his
three brothers were playing In Ken
sington Gardens when Barrie walked
through.
They made him one OF their play
mates and told him their childish
schemes and secrets.
Thus was Peter Pan of stage and
story born.
When the boys father died, Barrie
adopted them. Davies son, years
old, today's Peter Pan, is Sir James
godchild
This afternoon a doctor who attended
Sir James announced: Sir James
Barrie has passed away. He passed
away quietly and peacefully. There
was no pain
Success Almost From First.
Unlike many writer's who, at the
beginning, have had to struggle for
recognition, the career of Sir James
in the field of literature and drama
was pronounced success almost from
the start and reached its climax in
1922 when he was decorated with
the Order Of Merit, one of the most
select and coveted of British orders.
His early training as writer before
branching into literature was as a
newspaper man in Nottingham and
later in London, where he wrote for the
st. James Gazette, the British Weekly,
the Speaker and the National Observer.
Born in Kirriemuir. Scotland, May 9,
1860. Sir James was educated at Dum-
fries Academy and Edinburg Uni
versity. His first book, Better Dead"
satire on London life, was published
IN 1887. and the next year he pro-
duced Aud LIGHT Idylls" and When
a Mans Single While these three
books attracted some attention, it was
said that his genius as writer was
first recognized and acknowledged with
the appearance Of "A Window in
Thrums" in 1889 There followed
MY Lady Nicotine" and the best
known of his early works, The Little
Minister" which, when dramatized by
Barrie became one of the leading stage
successes and later had several re-
vivals.
His early works became better known
than the man, and thus Sir James
amazed London when at a time he
was being acclaimed he deserted the
city for his little native town in Scot
land. Modesty and shrinking from
publicity were traits that charac-
terized his entire life, and upon one
occasion in 1909, when it was first
rumored that he was to be knighted,
he dismissed an inquirer on the sub
ject with Il don't 60 in for that sort
of thing, you know"
Other Hit Plays.
After the stage success of The
Little Minister Barrie produced many
other notable successes, including
Quality Street" The Admirable
Crichton," Peter Pan" Alice Sit by
the Fire and What Every Woman
Knows"
The last-named was produced In
1908 and was followed by the greatest
disappointment in the life of Sir
James. his marital troubles, culminat-
ing in divorcing his wife in October,
1909. He married in 1895 Miss Mary
Ansell, who had scored a success in
his comedy. Walker, London" two
years previously. The divorce pro-
ceedings came as great surprise to
the friends of both, as they had ap-
peared a most devoted couple. 1t
was said that the wonderful grasp
of feminine characteristics which
Barrie had shown in his books and
plays had been inspired in some de-
gree by his perfect agreement with
his wife. The author had offered to
forgive his wife and take her back,
but she refused and the divorce pro-
ceedings and trial were said to have
been the most trying ordeal of Sir
James life.
Frohmann Produced Plays.
Many of the stage successes OF
Barrie were produced in America by
Frohmann, whom the author
regarded as one of his closest friends.
During Mr.. Frohmann's numerous
visits to London the two were in
Maude Adams starred in
three Of Barrie's plays in this country,
The Little Minister" Peter Pan"
and What Every Woman Knows"
A baronetcy was conferred upon Sir
James on June 3, 1913, upon the oc-
casion of King Georges birthday an
niversary, and the Order of Merit
was conferred upon him for his
service to literature and the drama
in the distribution Of New Years
honors in 1922.
Sir James was elected rector Of St.
Andrews University to succeed Earl
Haig November l, 1919. Upon his in
stallation he delivered an address on
Courage" which was characterized
as one, the like of which had never
before been heard by a body of stu
dents. He revealed that a fanciful,
unruly person whom he called McCon-
nachie, was his other self: that it was
McConnachie who really wrote the
plays and not the Sir James Barrie
known to all.
His writing Hail."
Accommodating writing half
he represented as an odd sort of person
who was likely to do almost anything,
and himself as serious minded man
bent upon boWinR to the conventions.