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Show THE CITIZEN 20 gross and permission to kiss the, Munseys a friend eternal to struggling and needy letterateurs bought it first. Then Dodd, Mead and Company printed the book and then Mr. BroadhuTSt purchased a copy of it. And, believe me, Im glad he did. Glad He wired me a contract. I wired it back at him. And the first thing in-genu- Anyway: if that system isnt a good one it will work as well as any oth- -' er Ive ever run across. And its a heap the easiest. And when I think back on that opening night of The Crimson Alibi at the Broadhurst theatre Why its easy! Perhaps. Octavus Roy Cohen in Theatre Magazine. you know I was seated in the fourth row aisle of the Broadhur&t Theatre watching the audience puzzle its collective head over the mystery. Listen! that show never fooled me for a minA STORY OF PATTI ute. I knew all the time who comThe death of Adelina Patti recalls mitted the crime. But this hasnt anything to do with the following amusing incident which the success of The Crimson Alibi. It occurred in the Dutch town of in 1869: As the prima donna is, I believe, a primer lesson in playat that period was at the height of writing and how she are did. A theatrical producer is, ordinarily, her career the director of the local theatre where she was to appear in a sane man, but, when the chap beLucia di Lammermoor for one night hind the box office window begins to smile and the house treasurer smokes only was compelled to pay her a cond cigars while counting up siderable sum, and to reimburse himthe shekels, he begins to look around self he tripled the regular charge of for more of the same. So, after The admission. ' Four citizen of Maestricht were Crimson Alibi had pulled in a few very fond of opera and consequently capacity- audiences, Mr. Broadhurst sought me out. That is, he sent word .anxious to hear the great singer;' but as their means were limited they for me to seek him out. I did it bought one ticket for admission and pronto! drew lots as to who should see the How about another play? he infirst, second, third and fourth acts required. I havent one, I retorted quickly spectively. Everything was carried out successjust like that. Never did have. The Crimson Alibi fully up to the final act. As soon as You wrote that play, said I, Im one act was over the possessor of the ticket hurried across the street to the only guilty of the book. Cafe Venetien and handed the card to But I want a play by you, he reanother friend. The last recipient iterated. Fine, said I. Then I grabbed my was a hat manufacturer by the name new cap and boarded one of those oc- of Grooneyer, and when he received casional Broadway surface cars it the ticket he entered the theatre, took his seat and waited impatiently moves occasionally. And what do you think? I read for the curtain to go up. But who can describe his disapthat play to him the other day and he didnt murder me. In fact, he says ' pointment when the tenor began with its a good play and hes going to pro- the lines: Lucia is dead, etc. duce it on Broadway before the meltGrooneyer, not being acquainted with ing of the winter snows have choired the opera, was in hopes that Lucia the gutters and blocked the traffic. might revive and appear some time And as the little song says that during the act. He remained to the isnt all. Another big producer sent conclusion of the performance, and for me and offered me still another when he realized that he had neither contract. I was up in my lines by seen nor heard Patti he rushed across that tinte. And that play, too, is go- the street, where his companions malicious smiles. ing to be produced in New York this greeted him with He lost his temper, called them winter. cheats and swindlers, and his deOne dramatization running to big nunciations became so noisy and his business at the Broadhurst theatre, actions so violent that the landlord1 two plays of my own making going on of the Cafe Venetien was compelled Broadway before spring . . . and to have him ejected from the place. I never did anything in my whole But matters did not end here. In twenty-eigh- t years of life except try the first place the three fortunate to write readable fiction. Why did holders of tickets instituted legal prothey have to pick on me? Why didnt ceedings against Grooneyer for dethey take one of the born play- famation of character. This suit was wrights? compromised by his payment to them Managerial vagary, I reckon. Now of a considerable sum of money and when my friends ask me to give them an He next apology on his parr. the rules and regulations for writing brought an action against his three a successful play, I tell em Dont! former friends for the return of the Dont write it. Wait until the man- money paid by him for the ticket of . agers send for you and flash an ad- admission. The case was dismissed vance royalty check in your face. in court, and on appealing it he lost Then, when you have been revived again. with some subcellar special stock The publicity given to the latter suit (sure! that Isnt any secret!) tell them caused the director of the theatre at firmly that you wont touch a fingernail to typewriter key without a hun-- , Maestricht to institute proceedings dred and ten per cent of the weekly against the four Patti enthusiasts. 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