The Sunday Oregonian., July 25, 1909, SECTION FIVE, Page 10, Image 54

r-
10
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTLAND, JULY 25, 1909.
GUSTAVE FROHMAN TELLS STORY OF HOW
HE "DISCOVERED " MINISTER-PLAYWRIGHT
Rev. William Danforth. Who Recently Visited Portland, Took Up Drama Writing While Still a Chicago Pastor.
WITH Gustave Frohman, who wu
here last week personally super
vising the Marie Doro Company
for his brother. Charles Frohman, was
. Rev. William Danforth,' who has made a
considerable reputation in the East as &
playwright- The combination of theatrl
'cal manager and minister la unusual,
and the two unconsciously attracted no
tlce around the theaters, lit and outside
of the theatrical profession. Dr. Dan
forth hs won the. warm friendship of
.Marie Doro. the star, and among the
members of the company he is known as
"The chaplain of the fleet." while Mrs.
Danforth. a dainty little woman who is
with him in his travels. Is the "little
mother" of the company.
The discovery of Dr. Danforth as
playwright by Mr. Frohman Is an Inter
eating story, which has been current gos
sip in theatrical circles during the week
"I have put many people on the stage
snd fathered a great many writers of
r-plays," said the manager to a representa
1ive of The Oregonlan." but the dlscov
ery of this clergyman-dramatist is in
-class all by itself, and It has never ap
"-eared In a newspaper. Dr. Danforth'
Iparlsh Is at Elmhurst. a beautiful and
aristocratic suburb of Chicago. Some
three years ago I met at my Summer
lliome. In Rye North Beach, N. H., some
.Elmhurst' people, who Immediately bega
Walking to me about their dramatic mln
'ister. and the plays he had been writ
'ng In a quiet way. They importuned me
:to let him send me one of his-drama
Ifor reading. However, nothing came of
fit. till a year later, when I happened to
J be In Chicago. For years I have been
'addicted to the bicycle habit, and on a
(Sunday morning In Chicago I suildenly
rthought of the minister out In Elmhurst
and decided to wheel out to the suburb
land see what his preaching was like,
without attracting- any attention Just to
study the man quietly.
"On that Summer's day I found the
lirtle church and a nence ft nA jlm ainla
W'r me as I entered Its doors. Outside
were the beautiful trees, with the birds
.ringing, and within were a company of
cultured people. 1 wondered, how the sub
urb could turn out so large an audience,
but my question was answered when the
"clergyman began reading a psalm. Never
rnefore had I heard the writings of David
tread with such sympathy and dramatic
power, well, of course. I began to sit
up and take nofice. Then came the ser
mon. That sermon was a drama on
episodes in the life of the poet-king of
Israel. It had all the elements unity.
order and movement of a genuine drama
There were characters from the Old
Testament, acting out the story of the
Joys and sorrows of life so vividly that
they seemed to be walking about on
stage. ' ,
"Studying the voice, facial expressions
and movements 0 the minister, I said.
there is a natural-born actor, a man who
. 1s so totally unconscious of It not a mln-
lster who is consciously acting, but one
who is so alive with dramatic power that
he belongs to that modern school of re
pression which embodies fhe highest
ideals of art today. It opened a new
chapter on what a minister could be.
"Then, as my habit is. I feel to study
ing the audience. There they sat. old
( and young, a company of fastidious peo
ple, not easy to hnbl. even In a tneater,
without a movement from start to fin-
ish. completely dominated by the power
of the scene presented to them. It lasted
not over 30 minutes, but during that time
.you could have heard a pin drop in the
. little church. Well. I admitted to myself
that I had struck something unusual. A
Tninister who could hold a hardened vet
eran of the theater like me spellbound
: for 30 minutes was a poser. At the close
of the service 1 asked one of the ushers
If that was an unusual sermon. 'Oh. no.
he replied. "Dr. Danforth has been giving
us that kind for 10 years."
"My curiosity was stimulated and I
asked questions. It seemed that Dr. Dan
.' forth had received many calls to large
churches at a salary five tlmea as large
'as he was getting, but he preferred to
i etay In the little Elmhurst church. Why?
, First, because he had absolute indepen
dence. In fact, he had a contract specl
1 fvlng that he was to be looked upon as
an ordinary citizen a man among men.
.He was to preach as the light came to
Ijim. without fear or favor, and he was
' to preach only one sermon a week on
bunday morning, when he demanded that
t , . i
- i
A. T." ' :
-,.' i --'i """ 1 ?
: ' ? " ' ' i
1 . .
w
x.
REV. WILLIAM DANFORTH, NIMSTKK-FLII ttKUiUT.
all must turn out, since they were not
burdened with other services. He was
not to make 'pastoral calls.' but just to
move about .as a friend and neighbor.
In other words he was simply a Chris
tian among christians, and rot an ec
clesiastical functionary set up on a pin
nacle to carry the religion of the community.
Furthermore, his church was the only
English-speaking one in the suburb, and
within it were members representing over
14 denominations, all the way from Spir
itualists and Christian Scientists to Pres
byterians and Baptists, all uniting on a
common creed, and during Dr. Danforth's
ministry there had not been the faintest
ripple of criticism or lack of harmony
How was this? Well. Dr. Danforth was
not dependent on Ills salary. He devoted
his spare time to literary work, which
yielded him a fair Income, and he pre
ferred this small field with Its indepen-
ence and manly friendships to a larger
field, where he might be called on to
truckle to this or that Interest. In fact,
his wants were modest, and he did not
ppear to care for fame or money or
ecclesiastical power.
In short. I decided to stay over In
Elmhurst and meet the minister person
ally. I found him exceedingly modest and
averse to talking about himself. He
had been a newspaper man after leaving
college, had his experience with a big
city church, and settled down In Elm
hurst to work out his destiny in the min
istry on his own lines, where the people
loved him, and where he could shape their
money and influence toward the good of
the outside world. He wanted the little
church to be as big In charity, harmony
nd honest Christianity as a cathedral.
When I asked him about his play-writ
ing his eyes began to glow. He had not
been saying much about it. but all his
people knew of it. and were thoroughly
In svmpathy. They were all anxious for
him to stay with them his Ilfe-tlme, but
they wanted him to reach out to the
larger world through his plays. He had
new one In mind. It dealt with the
peculiar life of the Shakers, a little
known sect, whose exalted spirituality
ad attracted the study of the minister.
Then and there he outlined his Shaker
play. 'The Gates of Eden,' to me. It was
an intensely dramatic conflict between
material and spiritual forces. Involving
beautiful love story. I made him prom
ise to show me a scenario before I. left
Chicago, and he delivered the goods.
"Now, the usual way would have been
to have taken him up and put on his play
for him, but I determined on an unusual
course. I realized that this minister was
to be a powerful force in our theatrical
world. When I asked him If he would
like to go on the stage as an actor, he
smiled quietly and shook his head. He
wanted to write the plays for other peopl
to act. So I mude up my mind to try
him as his own manager, making him pro
duce his play at the Garrick Theater,
Chicago, under competent aides, of course,
after I had the "script" read by the most
critical readers we have.
"At the Garrick 'The Gates of Eden
was such a success that Dr. Danforth re
ceived a?n offer from Samuel French, of
New York, on behalf of the stock houses
of America, for the rights to the play
and I advised him" to accept It, kecause
wanted him to have the discipline of see
ing his play presented under as adverse
circumstances as possible, by a variety of
.companies to various audiences. After
the drama had been played In three Chi
cago houses, in Kansas City and else
where. It proved itself such a valuable
property that Nelson Roberts, a live and
energetic Broadway manager, made him
a splendid offer for the rights to the unit
ed States and Canada for a long term of
years.- Mr. Roberts has brought over
from England Betty Bancroft, a young
and talented star, a niece of Lady Ban
croft, who received her first dramatic
schooling under Mary Anderson, for the
leading role. Miss Bancroft is at present
in Ne York and a splendid company Is
being organized to present 'The Gates of
Eden during the coming season.
"Thus the minister has proved himself
capable of making his way quietly as his
own manager. In a planner much better
for -his development than as if he had
been taken up by us and carried. He has
been out repeatedly with" the Frohman
companies on the road, studying the stage
and Its people, and the public In front.
"Joseph C. Lincoln, author of 'Cy Whit
taker's Place.' has Just closed a contract
with Dr. Danforth for the dramatization
of that novel. After our tour of the Coast
Dr. Danforth will go to New York to
shape up this play with Mr. Lincoln for
a comedian of world-wide reputation. If
I'm not mistaken. It will make a powerful
play, since the book Is clean, wholesome.
Intensely human and of great dramatic
vitality."
FROM THE JOURNAL OF JOYCE
In Which a Portland. Girl Tells of Saint Elizabeth's Birthday.
I-CriSE I.KXINOTON.
"Heart's Content." July 7. 1909.
I AM now at home upon my vacation,
and I am so glad to be here once
more so glad to be In this cool,
pretty bungalow In the Rose City, up
here among the hedges of roses, the
screens of sweet pe.-ie and the green,
iwaet-smelling cedars and firs. Of
i course. 1 enjoyed staying at Aunt Mar
m saret f. in Chicago, to study music, and
I shall be glad to return again in Sep
tember. But It will be for the sake
jif the music and Aunt Margaret, and
. not for love of the great "Windy City."
ioh. the blessed. Messed homecoming
to the green, green hills: How I , have
'dreamed of my Portland, with enow
, capped peaks surrounding it: the peace
ful river flowing through it. and its
many charming homes, with their sun
dappled lawns and their roses frag
rant, rare, everywhere. All of it stirs
within me the sweetest emotions. I
think my home ilty the most beautiful
of any In the wide world, and Billy
ls confident that 1 know whereof I
speak, since- I have traveled all the
way to Chicago and hack again'. And
K.ir me. l--t me dwell tn my nook.
Her. fo the -urv of thui Drook.
Tht crru.r.p to the tuae of my bonk.
That croons to tlie tune of my book."
And let the world go by. But I should
like to know what Is In the small
sjuare box which 1 brought with me
for mamma. Aunt Margaret sent It with
the express command that it should re
main unopened until her birthday.
"Heart's Content." July 10. 1909.
There is nothing like the familiar,
homely things of life to make us glad
that we are alive and a part of it all.
Outside the man Is piling: up the
Winter's wood In great cords near the
curb. It looks so clean and smells so
fragrant that I am tempted to go out
and play upon It with Billy. After
wards will come the noisy bti7.z saw
'to cut it into short lengths, when It
will be carried Into the basement. And
then the sunshine of the countless
Summers that has been stored away
In the hearts of the giant firs will
be given back again In merry, crack
ling flames to cheer us when Summer
Is gone.
In contrast to this I think of grimy,
t arr.oky, coal-consuming Chicago. And, j
dear me, how Ruth Ann docs sniff and
fume over my white dresses and pet
ticoats, and how dingy they look com
pared with Julie's! Ruth Ann declares
they are utterly "evaporated" with coal
dust, and she has had them all spread
nut i.nnn the rrnsfc ewr since I ' came
I home. The only way In which I am
able to get a single . thing to wear
downton Is by giving her two hours'
FORC ES EI-SILTAX TO DIS-
uoRue fs.ooo.ooo.
s-rv
v , f -
t! r t
I . I "i
J Humli II 1 1ml Panha.
NEW YORK. July H. Spe
cial.) Hussein Hilmi Pasha has
succeeded in squeezing $5,000,000
out of Abdul Hamid. and the
' screws are being tightened In the
hope of making the late Sultan
disgorge all his ill-gotten wealth.
The ex-Sultan was always in fear
of being deposed and he put a way
In foreign investments many mil
lions, it was Hussein who was
Chosen by the Young Turk gov
ernment to go from" Constantino
ple to Saloniea to make the late
Sultan, give back to the Turkish
R-overnment some of the millions
of which he robbed the people.
notice that she might "wrench it out'
and iron it for me. I am getting a
little tired of staying at home. Every
body we know seems to be going some
where. Heigh-ho, and oh, for a for
tune, that little Billy, pretty Julie,
Saint- Elizabeth and Joyce might go
to the fair!
"Heart's Content," July 15, 1909.
This morning I helped Julie cut the
roses great baskets of roses, In all
stages of bloom. It has been so cool
and' showery that they are about as
plentiful now as in June. Some are
to go into the -tall dragon jar in the
hall: some are for the bowls and jar
dinieres, and . others are to be carried
to gardenless friends. - Julie Is a sort
of rose worshiper. She is certain that
"earth hath no pricelier flower than
roses white, and roses red." She hov
ers about the fragrant blossoms all
Summer long, like a bumblebee about
the clover; and in the Winter. when
they have departed. shev still has the
fragrant whiffs from her rose jars to
console her. These Jars of Julie's are
a source of perpetual delight 'to her.
and to many of her friends as well,
for she makes a great many each Sum
mer to give away. She said this morn
ing that the Jars were beginning to
smell like fairyland, and when I asked
her why she' must always drag the
fairies into ordinary conversation, she
replied ever so wistfully, "Oh, Joyce,
honey. I suppose it's because I shall
soon have to leave fairyland to Billy,
as I am getting too old to live there
any more." But Saint Elizabeth kissed
her and said gently: "Don't do It, J
darling! Don't outgrow fairyland, lit
tle daughter. Keep It In your heart."
And now I think I have the answer
to something that has always puzzled
me. The reason Saint Elizabeth stays
so young and charming, and so unlike
all the other grown-ups we know, is
because she keeps fairyland In her
heart. Julie and A started to write a
birthday poem for her today.
"Heart's Content," July 20, 1909.
Julie and 1 have been trying to guess
what is in the little birthday box: and
as the time is drawing so near In which
we may open it and see, the mystery
seems more tantalizing than ever. Julie
said she hoped it would hold the golden
key that unlocks the door to fame. She
always insists that some of Saint Eliza
beth's stories will some day make her
famous. I wished it might contain a
beautiful new motor car like Aunt Mar
garet's; and Billy, who is nothing if not
practical, thought a nice new nozzle for
the garden hose would be most accept
able. Billy Is going to grow up into a
farmer, I think. When we asked Ruth
Special Napoleon Bed
$35 to $45 Beds
July Sale Price . .
Sale
,tv
51 vS-iSc . A.
jj i in"
20 Patterns A Woods
These popular Napoleon beds are in
three styles the "Empire,? heavy ,
roll and light roll over head and foot
pieces and are shown in dark mahog
any, luna mahogany, birdseye maple
and golden oak; fine hand rubbed and
hand polished ; the wood being very
beautifully grained, the piano polish
gives a finish unsurpassed for elegance.
The beds are worth from $35 to $45, but
for this July sale are quoted
at only
Hall Clocks
$28
Solid Oak, .
Early English Finish,
Brass Dial Numerals
$25 Clocks
for only
$9.95
Warranted to be
good timekeep
ers. Size fifteen
inches by six
feet. Two styles.
An extra special
price. They give
a complete less
and finish to
your hall.
mm
l i - -
I j
Special in Solid Brass
Six Beautiful Patterns From Which to Choose
In this sale of solid brass-beds we include both the con
tinuous posts and the straight posts, r"ound rods and
square rods. If you are interested in brass beds, see
these values this week.
$35 to $50 Beds for $25
5000 Yards Best Grade Axminster Carpets
A wonderful special is offered in our Carpet Department this weet We place on special sale 5000 yards of best
grade Axminster Carpet in orientals, florals and conventional designs, in red and tans, green and tans, at the
remarkably low price of $1.25 per yard. It has extra high nap, extra firmly woven back, positively fast colors
in fact, a grade of carpet that others price at $2.00 per yard and more. Gevurtz' extra special price, per yard,
this week . . .
Genuine Leather CouciT Sale
Circassian Walnut Dressers
i
$60, $70 and $75 Couches $49
We are closing out some ten different styles of genuine leather Couches at
the above price. These couches have the finest steel frame and best oil
spring construction, covered with the No. 1, first-grade genuine leather.
They are diamond-tufted and button-tied. A great saving in price here
for some one who wants a good article.
$40 and $50
Dressers Only
$29.50
These beautiful Circassian Walnut
Dressers are of the newest models,
many of them shaped like the cut.
Large French bevel-plate mirrors,
perfectly fitting drawers with pulls
made of the same woo3. The wal
nut is of the natural finish but per
fectly hand-rubbed and polished.
We are closing out four different
patterns at the uni- (JJOQ Cft
form price of ,j3ti J.OU
No. 1205. Rocker; in best
oak, just like the cut, new
model, weathered finish,
Boston leather upholster
ed seat; a regular $11
value for only ...$6.25
Over 25 other fine Mis
sion Rockers, made of
best Eastern oak, in the
weathered and early Eng
lish finish; hand made
and hand buffed leather
upholstered seats, brass
and covered tacks; very
high grade " goods, the
product of the Dexter
Chair Company on spe
cial sale.
This Mission Rocker $6.25 Sale of Fine Dining Chairs
! We are closing out about twenty
odd sets of dining chairs at about
half rxrice. They are models discon
tinued by the manufacturers. All
of them are full box seat,' some
have genuine leather padded seats.
I hey are bargains worth seeing.
No. 545. $8 chair
for $5.50
No. 31. $12 chair
for $6.50
No. 32. $15 chair
for ........ $8.50
The "Alaska" Refrigerators
are best and cheapest because the.y require but little ice
to do the work. They are lined with charcoal the great
non-conductor of heat.
$1 Down, $1 a Week
"New Method" Gas Ranges
consume but three-fourths as much gas as other ranges.
Keep down your gas bill by ordering a "New Method."
Sold on easy , terms. . . v .
Pay $1.00 a Week
Your
Home
Furnished
Cheaply
Yet
Elegantly
iWliy Gevuf tz'Sells the Cheapest:
- WaiJiiy ra tamewe yuanutief a 0 nip m ruu tarioaa
G
First and Yamhill
Second and Yamhill
Pay a
Little
at a
" Time
IfYou
Like
Ann to Kuess she said it was probably
something that was of no earthly use-
such as a pair of gold -ear-ooDs: june
and I laughed heartily at .the thought of
Saint EIIabeth, who looks like a pic
ture In a stained glass window, wearing
gold "ear bobs." .
The newspaper for which mamma
works is going to spare her to us for
a whole week, and I have been wishing
we might send her somewhere for a
change. But she is quite determined we
cannot alTord It. so we have decided to
stay at "Hearfs Content" and not fret.
Billy has a succession of lettuce and
onions growing among his roses, and he
is of the opinion that lie would not be
able to' leave anyway, as "a feller has
to watch a garden." And Julie declares
she could not trust anyone to finish off
her rose-Jars. But I am lonesome and
long for a little fun. I am rested and
want to play, and there seems to be no
body to play with me. I want to go some
place, like Lois Clifton, who starts for
Seaside tomorrow. Well, anyway, here
la "Heart's, Content," and besides we
are to have Saint Elizabeth for a whole
week. One ought to be satisfied. We fin
ished the birthday poem today.
"Heart's Content." July 24, 1809.
Today Is Saint Elizabeth's birthday.
Billy gathered a bowl of fresh roses for
the breakfast table, and I put the mys
terious box upon her plate; she knew
nothing of Aunt Margaret's gift. The
little sonnet was Julie's and my gift
to her. and she seemed as gay and happy
over it and the flower as If they had been
really Important. She opened the little
box, and what do you think? Besides a
perfectly beautiful belt buckle, set with
her birthstone, it contained a letter from
Aunt Margaret and what, a letter! She
will arrive in Portland today. When
mamma came to that part we thought
Ruth Ann would have a fit. To expect
a guest and be cheated of a general
housecleaning was almost too much for
her. and It was certainly laughable to
see her stand in blank dismay while the
nice brown cakes she had just brought
in slid one by one unheeded to the floor.
Aunt Margaret's letter said In part:
"I hope, Elizabeth, you will not mind
my swooping down upon you like this;
but I did so want to attend the Fair,
and thought what a good time we could
all have by going together. I hope you
will not have any objection to my plan,
but will accompany me day after to
morrow to Seattle you and Joyce and
Julie and Billy. As Joyce often says, 'I
have a feeling that something beautiful
is about to happen.' "
And now I will copy mamma's birth
day poem right here, after which I will
close my Journal and help poor Ruth
Ann. who is flying about In quite a
frenzy. It was Julie's idea to make the
sonnet an acrostic, she having somehow
discovered that our pet name for mamma
contained exactly fourteen letters. Good
bye, dear Journal, until after the Fair.
I have a feeling that something beautiful
is about to happen.
Sins low. sveet muse of poesy, low and
swoet.
And teach us aomethiniF of thy gracious art;
Into our hearts breathe power to touch a
heart
Numbers that pulfate with a rhythmic beat, j
Teach us imi prayer with which our taint
to greet.
Each soft endearing term and prettv part
Love lavished on us at our own life's start,
Inspire us now with memorv to repeat.
Zealous and all untiring, day by day
Along the path of babyhood she led
Both little wanderers in life's new way;
Ever she laughed, and sang, and comforted.
Teach u some gift of gratitude to show
Her whom It pleasureth to love us so!
To a Flirt.
Smart Set.
Here's to ber love though It live but an.
hour.
Here's to the glow In the heart of a flow'r.
And would It be fair, do you think and
pray why .
To crush a poor flower because it must
die?
Then drink to her love, for as long aa it
lives.
And drink to the Joy and the pain that It
gives. ,
For we may as well own it and ewallow
our pride.
We'd be very g!ad to ' win her. and most
of us tried.
1