Page:Waifs and Strays (1917).djvu/226

The infallible manager became convinced of the hopelessness of their ignorance of practical theatrical exigencies. “The second act was bad, the first scene was an interior,” etc., etc. He engaged another man to rewrite the book. This was done. The manager approved the new man’s outline. But his dialogue was rejected wholly, and the original collaborators had more rewriting to do. O. Henry never worked harder or more conscientiously on anything in his life. He lost weight. He worried. Day and night they worked on the comedy. Again they sent on the completed script, this being the third or fourth “rewrite.” As they mailed it, O. Henry recited in a singular minor key:

Followed more dissatisfaction on the manager’s part, and several harassing trips to Chicago.

But, finally, “Lo” was produced. Mr. Adams tells the tale: “The first performance was given in Aurora, Illinois, on August 25, 1909. With two exceptions—any members of the company who chance to read this will wonder who the second one I have in mind is—the acting was mediocre. But it ‘went’ well and the unbiassed Auroran seemed to like it. I rather enjoyed it myself. There was no Night of Triumph, however. After the performance the