In Mizzoura A Play In Four Acts Author:Augustus Thomas IN MIZZOURA Play in Four Acts - 1916 - - PREFACE - This preface is one of a number trying to show each for its particular play, the hnanner of the plays conception, whether starting from a theme, a character, or a situation the difficulty of the start and the larger problems of the storys development, together with the ways considered and chosen... more » to answer them. It has been thought that such accounts might be of interest, and in some instances, perhaps, helpful to others beginning on the same kind of work. In the spring of 1891 Mr. Nat Goodwin was , one of the most popular and successful, as well as one of the most skillful, of American actors. He had played lively and slight farces almost exclusively but having the ability for serious work as well, he was ambitious to try it. In a comedy by Brander Matthews and George H. Jessop, called A Gold Mine he had given one or two dramatic scenes most convincingly and one sentimental soliloquy with a rose in exquisite tenderness. In person he is under the average height and then, was slight, graceful, and with a face capable of conveying the subtlest shades of feeling. The forehead was ample the eyes were large and blue, clear and steady. The nose was mildly Roman the hair was the color of new hay. His voice was rich and modulated. These points are reported because they helped form the equipment of the star, who wanted a serious play in which he should be the hero. The order was without other conditions the play might be of any period and of any land. My own ignorance fixed certain limitations. At that time I had acquaintance with no other countries than the United States and Canada. These I knew Toe Witching Hour Mrs Lefflngwells Boots The Ead of Paw tucket, The Harvest Moon Oliver 8oldsmith. 4 PREFACE. fairly well. I had traveled them with one night theatrical companies and also in newspaper assignments and over restricted districts I had worked in the employment of a railroad company. I didnt care to write from books so my Goodwin hero was to be perforce an American. It seemed best to make him an American of 1891. Other times and places were excluded and dismissed from mind...« less