He wrote a play.
"John Smith of Montana" was a success. Frank played the leading part,
and he made a hit.
Then fate rose up and again dealt him a body blow. A scene in the play
was almost exactly like a scene in another play, written previously. The
author and owner of the other play called on the law to "protect" him.
An injunction was served on Merry to restrain him from playing "John
Smith." He stood face to face with a lawsuit.
Frank investigated, and his investigation convinced him that it was
almost certain he would be defeated if the case was carried into the
courts.
He withdrew "John Smith."
Frank had confidence in himself. He had written a play that was
successful, and he believed he could write another. Already he had one
skeletonized. The frame work was constructed, the plot was elaborated,
the characters were ready for his use.
He wrote a play of something with which he was thoroughly
familiar---college life. The author or play-maker of ability who writes
of that with which he is familiar stands a good chance of making a
success. Young and inexperienced writers love to write of those things
with which they are unfamiliar, and they wonder why it is that they
fail.
They go too far away from home for their subject.
At first Frank's play was not a success. The moment he discovered this
he set himself down to find out why it was not a success.
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