Pursuing my alphabetical course, I came at last to the H’s and found the name of “Gus Hill.” After diligent inquiry I discovered that Gus Hill was the manager of “Gus Hill’s Stars,” at that time holding forth in a burlesque theater in Brooklyn. The day before the D’s having failed me in the person of the late Augustin Daly, I started for Brooklyn and Gus Hill. I asked for Mr. Hill at the stage door of the Star Theatre and was pointed out his dressing room and told that Mr. Hill was “in there.” I knocked somewhat timidly at this door and a voice called “Come in,” and I entered to see a slight, blond, pleasant-looking man, quite naked, who was rubbing himself down with a towel. I later learned that Mr. Gus Hill was at that time the “Champion Club Swinger of the World” and that he had just finished his usual stunt of swinging great clubs several times larger than himself. [Illustration: “The B’s were led by the name of William A. Brady” (_Photo by White Studio_) ] [Illustration: “Henry Miller was ... the greatest teacher of acting I have ever known.” (_Photo by Arnold Genthe_) ] As this turned out to be the critical moment of my life, pardon me if I drop into the dialogue form in an attempt to do it justice. Mad as the following may seem, it is true to the very last word. This is what actually took place between a very much embarrassed youth and a bland, blond, smiling and quite naked gentleman named Gus Hill: SCENE Gus Hill’s Dressing Room in Star Theatre, Brooklyn. CHARACTERS GUS HILL, thirty-five, a slight man of extraordinarily powerful frame, good-natured, smiling, costume absolutely none. OWEN DAVIS, twenty-four, stout, a bit shy. Costume—the only one he had. [_As the curtain rises_, GUS HILL _is discovered rubbing himself down with the contents of a bottle on the label of which we read the words “For Man or Beast.” There is a timid knock on the door and_ GUS HILL _calls_:] HILL Come in! [_The knock is repeated and again he calls_:] Come in you —— fool! [_The door opens and_ DAVIS _enters timidly and looks a bit impressed as he takes in the scene_.] [_Note: At this time_ DAVIS _was not hardened to managers and could still be impressed_.] HILL [_Pleasantly_] Who are you? DAVIS Er—Er—I’m—er—an author. HILL The hell you are? Do you know you’re the first one of ’em I ever saw this close. What do you want? DAVIS Er—well—I thought I—er—I’d like to have you produce my play. HILL All right, sit down on the trunk. DAVIS [_On trunk_] Well—er—that is—er—What I mean is I’d like to have you produce my play. HILL