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[Chapter I]The Theatre in the Making1
[Chapter II]The Blessing of the Generations50
[Chapter III]Play-Writing78
[Chapter IV]The Fight Over “The Playboy”109
[Chapter V]Synge119
[Chapter VI]The Fight with the Castle140
[Chapter VII]“The Playboy” in America169
[The Binding]253
[Appendix I]Plays Produced by the Abbey Theatre Co.261
[Appendix II]“The Nation” on “Blanco Posnet”267
[Appendix III]“The Playboy” in America280
[Appendix IV]In the Eyes of Our Enemies306
[Appendix V]In the Eyes of Our Friends314

ILLUSTRATIONS

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Lady Gregory[Frontispiece]
The Abbey Theatre, Dublin[40]
From a photograph by Keogh Bros., Ireland.
Miss Sara Allgood[80]
From a drawing by Robert Gregory.
J. M. Synge[120]
From a drawing by Robert Gregory in 1904.
Threatening Letter[296]

Our Irish Theatre

CHAPTER I
THE THEATRE IN THE MAKING

To Richard Gregory.—Little Grandson: When I go into the garden in the morning to find you a nectarine or tell you the names of flowers, Catalpa, Lovelies-bleeding, Balsam, Phlox, you ask me why I cannot stay but must go back to the house, and when I say it is to write letters, you ask, “What for?” And when winter comes, you will ask me why I must go away over the sea instead of waiting for your Christmas stocking and your tree.

The other day I was sitting outside the door, where the sweet-peas grow, with an old man, and when you came and called me he got up to go away, and as he wished me good-bye, he said: “They were telling me you are going to America, and says I, ‘Whatever the Lady does, I am certain she is doing nothing but what she thinks to be right.’ And that the Lord may keep you safe and protect you from the power of your enemy.”

Some day when I am not here to answer, you will maybe ask, “What were they for, the writing, the journeys, and why did she have an enemy?” So I will put down the story now, that you may know all about it bye and bye.