text_original: "_ [Illustration] BY WAY OF EXPLANATION Several weeks ago an actor manager requested me to try my hand at a play for the winter season. The offer was unexpected. "My dear sir," I said, "I am immensely flattered, but I have never written a play."
text_transcription: BY WAY OF EXPLANATION SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AN ACTOR MANAGER REQUESTED ME TO TRY MY HAND AT A PLAY FOR THE WINTER SEASON THE OFFER WAS UNEXPECTED MY DEAR SIR I SAID I AM IMMENSELY FLATTERED BUT I HAVE NEVER WRITTEN A PLAY
phonemes: " [ˌɪləstɹˈeɪʃən] baɪ dˌʌbəljˌuːˌeɪwˈaɪ ʌv ɛksplɐnˈeɪʃən sˈɛvɹəl wˈiːks ɐɡˈoʊ ɐn ˈæktɚ mˈænɪdʒɚ ɹᵻkwˈɛstᵻd mˌiː tə tɹˈaɪ maɪ hˈænd æɾə plˈeɪ fɚðə wˈɪntɚ sˈiːzən. ðɪ ˈɔfɚ wʌz ˌʌnɛkspˈɛktᵻd. "maɪ dˈɪɹ sˌɜː," aɪ sˈɛd, "aɪɐm ɪmˈɛnsli flˈæɾɚd, bˌʌt aɪ hæv nˈɛvɚ ɹˈɪʔn̩ ɐ plˈeɪ."