(1869-1922)
Born in Adrian, Michigan, De Foe began his career in journalism with the Chicago Tribune. In 1899, he became drama critic for the New York Morning World and held that position until his death. According to Green and Laurie, he was unmitigatedly honest in his regular reviews, but then he would mollify the advertising department by reflecting back on the preceding week and offering more generous assessments in his Sunday column (1953, 116).
The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater. James Fisher.