The New York herald., 1874-10-25
INWARD ON HOWARD.
To Ty n EDITOR os TUE HERALD

10 U.R EDITOR or THE HERALD
thank you most heartily for the very kind
lords in yonr editorial columns on thursday
morning SO far as tnev related TO the cnarge Oh
Frencn origin OF saratoga the dnteade hono-
raois could not nave been made with more cour-
tesy aud apparent sincerity. This acknowledg-
ment would have been made by me IN strictly
private note had not paragraph IN your edition
Of Friday renewed the ormer charge, distinctly
calling upon me lor public reply.
Your dramatic editor says;-
We have the authors word for 1t that neither
Saratoga nor "Moorcrot' Is taken rom the
French We are sorry Tor 1t. We mad hoped both
wele But he insists that in the deed OF dulness
ne mad no accomphce. Alone he did IT, The crtc
OF the London Times, animated by kindness suy-
gested that some Frenchman was 10 blame. we
thought Mr.. Bronson Howard had seen a French
comedy, called-ii We remember correctiy-'Les
set US right. Toe London critic evidently caught
at the same hope; but Mr.. Howard gives US MS
word that he knows nothing OF such source as
Lies Eaux,n ana we are bound 70 believe him.
The French play Lies Eaux," mere referred to,
was the origin OF nv controversy witl the London
Times during the past summer, which resulted IN
my acquital in England OF the charge OF plag,ar-
ism. IL is from the columns OF that paper that
your dramatic editor taxes ms mint. The words
Originally used by the Times were as iollows:-
.Wnispers have been uttered about piece, now
forgotten, which was once acted with the sugges-
tive title, Les Eaux'n
In my response. used the following language,
which your own dramatic editor WIN please con-
sder as now addressed 10 himself instead OF TO the
edior oi the London Times -
.'As to what you have intimated about certain
mysterious whispers and the play OF Les FAUX ,
can only say that this play is as unfamiliar to me
as II Is 10 yourself l, like you. have never seen
or read It, but am willing to stake my reputa-
tlon on the chanceR II 1t happens TO resemble
my play you may uee II TO sustain your charge.
You say II is forgotten; advertise for some one
who remembers where the last copy was mislaid
AMI then give me the benefit OF something more
than whisper In the way OF SO serious charge
as that 0f literary theLo
The editor OF the Times made no EFFORT whatever
TO sustain his charge. The paragraph in the
HERALD is but an echo. imagine, OF this English
whisper aod am not likely to get any more
definite information about the forgotten play or
this $ de OF the water. II the London editor mad
forgotten IL no dramatic critic In TINS country Is
likely to remember it NJ. Scribe wrote a piece en-
Titled Lies Faux du MOnLDOre." That, however,
was a simple vaude vile IN one act and the plot IN
no uay resembles that OF the i've act comic drama
saratoga Besides, should dislike exceedingly
10 intimate that the dramatic editor OF the LONDON
Times could refer to play by The greatest comic
writer OF the nineteenth century as ''iorgotten:"
much more would l hesitate 10 charge similar
HERALD
Az to what correspondent "Boisel' SAYS in TO-
literature" entitled lie Monsieur" i have
nothing TO say except this:-I have never
read the work, and cannot answer his ques
sembes "the last act or Saratoga or not
II you, or any reader OF the HERALD, wish to
charge me- hereafter, with imitation OF any work
in French Chinese Hindoostanee, or any other
lamiiar language, trust the charge win De made
IN some definite form, and that description oil the
work, to enlighten my own ignorance, Will accom-
pany your questions and insinuatons. 1t seems
hardly fair TO merely ask question or throw out
an intimatlon, and then call upon me to ''prove
my innocence" ! cannot hunt mp loregn
plays and novels at the instance OF
every man who cares to write let
ter to newspaper, or OF drama TIC
critic wLo does not pretend TO have seen me
WORK TO which he refers in charging me with
plagiarism. II you have the works before you
tell me and the puolic exactly what the scenes or
characters which you think have borrowed
without due recognition. In sucn case | will
meet you fairly, good naturedly and respectfully.
j Will conceal nothing, nor resort to any subter-
fuge, and the public can decide between us. re-
main, very truly yours, BRONSON HOWARD.
LOToS CLUB, Oct. "a, 1874.