The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-04
VICTORIEN SARDOU.
HE JUsTIFIEs THE ORIGINALITY OF SER
REoL"-EEpLY TO HIS NEW YORK cRITIcs-
PARALLEL EXAMPLES FROM SHAKESPEARE
Tho f,iIovinu letter has hean received nv Moesrs

HE JUSTIFIES THE ORIGINALITY OF SER
REoL"-EEpLy TO HIS NEW YORK cRITIcs-
PARALLEL EXAMPLES FROM SHAKESPEARE.
Tho following letter has been received by Mcssrs
Shook 4 Palmer, Of the Union Square Theatre,
from NJ vicoricn Sardou answer to the charges Of
plagiarism made against his play of Fcrreol":-
GESrLEMEs--I received tins morning the letter in
which you tell me OF the success OF "Fcrreoln in New
York had received on Sunday tho telegram in
which you informed me that wicked trick sought
10 be played upon you regarding tue authorship or
proprlctorshp OF my piece, which II was pretended
had copied from the ''Assassin-du Bel Antone' OF NJ.
Paul Parait. II was impossible for me TO you
by telegram ms do by letter. THIS is why confined
myself stating you that this born Of
phantasy, and told you Of the coming arrival Of
this letter. You asked question whose answer
would not meet tho issue. The question Is not
whether the novel OF NJ Pariat preceded in its publica-
ton the production OF my piece but whether my piece
The publication OF NJ Paraits novel did prccedc the
frst rcpres NATION Of .Fcrreol " but u does not at
when ''Fcrrco appeared NJ. Parfait assorted
Tor claimed or preiendcdl that my piece
was inspired by his novel In this NJ. Parialt
but following practice which the French press
now occupies itself only to mock In truth, no
piece OF mine is played nowadays that some
does not claim 10 have previously originated IT, But
each time that the question has b, submitted
buna Tor judgment have gained my This time
the decisions OF the press DECISIVE this qucs
tion that NJ Paul Parialt declined having the matter
passed upon by the ordinary tribunal-he Commission
OF Dramatic Authurs--who usually adJudlcate these
questions ofhterary prolr1orshp This that he
himself nay recognized The fact that his prctcnsions
without foundation. He dared TO attack
ana he acted wisely, for should have VIGOROUSLY
demonstrated TO hun before tribunal of my fellow
authors what the press had already shown him. SO as
reduce HIM silence The truth IL that his novel
itself inspired by several other French novels that
had preceded it. The complication he would claim
is one OF those ideas which belong to everybody, and
which each may treat or use in his own way that
his own way or manner OF treating il be new and his
own. Nothing in fact less new than the idea OF an
o cr q nd nOt nm mt
ana OF witness TO tnat crime who, knowing the truth
dares not tell il lest he compromised There
are many plays and many novels written on this
picaton, rs there are many written on every subject
that mas helped TO furnish the modern drama;
the difference beng that have treated the subject In
my own way, in new way, in way wholly mine, and
have in that way achieved the success OF "Ferreol"
And that makes that piece mine and debars anybody
IRON contcsting ny proprietorship thereof
again. my piece is so completely recognized as an
original piece that alone and without question en-
JOY It's authorship and all the rights and benefits thereto
belonging whereas If ~ Pariat any other had
any way TO establish mere right to share in those
benefits, he would not have failed TO do it. But the
press public had so clearly decided the fact that
NJ. Partt did not hazard appeal TO trial in which,
he saw he must inevitably he defeated am ready TO
furnish you such proofs as you may DESIRE by sending
you declaration from the Society OF Dramatic Authors,
establishing the TACT that in France my piece enjoys all
the rights that attach work recognized original
Allow Inc TO express my astonishmcnt that pre-
tension abandoned by ". Parait himself who mad
most Interest ~ establishing it, should find advocates
In New York when II could lind none IN Paris. Allow
for the sake OF the honor Of your country regret
that dIsoyal proceeding should be put in practice
at the very moment when some honest mau Ike
sef gave too iardy hope by probity TO which
have not been accustomed Of recognition OF
rights authors-rghts of which have hitherto
been despoilcd in manner at once the most dscour
tcous and the most Infamous II then at tiino
when French authors losing their old
right Of protesting against the literary piracy
OF your countrymcn that those persons imagine
n new way 10 escape the obligations duo US by
invoking for their profit pretended copies Of pretended
plagiarisms II such plea were admitted what piece
could escape similar accusatons What piece can BIO
cited that docs not recall another piece already played
or novel already pubishedy Would Shakespeare
himself escape the dlsloyal examination? Would u
not easy enough 10 demonstrate that amlct is but
The fable 0restesy Is the assassination Of the
father by the aduiterous mother common 10 both
Are they not both equally burdcncd by tho awful
task till reason cracks In both7 Yet In spite or these
resemblances Is not "Hamletp the "Hamletn of
Shakespeare, and his onlyY Should his original
authorship OF IL 10 questioned? We have
been told there Is nothing now under the
sun; but there ways OF putting old things IL
the Of presenting and arranging old tru-
facts denotes the originality OF an author.
In brief sFcrrcol y is mine, and do not why It's
authorship should be questioned in New ork when II
admitted Paris, in Vienna, In Milan, IN Berlin,
and every other city where u has been played. ex
cept to dcfaud you OF the rights which you bad hon
estiy paid me TO honestly use. BE kind enough to
keep informed OF the course and termination OF an
affair which, assure YOU aiicts me much, and accept
my cordial SITUATIONS " SARDOU.