The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-25
THE DANICHEFFS CASE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
We neg respectfully, but earnestly, to protest against
the spirit your report of law proceedings in tho
matter OF s.The Danichefis well the editorial
alluslon to the same. Tobe funny is good thing In
It's proper time and place. but 10 be funny at the e.
pense principle Is quite another thing, and in this
instance it seems TO us o bad That there is
u principle underlying our contest about "The DAM
cheis' We do believe you will, upon reflection,
deny any more than believe that you will seriously
persist in saying that that contest is pushed on oci
part for tho purpose Of getting gratui.
tous advertising for our play. We thnk
our course as managers curing the past five
years, Ii IL has demonstrated anything, has made
1t pretty clear that have never purposely sought
ssgrautous advertising Of any Sort If Mr. Du mas
soiemnly contracting with ia Paris that play for
which we pay him large amount of money and on
which he is receive much more has Impossible as
the supposon is) wiliuy violated that contract aud
rendered large expenditure wort HESS Is not worth
while both matter OF principle and as matter OF
business for as to find 1t outs IT. the other hand,
those persons in Germany TO whom NJ. Dumas has
delegated for that country the powers over his
play he has delegated to US for ours-the exclusive
right OF stage SO far exceeded
those powers as 10 publish and openly sell the play IN
the book OF Berlin and Vienna. Is II not worth
while, both a matter OF principle aud as matter
OF business, for lind out whether our courts Will
sustain the representatives oil those persons mere 10
what appears TO Its lace to be an unlawful pro-
ceedihgy These were practically the questions which
were before the Court yesterday IL seems TO US that
neither of them trivial or funny, aud that they
ought not TO be treated by journal which has
always been foremost IN IT'S advocacy oil air ana nom
est dealing between author ard manager aud when
has done > much IN behalf OF dramatic art In TINS
country Surely the HERALD would not, aftor all II
has this subject. seriously assert II rs
honorable for an American manager to appropriate
product Of the brains o an author who happens c
live foreign country and has therefore no protec.
ton under our statutory laws, without compensation
To author II Is to pay justly and literally Tor
the work. Yet the whole drlft and spirit of The law
''rcport'' OF which we complain Is IN favor OF the
manager who uses tue play IN question without such
compensation, and against those who have paid and
still purpose To pay for H. and who are struggling 10
MAINTAIN their equity rights la legitimate and
peaceful way. AS to the other point which appears
mirth-provoking TO your reporter--the pur.
chase by from Mr. Neuendorrs business
| manager of printed copy OF 1.-The Danichefis'
for The sum OF 500, we have only TO say
that IT, as you allcgc, That copy bought from Mr..
Steger for small sum oil money before II was sold TO
us, then either that highly respectable book dealer
Is guilty OF alsiiyng, Tor he has repeatedly assured
our messenger that he never had copy OF the book
for salc or the man Hucbncr guilty OF obtaining
money the shabbcst OF false pretences for he rep
resented to us that he imported the play himself and
that the only two other copies In this country
in the posse ssion OF Mr. Neuendorn In what ght
does this latter gentleman stand, Judged by the rules
which govern honorable men, " your reporters
statement oil the true? Surely the business Of
cntrapping his fellow managers into such foolish
purchase as u 10 alleged made is hardly worthy Of
tho dignity OF person occupying the position q
manager OF the first Ger theatre In this country
We do not bolieve Mr. Editor tina, when YOU come 70
review this case you Will ail that emf.
nently worthy OF more serious and more impartial
treatment than 1t received at the hands Of your
porter this morning, and that belief we subscribe
Shook & PALMER
UNION sorARE THEATRE, JAM 20, 1877.