The New York herald., 1877-01-23
LES DANICHEFFS.
A Ludicrous Fight Over &C Old
Play with New Name.
DIR. OSMUN'S INVESTMENT.
Injunctions as an Advertising
Medium.
MANAGERIAL COURTESIES!
DIR. OSMUN'S INVESTMENT.
MANAGERIAL COURTEs1Es!

Judge Donohus sat for more than two hours yester-
day In Supreme Court, Chambers, patiently hearing
the argument OF counsel In the injunction recently
obtained by Shook Palmer. Of the Union Square
Theatre, against Ad Neuendorf, the manager OF the
Germania Theatre, restraining him from producing
German version OF the play known as lies Dani-
chefs" The Court in its patience illustrated in an
eminent degree the devotion ora New York Judge 70
the peculiar theory stage rights which has been set
up in this State, and gave lntmation whatever OF
any consciousness that It being made the vehicle
OF OF funniest practical jokes OF many years.
The principles Of law upon which the rulings OF our
courts is absurdty. II an English author
writes and publishes II for his own profit he can
restrain an American publisher from reproducingit,
because there is International copyright between
the Two countries. The courts will not interfere 10
protect foreign authors Of such publications, but
With regard plays produced abroad, but not pub
shed In any other way than their public representa-
ton, our courts hero set up different rule. manu-
script play, although produced In London, Paris or
Berlin may be sold to American manager for re-
production here and the will sustain the
ager in the rights acquired upon the same argu-
ments as those used by the friends OF international
copyright. "Stage rights' only another name Tor
international copyright for dramatic works without
copyright treaty In It's primary application II would
be simple justice applied 10 the fruits OF mans
labor In dramatic authorship, but It's absurdity
comes from the fact that our modern dramatists.
Initiating the example OF certain William Shakespeare
constantly working again the works of others,
and so is easy matter TOR even judge as astute
a. Judge Donohue 70 know original play when he
IL The Of 'Ies DanichefFs" is q case in
pont and the story Of the present litigation s well
ha Of nQq
very likely Is nothing more than an ntention on the
part OF enterprlsing managers to call public attention
TO the piece previous 70 les production
NRUEND0Rvr's SEARCH FOR NOVELTIES
When Richard Wagner gave his famous festivals
In thsy wonderful musical episode. As matter Of
course he kept his eyes and ears open Tor any novel
New @ moDe s ns
which he able TO procure were two German
versions OF play produced Paris during the season
OF 1878 and known s'Les DauichcHs." T" This play,
purported been written by member Of the
French Dramatic Authors Society named Cronin who
went by the de plume OF Pierre Ncwsky." and it
was not only reproduced in botn Berlin and Vienna
under the authorization OF that society, but German
versions OF The piece each them distinct trans
iat,on. were published in those cities Neuendorf
procured copy OF the Austrian version from book
seller at Vienna named Rosner, who was the publisher
Not with TINS copy he also bought copy OF
the Berlin version from q theatrical agent named
Roeder, who does business In the German capital.
Armed with these novelties he returned New York
and felt himself pre- pared produce lies Danchens
in German whenever the exigsnces OF his dramatic
most OppOrbuQes
WHAT PALMER BOUGHT
There Is in Paris a theatrical middleman named
Michaes, who sells tho right TO produce French
pieces IN New York 10 American managers This man
Is the embodiment OF what is known in courts a.
sstage rights" and he Is tolerated by our managers
because, acting for French dramatic authors, ho
guarantee actual rights IN the production OF French
pieccs In America under the rulings Of our courts.
cnens. which NeuendorT was able 10 buy iu Vienna
and Berlin In the bookstores Tor few cents, 10 Shook
~otohr dpap ntisI ire maj waa
ated in lis authorship. With this purchase they ao-
quired, lar Michaolis could confer it, the sole
right of the production OF the play in America,
and they at once took measures to guard
their stage rights in the piece. The only danger
tho purpose OF Neuendorn 70 produce In The
German language Negotiations were At once begun
prevent this ~ least 10 prevent II until Shook
Palmer s wsrs " crns on. Ds a. 'n
suited In an agreement according 70 M NcuendorRs
that both theatres should produce II simultaneously
that should be RECOGNITION OF the other In It's ad
vertisement On the other hand, Judge Uittenh0fer,
in hts argument before Judge Donohue yesterday, de-
cared that all that claimed such recognition
from Mr.. Neuentorf, anu he admitted that the per-
formanco the Germania Theatre which was
strained by tho injunction might have gone on II tho
announcements stated piece produced
by the permission OF Shook Palmer This narrows
the whole down to controversy about courtesy
between managers making Judge Donohue the arbiter
paid TOO MUCH FOR HIS WHISTLE"
Besides this there would be nothing In the case
except the gratuitous advertising the production OF
tho piece at both theatres viii OBTAIN IL had been
u.
d Palmer Osmun rs an American, who speaks German
fueny and although not actor he has an odd fancy
10 play "shylock" and "Richeiieu'' IN tho German
language. HIS stage name - Alfred AyreA By
means the Union square people, who apparently
not aware Of Neuendorfs possessions, learned that
Mr. Heubner, the advertising agent Of tho Germania
Theatre was the owner OF a German version OF the
play heuoner had bought this copy at Steigers BOOK
~ !" nS'an 6smun pa him or y sio ~
cash and gave him besides Shook Palmer's check
tor $oo While these negotiations and the subsequent
tho tinn nf han
pending, Osmun, SO Neuendorff says, was more anx-
ious talk about his appearance in other Of
new piece and while his conversations with the man.
agcr upon this SUBJECT lasted for hours, his arrange
ment with Heubncr for the purchase Of the play was
completed in low minutes The purpose OF this trans
action Is to be ssumed, was to the only copy
OF tho German version OF lies Dauchehs' existence;
but Osmun paid too much Tor his whistle, for Steiger
would only happy to have supplied the
Union Square heaire with as many copies ~ It re-
Qured for eighty cents apiece.
WHAT Is .'LEs DASIcHEvFsf"
IL would DC odd, indeed u play over which there
NO: Of It's
DanicheGs' is not without history. Its plot II
old as that Of 'Romeo and juliet or "Hamlet," and
IL has been used many times in many iorma FIRE.
qucnteTs Of the opcra familiar with u a. "L'Etoilo
du Nord." Old theatre goers who remember Char
lotte Cushman as the Countess In The old play OF
Love" will recognize IL the basis Of Sheridan
Knowles play. Ion Taylor wrought IL over again In
aucea a. the Cympc Theatre in London some years
ago. II is, in act an old trend with new face, and
II Is q pleasure TO welcome ~ back In It's garb.
The Huon Of the former and Ivan OF the latter as
sumo new Hame and phases IN ssLes Dani-
chefs" but In all Of them IL Is the old story.
'Iove levels ALL" and any case the ssrf IL told
Thy Catherine. before thou fesr'dst to claim,
Is rendered back to thee. confessed thine
Judge Donohue took the papers and his de-
cision. Ex-Judgc Dttenhofcr argued the be-
half Of Messrs. shook Palmer and Henry Wchle ap-
pcared iof Mr.. NeueudOrf. The counsel earnest
and the cour. throughout was serious and attentive,
body except those who compelled 10 find In II .
real question Of 'stage rights.
MACOMR,S DAM RRIDlH