New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-10-30
CHARLES EEADE TO DIR. BURNETT.
10 ALBERT GATE, KNGHTsBRIDGGE


DEAR SIR: Ibeg to acknowledge yOur favor OF which
hope you keep copy. Will cndcavor to answer lt'
points. The report you have heard true as iar as Is
am one OF four persons who have dramatlzeu Ihal
Lass o. Lowrie's y in England There was no earthy
reason WHY we should not do The authOress III mel
book has shown natural and proper desire TO retain
copyright IN both countries. But she has not printed
Sne in 10 M Mss Eytnge was here and
knew was about to produce the drama and had taken
drama Would be taken for the United States by some
body. and she treated with me ioT II some e SS
the subject in her own interest
I wrSte 10 say that neither in England nor in the
United States does there any such thing as stage
right in novel, but still 1t would be agreeable 10 my
and pay her so much representation and that
T. myself would fOrego a similar proportion OF my very
moderate fee Thus the matter stands regards Mrs
Burnett and myself . No egg can be roasted all
on one side. 1 cannot be dlyinely just 70 American
eitlzens I'm business where they never show one
gram OF human Justice of mercy and so long as
your Nation IL q literary thiet YOU must e&Ptoi
occasional repTsals These repsals are sort VI Dad
equity. . $1,000, ,.o,o.
ton. Notwithstanding my own bitter wrong as dra-
matist nwillng TO ure Mrs Burnctts interests
in the United States. SHAH write to Miss Ey tnge
MPa q BGe shall ask " Miss Eyunse to
suspend performance until she has used all reasonable
en- eay0rs TO come TO "a friendly understanding with
you and respectfully advise you not to neglect to ne.
gotate with her. but TO make terms ana supulae thsl
size puts the bills by and special treaty with
Mrs Barnett" That will serve TO bolster up your
Imaginary right for, believe me- IN the United states
novel. Yours respectfully, CHARLES hEADE'
MRS. BURNETT TO CHARLES READE.
WASHINGTON d. C., Oct ~ 1878.
DEAR SIR; have just been reading your reply TO Dr.
Bulnetts letter and see from II mat somehow mite
netts letter before IL seu but can scarcely THINK
ne meant 10 ask from you what you seem &c Fancy l
am a Young woman and English woman, but / am
not young enough to expect anything from my cOuipa
triois which the law does not demand Tor me. My
Lass was cOndescendngly printed N England with
the announcement on the front paXe that II was done
with 4" the special permission Of the authoress, and
informed OF tnat TACT DN q IelltI rom MeseI
Warne & Co, nobiy accompanied by gft
shall naturally cherish sacredly and tenderly
as delicate tribute from generous publisher 10 a
grateful auhor-a publisher who even went to the god
like length Of saying that he should be glad to give TO
terms. gentleman or the name OF nattO' IN cohluhc-
ton with another Of the name Of MatthisOn, wrote
play ON tne Wien Tead II WSs SO
moved by-sha we deal in glitlering general ties aud
call them conflicting emotions THAT wrote long let
ter to you giving You all the permission owned-nay
begging you act OF generosity to rescue the
good play winch knew you couiu DO II You took 1t ID
hand. did not ask you To give me any OF inc proceeds
was something else. After had written the letter
thought that perhaps the thing had been spoiled al
wish lad now. because then might have retained an
illusion Until now fancied that man. Right
enough for him, notwithstanding the peoples Wrong
But the point is that wish you 10 feel quite at ease
the of my asking you TO share any thing OF the
be tine acceutuaton OIL myself TO demand what Oetter
/ have no rights in England, notwithstanding have
lived more tnan half my llfe there but nave rights IN
America and IL is because you have tried 10 infringe
eVen on these that | protest. wrote Lass here,
copyrighted il here reserved stage-rgDts here (Which
can be done United states, wrote my play here,
copyrighted that here, and VIII be played here II any
attempts TO produce another version snail deltnd
myself-as You have been badly treated in Amer
lea. have doubt but did an American dranatlst ever
write play book OF yours aud take II 10 England
and 1t played there ia the face Of version OF your
own already copyrighted and sold was done,
1t pretty hard Wasntit III think II was and sym
pathize with yOu-and hope you ike my sympatAZing
with you.
generous, since have cOnrusvely proved that
have rights any where remain, yours respectfully
FRANCES HODGSON-BURNEIT.