The New York herald., 1879-03-15
A CARD FROM MISS DICKINSON.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
On my return to the city from fortnight's work
vas assailed by army Of questions concerning
certain statements in recent efusion of the Tribune
which am too ignorant to answer. AS an humble
seeker after both knowledge and truth. may beg
that you will do me the kindness to reprint the
ing problem it is allied to item that has ap-
pcared in your widely read columns-.ogether
with the queries that fret me account Of my in
ability to give them satisfactory answers?
As to statencnt:-"Mss Anna Dickinson read her
play entitled Aurelian' to a large company ut the
residence OF literary friend in this city few nights
SINCE This piece s written in prose and consists of
o series of level dialogues. in which al the persons
talk alike and all talk like the writer. 1t Introduces
Aurelian. zenobia. Tacitus and q few other char
acters. Its production, should 1t be produced,
might. perhaps, serve good purpose in directing
attention to the eloquent. pictorial illuminatiye
novels of 'Aurelian and 'Zcnobis. by William Ware
once reno wncd but almost forgotten. The
statement lately circulated tnat John Mccullough
had accepted Miss Dickinsons 'Aureiian. and would
act in it, proves to have been incorrect"
As to query:-Will the writer Of the above add to
the fsv, of his dispssionatc criticism the iniorma
ton as to ~hcn. where aud under what conditions
he became familiar with the play OF '.Aureliany'
1hc may be OF some personal interest In any
further words that may have to be spoken upon this
matter. Also. will he deign to cast some light upon
the good purpose that would be served by its
production 'in directing attention to the eloquent.
pictorial illuminativc novels OF 'Aurelian' and
'Zenobia. by William Ware. once renowned but now
almost foryotteny Is he interested. perchance. in
the ressung and fresh sale OF these 'once ned
but now almost forgotten booksr Or is the good
purposc to be served that OF the drawing OF u Wig.
orolis contrast between the "level prose con, ecd
to be that of the writer OF the play and the 'elo
lucut. pictorial. illuminativc Enalish of Mr.. Ware.
or the other contrast that might easily be made
though see not 10 what purpose good i'll
between the historical characters of the novels and
tho imaginary chsracters OF the play. In the rst
Atiteiiau harsh severe and mddl, aged, chiefly en-
gagged In tho work OF prosecuting Christians, q Zc-
nobia. mature ana matronly. the mother OF Ave
grown up children. one of whom Is the wife of the
l,onlan Emperor. In the second. an AurcliaI OF
in love with Zenuba. who II young and uninar-
rcsi. uni dies In trying to hcr lover foe.
Explanations are Ina order.
Conccrping the nnal sentence. the statement
lately circulated that John Mccullough had accepted
Mi-s Dickinsons Aurelian, aud would act III 1t,
''provosr'
rhcrc II tact understanding In tho Office OF every
New York newspaper that myself am responsible
tor the paragraph they hayo published cmbodyint,
this saii.c atainant. In that OF the Tituns the
ling IL not tact. but absolute. Here and
now, over my name, repeat the assertion that
the play "Aurclian was written at the request Of
John Mccullough; was written for him; was accepted
by him; WAS 10 have been produced by him; and
that wthout the resembling OF that promise Ut pro.
du.tion, or q word OF ncgaton from hin to me of
that acceptance. the play was takcn from him by me
for sufficient causc
Heartily ANXIOUS To lead no one into error ask
the GROW ming ono uf proving the truth. which
ever side OF this s.stafemcnt or minc-it may
DC f,t,ud. Respectfully, ANNA n. DICKINSON
>Ew NvRk. =. III. is'y.