The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-15
MISS ANNA DrcKrNsows ANsWBR.


To THE EDIroR OF The SUN-Sir: On
my return to the city from n fortnights work
was assailed by an army Of questions concern
Ing certain statements in recent ci1usion OF
the Tribune. which am too gnOrantto answer.
As an humble seeker after both knowledge and
truth. may beg that you will DO me the kind
ness 10 reprint the veNing problein-since It il
allied to an item that has appeared in your own
widely read columns-togcther with the queries
that fret me on account Of my inability to givc
them satisfactory nnswersH
As to statement: Miss Anna Dickinson read
her play entitled Aurelan' to n large company
at the residence Of literary friend in this city
a few nights since. This piece il written in
prose- and consists of n series Of level dialogues.
in which all the persons talk alike. and all talk
like the writer. It introduces Aurelian. Icno-
bia. Tacitus. and a few other characters. It's
production. should il be produced. might. per-
haps. serve n good purpose In directing aten-
els OF Auroian' and henobia.' by William
Ware, once renowned, nut nOW almost forgot
Mccullough had accepted Miss Dckinaon's
,Aurelian.' and would act In II, proves to have
As to query; win the'writer OF the nbovo add
10 the favor Of his dispassionate criticism the
information ms TO when, whore. and under what
conditions he became familiar with the play OF
"Aurelian 2" The answer may be Of some per-
sona interest in any further words that may
nave 10 DO spoken upon lnlh matter. Also. viii
purpose that would be served by its produc-
ton IN directing attention e the eloquent
Zenobia.' by William Ware. once renowned
but now almost forgotten2" Is he Interested,
perchance. in the ressuinR and fresh sale OF
these once renowned but now almost forgot
served cd, nat , q the drqSl9s q 4 yisorGGSs'
And Z tho 'r ,elSSaoqt pictorial, hln%RntlysS
trast that might easily be. made-though
i SEQ not to what purpose" good or i'll
between the historical characters Of the Iiovcls
and the imaginary characters OF the play1 In
the first. an Aureian. harsh. severe. and mid
dle-nged, chiefly engaged In the work Of perse.
cutting Christians II Zenchia. mature and
matronly, the mother Of five grown up children.
one OF whom Is the wife OF the Roman Emperor.
In the second. an Aureian Of eight-ani -thirty.
generous. ardent. FREQ, and uadly in love with
Il Lenuba who II young and unmarried. and
who dies in trying to save her lover foe. Ex-
Concerning the'nnRl sentence, the statement
lately circulated that John Mccullough had ac.
ceptcd Miss Dicknson's Aurelian.' and would
act ~ II. proves to have been Incorrect" will
ask How proves p
There ia n tacit understanding In tho ONCE Of
responsible for the paragraph they have pub
lished embodying this same statement" In
that Of the Tribune the understanding is not
taeit. but absolute Here and now. over my own
name. | repeat the assertion that the play OF
Aurelian" was written at the request OF John
hcCuough was written for him; was &C
him and that. without the resembling Of that
promise OF production. or word OF negation
from him to, me Of that acceptance. the play was
taken from him by me for sufficient cause
Heartily anxious % lead no ono into error.
ask the critic OF the Tribune TO add to his many
services ssI,h ne Srowning one ct proving" the
his or ine-t may be found. Respectfully.
NEW YORK. 3. IL. 1879. ANNA Z. Dickinson.