The New York herald., 1879-12-28
"FAIRFAX" IN The PARK THEATRE.

AN AMERICAN AUTHOR ON AMERICAN MANAGERS
AND AMERICAN PLAYs-HopE FOR THE
NEEDY.
"It never rains but 1t pours." says tho adage. and
Mr.. Bartley Campbell. who. year ago glad to
borrow money with which to buy beer. Is now.
thanks to o hckle fortune and q few appreciative
actors able to pay for his friends champagne. and
to furnish apt illustration Of the proverb that
"Nothing succeeds like success" In other words
Mr.. Campbell who as American dramatist
laughed at. pooh-poohed and snubbed by our astute
managers, and could no more induce them to pro-
duce one Of his plays than to present him with
$1,000, 10 run after. sought, hattered and
badgered for new pieces ad nauscam. Tho
fact that three Of Campbell's plays are
now face to face with Now York audiences Is . sig
ncant ono. and carries lesson to the adapters Of
French trash. the stealers OF French merit and the
appropriators Of German wit Years arc not yet
passed since the best ana most enterprising OF our
managers secuted the idea of American author
and an American play. II seems to have been re-
served for Campbell to all this. Within the
year no has scored threo successcs-"rhe Galley
Slave" my Partner" and "Fairfax" The first is
on the boards OF Haverlys Lyceum the second, after
great here IL tho attraction in the Brook
iyn Theatre, and the third. having received the ap.
probatyc seal OF Boston, will be to-
night in Abbcy's Park Theatre, whore Colonel Sell
lers" and tho Mighty Dollar were hrst introduced.
Mrs. Agnes Booth, Frederic Robinson. sydney
CowelI. Joseph Whiting aud Mrs. Gilbert arc in tho
cast and both manager and author anticipate an in
dorsenrent Of the verdict OF tho Hub. Mr.. Camp
bell the lucky author Of these three Successes
caught slipping along Broadway yesterday after
noon. and III answer to question In behalf OF tho
HERALD said, ayes, am very fortunate In securing
SO favorable an opening for my now play. and
honestly add that am delighted because IL goes to
show that thore is achance for American drainatsts
AFTER all whatg'.
"why, after all the snubbng and all the rest have
received. Look here. Read this letter. II says.
MY dear Campbell name your price for the "Gailcy
Slave for New England. Don't make 1t too steep,
but give your lowest figure for cash.. Now year
ago took that play to that very man and he said,
My dear Campbell I don't want an American play.
There Is call for thcm Iwould like to you,
but reaily can't Now. you sec the difference"
'Do you regard Fairfax as strong playY
Eyes, in some respects the best have written.
part brisk each act terminates with striking situ-
alton, od up to naturally and by legitimate means,
and tho interest IL not allowed to flag. so far n
construction goes Fairfax is strong play But IL
s not very easy for authorfathcr to speak of his
own children. The Boston Iod says The piece is
structed excellcntly anu the dialogue is always
good, though trhe proachy in the first act and II
abounds with flashes of clean wit and concise and
pungcnt speeches. And that is very fair and dis
criminating criticism
Had you become in any sense discouraged before
Louis Adfich accepted and bought My Partner"
eyes. indeed, and IL had not scored success
with that should have returned to journalism my
first love. Many bitter p! has been my portion,
but that's ended at last, thank Heaven"
"Though not because your plays any better
than when the managers rejected thcm"
ooh, not at all. MY Partner ran about fifty
nights in tho Union square and will be revived
there IN ApTil and the 'aaIlev slave ia In its