The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1884-02-07
An Actor "Cuts" an Author.

Since Lawrence B,rrest's arrival in
this city last week to take The
part Of Lsnciolto in Francesca da
Rmins, it has been noticed by the
mutual friends + the actor aad the author
| OF the play, George Ii. Boxer, that the gen.
| tlemen in question did not speak. Social
relaLIO. ) between them are wholly suspend
ed Their business dealing. are wholly
carried on through Nix Btrrot's agent. Tins
| the not unnatural result of u plump re-
| iusll on MIR. Birrett's part 20 receive Mr..
| iIuker when the latter called on aim IN MS
dressing.room at the conclusion Of one Ul
mis- recent performances tire play in New
York.
Tno cause of the GOODNESS is a dispute
about ROYALTIES. Wnen the piece Was first
yfOlugll i. TIE Chestnut Street opera
hou.e, ia September, 1882, this question
did not enter largely into the minds Of
either gentleman, and was not mentioned
| in their contract. Mr., Barrett was afraid Of
tue piece and up to the time of his arrival
IN This city TO present 1t desired TO escape
| from the undertaking.
Representations CT the management oil
| the iheater rs to the expense incurred by
them IN getting the piece ready for pre5en
talion were necessary to induce him 90 &c
on with it. Before he consented he made q
verOal agreement with AIR. Boxer by which
the latter was to receive $50, royalty
|
ana $40 for each matinee. The piece was
played and proved an instant success.
| This continued Mr.. Barrett travelle d
travelled through the country, playing to
enormous audiences, while Mr.. Boxer
stayed at home and enjoyed the conscious
| ness OF having produced great dramatic
success and having become a great dra'
! matte author. All 81 onco it occurred to
him that the royalty he was getting was
| professionally low. Therefore. when the
end OF the first season WAS near Mr.. Boxer
wrote to Mr.. Barrett, reminding him OF
| the great success of the play, asserting that
the contract was revocable and propos ng
to set the royalty at the rate OF 10 pc centr.
This" said Mr.. Boxer last night, lis
per cent. less than the rate fixed by law In
France. Mr.. Barrett did not dirpute the
Justice oi my claim but said that he was hard
up and conld sog pay the amount l ask Cd.
Considerable CORE pOndsnce passed on the
subject, until | was weary Of 1t. Finally
Mr. Barrel sent his LAWYER, Mr.. O'Gorman,
over herr To arrange the matter. l w4s go
sick OF the whole thing by that time that l
consented to take his offer OF s30 royalty on
evening perform noes and $40 for matt
nees. I arterward learned that he was
prepared to give me much
more, If necessary. Then Mr.. Bar
rett ceased to correspond with
me, but I had not imagined that he con-
sidered him self aggrieved until my, call on
him at his dressing room when he last
opened the piece in New York. He re.
ceived my card and begged to be excused
from seeing me- confess it cut me. Mr..
rrctt is criticised by his fellow.actors, as
they think that he assumes to be soms-
thing more than an actor, which in my
opinion he ia not. understand that the
cause OF his taking offsnse is what he calls
the harghness OF my letters. II there is
any thing Improper in my letters he had
better publish them."
Mr.. Barrett's explsnation..of his action, as
m sde to friends In the city, Is similar. He
calls attention to the fact that $50 IS a fair
royalty and $50 large one, being So more
than that received by Mark Twain on
"Gilded Age" Furthermore he %
Mr.. Boxer annoyed him neg
with his claims. Final -
immediate cause Of By
before his Fall, wlf
the orchS'rc
ridicule9as