The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-25
n. B. CURTIS, Thu ACTOR,
AND ORIGINAL SAMUEL OF
POSEN,"
Publishes One Of Bret Harte's Stories
rs His Own, That He Might Pose
as a Literary Man.

NEW YORK, December 24.-The StdT
says that NJ. b. Curtis, who has foI
some years been known as an actor Of
more or less merit, and who has lately
aspired 10 become a story writer, was
"caught in a corner" last evening ia
his dressing loom at the Fourteenth
Street Thester by an indignant editor
and an inquiring Star reporter. The
editor was Mr.. Harrison Grey Fiske,
Of the New York McFrOr. His inGig-
nation was occssioned by the follow
ing, which wss published yesterday:
A correspondent Of broad and we'll found
ed literary activity calls our attention to a
story printed in the Christms number Of
Story" signed and perhaps contributed as
original by NJ. b. Curtis, an actor. II To.
veals 3 queer state OF things. 1t Is. with tho
exception Of merely a dozen words or so, a
reprint Of tho Man From SolsnO," by Mr..
Bret Harte, published originally q few years
ago 10 the SuR. OF course the Mirror has
been imposed upon, and Whether Mr.. Curtis
has been imposed upon also, or is the imDos-
tor himself, remains to be determined.
II wrote to Mr.. Curtis on November
11th," said Mr.. Fiske yesterday alter
noon, "aekiJg him to contribute a
short story or anecdote to the Christ
mas number OF the Mirror. On No
vember l4th the following Ireply was
re eyed:
Harrison Gray Fisko, Esq, New York Mir
My DEAR FIsKE-Yours of the 18th inst. 10
hand. | shall be glad 10 do as you request,
and ina day or two will put my thinking
Gap on and endeaIor to give you something
neWsy aud entertaining. Truly yours.
M, Is. CURTIS, ".
"a few days later o manuscript Ioll
was left at my officer by a messenger.
1t was The Majors Story The srti-
Gle was not in his hand writing, but
the signature was Curtis Tnis / cat
cut and sent to the engraver for a fac
simile reproduction. The autograph
was appended to the printed article.
/ never read Bret Harte's Man fom
Solano.' l did not believe that Cur
tie, who has known me in a friendly
way for years, would be guilty of a
fraud, literary or otherwise. 'The
Majors Story seemed to be rather
c,everer than one might naturally ex
pect from n man of Curiis's intellect.
ual caliber, but l did not suspect that
he would impose upon me in this
manner"
1t did not take very much persua-
sion 10 get Nj. Fiske to accompany
the reporter to the Fourteenth Street
Theater, where Mr.. Quits is playing.
The accused plagisrist was found in
his dressing in the bowels Of
the earth under the auditorium. lie
was standing in front Of a looking
glass deeply interested in paintiug his
eyebrows a brilliant orange. He did
not look at all happy when MI. Fiske
explained the reason of the visit. His
face was a deep carmine, bu. that was
due more tn a liberal coating of
grease paint" than from the bushes
arising from detected guilt.
"Slt down here and I'll tell You all
about it," begen Mr.. Curtis, but be.
fore he could get any further his wife
appeared at the door and exclaimed
eScitedly:
"Now, Curly, don't tell them any
thing. They wanted a story and they
got a good one. They ought TO be sat
isfed."
Mrs. Curtis was pacifisd and left for
her own dressing room Then IN.
B." as the actor is called by his init.
mates, confined as follows:
"You see l did not think about
writing this story until the time was
nearly up, and then l was in a guam
Diary. | wsnted to do the right thing
to oblige Fiske, but / hadn't time TO
get up a story. So when L YVES think
ing it over and wondering what to do,
who should | meet on Broadway but
Col. j. +. MillikeD, the playwright. l
told the Colonel about my fix, ard he
why, Curly, old boy, I'll write
that story for YOU and ia three days
he brought it to me. He said 1t was
original and 1 paid him for It. He
asked me 10 have il copied, az his
writing was known at the Mirror
office, aud 20 l got my stage manager
to write it out, and he signed my name
to It,"
Good copy of my Signature, too,
wasn't itH You see | am bothered 80
much with autograph seekers and peo-
pie who want passes. Well, that's all
there is to il, | wouldn't have had it
happen for 500. But Millikin's q
first rate fellow, and he didn't mean
any harm, l know"
f. Ii. Marley, MIR. Cuttis' advance
agent aud secretary, had already ex-
plsined 10 the reporter that he War
wrots the sriicle from en- old
scrap book Of MI. Curtis. He said
that he nearly always did Curtis lit
erary work because it was q good ad-
verlisement for that gentleman and
had not time to do il himself.
He said that III. Curtis had no. even
read the story.
81 had two s'ories," said Mr.. Var
ley. "One which | wrote myself and
this M ,jot's Sory.' l didn't think
much OF The Majors Story and was
going 10 send in mine, which was
better. Mr.. Curtis decided tor
The Majors S.ory,' however"
Col, ]. +. Milliken has an office at
No. 500 Broadws He is an "sdspter"
Of French plays, and adapted Three
Wire, to One Husband, which was
brought out at the Union Square The
Rter three years ago. He also adapted
Nitouche for Lolita.
II was learned lest night from an
old Chicago newspaper man that M b.
three years ego agreed to buy a
play foom an Inter Ocsdn reporter
named O l. Wright. When Wright
for his money Quits said he did
not care for the play Alterwsrd. 1t is
said, he used much OF Il in Spot Cash.
but gavs Wright no credit nor money.