Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-15
ne gave 10 me for my middle name
Constantine
Yours very truly,
wv @ Rrrcrrrn

and moro round. Written in his teens
when he had not got weary Of making
me sign-msnusl, it evidently should be
diferenced this wey. For the reason
TOO, IN addition to the foregoing history,
that 1t gives his autograph in academic
Gays 1t VIII assuredly possess always q
very peculiar interest.
ovERHAULISG PIRATES.
Managers who own successful and con-
sequently valuable plays have no small
difficulty in protecting them against un-
authorized production bya class OF play
ers who are by courtesy known rs "pi-
rates. " theoretically, the possession of
a copyright is n safeguard. Practically.
a copyright is as yalueless for any such
purpose ms an old play-bill would be. ex-
cept in the large cities where il is worth
while TO employ lawyers TO look out for
the piratesand interfere with their preda.
tory enterprise. In the South and West.
far from New York, and indeed in small
towns all over the country, the plav pi-
rates work their wicked Will upon pro-
perty rights in plays, in defiance of all
law. Even where they are restrained
10y injunction from producing stolen
plays, they sometimes 90 right along
either doing the same plays under new
titles, or other plays under the same old
titles TO eifectually put stop to their
neiarlous operations it would be necessa-
~ TO have lawyer, representing the
owner OF the private play, travel with
them and watch them at every perform
ance.
HARD TO GET DAMAGES.
As for getting ont OF them any such
damages as the law allows for infringe
ment of copyright, that Is simply out OF
the question. They have nothing The
only way to hold any check upon them
Is 10y catching them when they are about
starting ont from a city, as soon az or
gained to infest the country, and wrest-
ing from them the manuscripts they have
no right 10. Then there is always a hope
that they may not have money enough
left to buy another stolen copy and get
ont of town.
Mr.. Louis Aldrich in this WY lately
made a lucky capture of a stolen copy
of Hartley Campbell's drama, "Aly
Partner with which troupe were
about starting out eastwardly. On the
preceding Saturday a professional ac-
qusintance, meeting him on Union
Square, asked him what he was doing
with that play this season. lie replied,
Nothing Nobody has it author
lied 2" No one" "Wen. compa-
ny is rehearsing it all the same in
lodgeroom at 80 Onion Square
CAUGHT N THE ACT.
For that timely intimation Mr.
Aldrich was indebted to the fact that
both he and the acquaintance giving it
are members Of the "Actors Order of
Friendship" Going to the place men
toned, he found that a rehearsal Of the
piece had just ended, and one OF the
company, who knew him 10y sight,
stepping ND to him said so pleasantly.
In short but vigorous speech he told
them very clearly that they had no right
to produce the play, which was ex-
clusively his property They assured
him that they were acting in good
faith, as they had been assured
bv their manager, Mr.. {. X.
Mortimer, that no had secured
the night to the play, and seven OF the
eleven members of the troupe present
voluntarily promised Mr.. Aldrich that
they would on no account appear in 1t,
knowing il to be stolen. That was salts
factory. but the bold pirate-hunter's
blood was up. aud he was determined to
find 4lr. Mortimer and make him give
up his My Partner manuscript Hr.
Mortimer kept oat OF thc way until, by
the aid Of detective, he was tracked to
the Grand Union Hotel. When found
be soon hauled down his fGg, and
agreed 10 give up the manuscript, but
said that It was IN the possession OF
one Of the actOrs-Ono OF the four who
had made no promises Of non-appearance
in the play-who had brought 1t from
Texas, when it was being played every
where by pirates. The man was hunted
upnext, and on Monday afternoon made
full surrender Of manuscript and
"parts, but not without good deal OF
difficulty. his mind not seeming to grasp
easily the proposition that be had no
right TO stolen property even If he had
bought it with his own good money from
the thief The manuscript was not
strictly accurate having apparently been
made from short hand notes OF a produc-
ton Of the play, but was close enough
for effective production.
When last heard from Mr.. MOrtimers
company had its nose pointed in the d.
rection Of North Adams, Mass, and pro-
fessed to have quite rcPcrtoire OF
PLAYS. Whether any others among them
had been acquired as My Partner
was has not yet appeared.