Evening journal., 1889-10-01
ACCUSED or PLAGIARISM
Mrs. Frances Hodgson Bur-
nett's Reputation Assailed.
WHO WROTE "LoRDFAUNTLER0Yw

A Famous Book by Famous Woman Al
legged 60 ne Plagiarism from Mrs.
winthrop's Novel "wilfred''--Mrs. Bur
nett Says IA an Advertising scheme.
LONDON, Oct. 1.-The savage scribes who
are always after some famous authors scalp
have al last got grip on that Of Mrs. Frances
Hodgson Burnett. They fatty accuse her Of
stealing the entire plot and most Of the dia-
logue Of Little Lord Fauntleroy" from Mrs
A. T. Winthrop, an aspiring American lady
who had appealed to her for advice and guild
ance This startling accusation is based upon
a letter dated Baltimore July l, which has
been discus ed during the past week at the
C7arrick and Athen@um clubs, and which has
lust been published all over London on the
authority Of Mr. Saville Clarke, one Of the
best known literary reviewers and play
wrights in London. He says that he received
the letter from Washington from Mr.. A. A
Hayes. to whom IL was originally addressed.
"wufred" Was the Novel.
The reviewer who makes this letter public
says that il was sent 70 literary paper in
America, but it was suppressed through the
influence Of friends Of Mrs Burnett The
name Of the novel from which "little Lord
FauntIeroyn is alleged to have been stolen is
called ''WiIfredn II was published in New
York The hero, Wilfred, is a very engag-
ing boy. the son Of a Capt. Ferrars, an off
Ger of the English army, who made his
father furious by marrying French wo-
man. Capt Ferrars was hisinherlted by
his father, aud he and his wife die, leaving
their child, Wilfred, 20 be brought up by a
benevolent woman, the sister OF the nurse az
she hospital 10 which Mrs Ferrars had
been taken. Through the agency of r
philanthropic member Of parliament VIII
fred is restored to bis grandfather, the Earl
Of Lindisfarne, and goes 70 live with him.
The old man dutes upon him.
Many similar Passages.
Numbers Of passages are quoted by Mr..
Clarke from both ''Wilfredn and Little
Lord FauntleroYn showing the Same ideas
presented in exactly similar language, and
her treatment and sequence of every inn
portant incident in both novels Mrs Bur.
nett. who is al present stopping IN London,
was quite unaware Of the storm gathering
about her head until correspondent called
upon her and informed her about the matter.
Mrs. Burnett Does Not Know Her.
II have not the least idea who Mrs Win
throp IS said Mrs Burnett, "and not the
slightest recollection OF ever having given
her any advice or Of reading her books
receive hundreds Of letters every year asking
for advice some Of which / try to answer,
and get scores of books asking for opinions,
most Of which never ever think Of reading,
because ! have not the time.
A shrcwd Advertising scheme.
Everybody who knows me and my boy
Vivian, knows that Little Lord Fauntle.
roy, is based upon his personality, that the
dialogue Is the reproduction Of his actual
chatter Somebody named Winthrop may
have written 10 me for advice and hay,
afterwards sent me a book, haA. | have N,
recollection Of il Whoever she Is | con
graduate her upon her shrewd scheme fo
getting an advertisement for her reviscs
edition at my expense