Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-01
MRS. BURNETT ATTACKED.
A Bold Charge that She Did Not Write
"FauntlerOy."

A London cable to the World makes the an
nouncement that Mrs. Frances Hodgson Bur-
netts claim to the authorship Of Little Lord
Fauntleroy' is disputed by Mrs. A. T. Winthrop
Under Mrs. Winthrops authority the LON
don critics fatty accuse Mrs Burnett of steal
ing the entire plot and most Of the dialogue of
Little Lord Fauntleroy" from an aspiring
American lady who had appealed to her for
advice and guidance. This startling accusa-
ton Is based upon the following letter. dated
Baltimore, July !, of this year, which has never
yet seen daylight, but which has been discussed
during the past week at the Garrick and
Athen91m clubs, and which will be published
all over London today on the authority of MIR.
Saville Clarke, one Of the best-known literary
reviewers and playwrights in London:
He says that he received the letter from
Washington from Mr.. A. A. Hayes, to whom it
was originally addressed:
DEAR SIR: understand that YOU feel some
interest in the history of the little book written
by me some years ago from the fact of its hay-
ing been so closely reproduced in the far
famed Little Lord Fauntleroy." After writ
anxious to find publisher Knowing that it
would be difficult to do 30 unknown and uu-
aided, l wrote to Mrs. Burnett, although a
stranger. asking her If she could suggest a
publishing house. She wrote kind and polite
reply advising me to apply to Messrs. scribner
q Son. They declined the Ms. as being unfit
for any of their publications. Then
sent it to Messrs. A. d. F. Randolph 4 Co. Of
23d street, New York, on my own responsibility.
They accepted the book and it appeared early
In 1880 about February or March. In acknowt-
edgement Of Mrs. Burnett's courtesy mailed
her copy. Some weeks afterward received
a note OF thanks dated 18th June, $780, in which
she says: Il have only 30 far been able to glance
through the book, butI have gathered enough
OF the story to feel sure that children will like
it very much That ended the matter and I
thought no more about il until Little Lord
Fauntleroy" appeared. five years later tbsn
found that she had indeed gathered enough Of
my story to make her book the very coanter-
part of mine. While will confess thatI think
my boy the sweetest am ready TO give Mrs.
Burnett all due precedence SO far IS literary
The reviewer who makes this letter public
says that it was sent to literary paper in
America. but was suppressed through the in
fuence Of friends of Mrs. burnett. The name
Of the novel from which Little Lord Fauntle-
roy" il alleged to have been stolen ia called
"Wilfred." 1t was published in New York.
Numbers OF passages are quoted by Mr.
Clarke from both 'Wilfred" and Little Lord
Fauntleroy" showing the same ideas presented
in exactly similar language and her treatment
both novels. Mrs. Burnett, who IL at nrasan -
stopping in London, was quite unaware NJ ths
storm gathering about her head 81 hava n M.
the least idea who Mrs. Winthrop il. sbe sa;S
AND not the slightest recollection NJ evsy
having given her any advice or of rea5;nr ha.
DOCKS. Everybody who knows me and m ~ oa
VIVIAN knows that Little Lord Fauntleroy' =
o"s0. upon nls personality; that the dialorue
''ePsooucuon OF bis actual chatter"