New-York tribune., 1890-01-17
AUTHOR AGAINST AUTHOR.
4. MARK TWAIN CHARGED WITH BREAKING
AN AGREEMENT
f. H. HOUSE TO BRING SUIT IN RELATION TO
THE DRAMATIZATION OF THE PRINCE
ANn TILE PNTPER.


Considerable talk was caused in theatrical and
literary circles yesterday by the announcement, on
good authority that Edward II. House. the we'll
known Journalist and literary man. and author Of
Ionc Saute8 and other stories, about 10 bring
a sut for breach of contract against samuel L.
Clemens. otherwise Mark Twain, in reference to tho
damatizaton Of the lattcr- story, rhc Prince and
the Paupcr7 An acting version Of the story written
by Mrs. Abby sage Richardson. In virtue OF an ar
ranecment with NJ. Clemens, is to be produced by
Daniel Frohman at the broadway Theatre on Monday
night. with Elsie Leslie in the parts Of Edward VI
and Tom Canty
The following facts form the basis Of an aLplca-
ton, which will be made this morning before Judge
DAILY, In the Court Of Common Pleas. Special Icrm
for an injunction restraining Mr. Frohman, Mrs
Richardson and Mr. Clemens from producing the
piece pending the decision of the suit for bredch OF
contract. 10 Ice tried later Oh Mr.. Houses con
necton with The Prince and the Iaupcr' began in
l--l, when, at Mr.. Clcmcnss request he edited the
manuscript Of the story. He then, according to
statement, made yesterday. suggested to Mr. Clemens
the advi~ability OF dramatzuE the work. Nothing
of the -u.ec ton, however. and NJ House went
to Japan, where hc remained four years. soon after
hi, return hr received letter from Mr.. Clemens pro
posing % him tlat Be should CraH atlc TIE lTlhco
AID the Paupcr~ aad Offering him one half or two
third, of the profits the play. VT House a'cep"l
the proposition. and. -.c1nd Letter, suggested %
Mr Clemens the idca of having the two parts played
ly actress using silent double ln those scenes
I'm which TIE Prince and Iduper are on the stage al
the same time.
Ac,ordu. % the complaint Nr. Clemens approved
the idea and SIR. I1us, began work ON the diamatIa
ton. In June. l--7, while at Nr. Clcmens' house
at Hartford hc read hIm the tr,t act Of tile Play.
In August o. the same wear hc ad finished the piece
ON February #. l--9 Nr. House wrote To Nr.
Clemens u reference - paragraphs n The newspapers
dccllrus That Nr. Clemens va- about 10 produce
dramati1aton 1y Mr.. j. Eiolar-on Of The Prince
and the Iauper.7 he received ~ reply
but u response % second letter. Mr.
tlcucr. rfot. 'r.pu1.atn. thr nA.lc Transaction.
1a.cr Nr. House received prop'-h ron Gr
clemens fo p.t h.m r'""' .- '..-' i', To- hu' i'
and lnally MI House i'd i' .i.nt i'' -"..
Nr. IrlAiau and Nr-. Il.i...t-'l w'I. r-t'ri1}
served with ~un.m"r-'s t' 'l 'i' bt. VT. T
vaE. are counsel fnl Nr HOUSE.
Nr. Ilohuau SAID I-t n.,lt that BE- dd not regard
tn, a. r .- anyt = f,i- ana hr dli not know that
Mr Iioa-c had l.aie version Of tlr play ot an I'm
d.'cr he iNg TrImar. Dad ,iu-'d bis contract Win
VI. Clemens. !le hId Understood from ihc latter maj
d,anaffie Nh. io,s. Nr C,.r.r, toi him 10 90 aheal
and ulnt hr o.d Go. ard ever sine" b" mad I'm
ishcd the ulat Nr House hId hc.u booking io: -"ne
body "Ao ,nDl play t.' part. NE ia' no., yer l'lI1
lcou conspiracy p. steal Mr liop-"- ida. Nr ron
man >ait v.- absurd. a- VI Clemens dt not know
dry.c. oi 70 -.t double u- extremely old. being u.cd
in TIE Winters f.l,- lrr oDi-l.tu Irnth'r-' ant
various other iii.-. anl nobody could dnm special
Mr. frolman -a'i that he took VI House TO soc
Fi-o i,l" Lr, n. Wv 4i,o- .n., ar "rif r
u.uiin- tat i Nr iloa.e v,r. pleased with Ei ie. hc
..,l .t.-,.l ,. ,,. r.... t.,- Fl. ,.lif nat
lemons aa cvc~ hra ant distinct agreement with Mr.
Iou-, in gard go tAc tH..i