New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-13
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
THE AUTHORSHIP OF BEAU BRUMMELL. v
CLYDE FITCH MAKES A STATEMENT AS TO HIS
SHARE IN THE WORK.
% fhn Editnr of The TrIhnne.

THE AUTHORSHIP OF BEAU BRUMMELI. y
CLYDE FITCH MAKES STATEMENT AS TO HIS
SHARE IN THE WORK.
70 tho Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir win you kindly print the enclosed contract 10
which have duly as the contract for the play
{" Beau Brummcl," existing between MIR. Richard Mans
| field and myself At the advice OF my friends, In
erested and dsinterested have up TO this time kept
silent in this controversy. But the open letter signed
| by Mr.. William Winter and published In The Tribune
| to-day makes 1t imperative for me TO speak in my
own defence do not wish to wear, to be thought
! TO wear, the "Giants Robe"
Mr.. Richard Mansfield is not the author of the play
| Beau Brummell' But do not claim that could
have or did write in my first play one so successful
as Beau Diummell' without the valuable assistance
of some one with experience than la novice al
play writing-could boast Of. Mr. Mansfield gave &c
me that valuable assistance, and for that was crate
| full at the time. and have been ever SINCE But
| claim as I always have, that wrote the play.
agreed to accept Mr.. Manselds suggestions In order
TO have the privilege Of writing for him the play
did not know was doing this In order to have the
authorship OF the play taken from me In the event
Of its success. The position In which stand was well
defined by Mr.. William II. Crane in his essay in "The
Dramatic Mirror" on The Actor and the Playwright
He said there that Mr.. Lloyd and Mr. Rosenfeld came
to him and embodied his suggestions in their play OF
The Senator" but no claim has been made that Mr.
Crane Is the author of the piece
met Mr. Mansfield in Philadelphia, talked ove:
plans and listened to the suggestions he had TO make
which were chiefly contained In letter from Mr. VIII
lam Winter, which he afterward showed me. CANT
back 10 New-York and wrote scenario; this took
TO Philadelphia, and Mr.. Mansfield accepted it, The
enclosed contract was then signed.
The Tribune says: He determined to employ on
assistant TO whom he might dictate his play ana VINO
should perform fQr him the manual labor gooc
friend of his had recommended to him young
Irdo itch NJ
said might act as literary amanuensis. Mr.
Fitch Joined him, at the Continental Hotel, and
in that house Mr. Mansfield dictated to that gentleman
the greater part Of the play Beau Brummell'
Nothing whatever was said Of my being Mr.. Mans
fields amanuensis the statement OF my having peeI
so is absurd Neither my own financial affairs mol
those of my family made it necessary fon me 10 nj
that place with any one was then writing ano
publishing short stories and doing other literary WORK
Writing With me was profession, not business, aho
no one surely knows the distinction better than tho
writer of the letter in The Tribune, who Is one OF t
most brilliant litterateurs in journalism.
Act l. wrote in Philadelphia alone in my own room
reading at night my work to Mr.. Mansfield, receiving
his approval or disapproval and in most Instances
changing as he wished Act ], Scene /, was not re
written. Scene IL rewritten once. Act IL was
written in the same manner in Philadelphia and wash
ingon. and was rewritten several times before MT
Mansfield was satisfied Act III was written III New
York and taken to Mr. Mansfield in washington aho
read to him in Baltimore 1t was not rewritten MT
Mansfield then came TO New-York, the play was Ne
hearsed for two days at Palmer's Theatre. 1t wa
taken off and Mr. Mansfield afterward wrote me Il
was impossible to play it, that it was all dialogue aC
that must get some one to rewIite it.with me- Th
was I'm January. / wrote and proposed man, Du
received no answer Ny salary was stopped whei
the rehearsal of the play ceased In april received
O telegram from Mr.. Mansfield in Boston asking fo
the last act at sent 1t, the last scene Deie
the death of Brummel alone in the garrett without h'
King and royal family appearing few days aVel
l received another message from Mr.. Mansfield saying
that he must have a different ending and that mac
better come on he should begin rehearsals III once
l went and rewrote the last act to keep Drummer
alive and bring back other characters In the pay DIS "
suggested AT the rehearsas Mr.. Mansfield cut ileeH
and wisely. He inserted lines once In awhile, an o.
which were to the advantage OF the pay He PIVu0eU
il in Ncw-Iork in May , o., -, .
The Tribune the next morning said the play was
Tribune said there were some good things in it, but they
Mir. Mans1leds After 1t had run some mo- MT
Mansiied's and claimed especially two bits OF buSl-
ness, the one with the perfumed letters and the oteI
pected TO claim as 1t had teen done in Chicago by MT
Mansfield in another play so he tod me when ne aske
the business of taking the snuff out Of the box and put
ting it IN paper mine The elaboration OF IL was
plays is USUALLY the actors With the changes that have
been made in the play since Is production OF course
Phiiadephla Mr. Mansfield said to me, this must be
collaboration said to Mr. Mansfield II II is to be
Collaboration will not DO it,"
The idea Of q play on Beau BTummell Is, believe,
Mr. William Winters. The execution ef that play
Mr.. Winter claims it has been an execution in more
senses than one-some of the business and the great
bulk of the dialogue is mine The artistic tonc, some
Marsfeid's CLYDE FITCH,
Ny; The Players Club, April IL, 1891.