New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-11
THE PLAY OF BEAU BRUMMELL.
RICHARD MANSFIELD. ITS AUTHOR.

THE PLAY OF BEAU BRUNIMELL.
RICHARD MANSFIELD ITS AUTHOR.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
civ. A writer in "The Boston Home Journal OF
Mach os refors as follows to Mr.. Richard Mansheid
and IN the play OF Beau Brummell' IN winch Ui'''
dIstrcisbed actor has Of late attracted much ateh-
ton throughout the country :, -, H.,
spnnose that Mansfield will devote all ms uI I'
% 4" 1eop RrnmmelIa in which Boston people WIN
take great interest, in way, tley Gia I
Besides that many people heS neH hon96t it. They
will be interested to sec how much trutn IpiH in
L mat nasty t sd eP iSat y Manse GS wrote much Of
The niece never heard much about Mansheius
ceverness with his tongue though IL Is mt
he can use II to effect when he Is angry ho"ene e
Is not part of his reputation-cleveress OF speech,
II he had tempered with the play nes son me
in fHat would have enabled him to show his shapeK
figure OF which he used TO be very prV Fa vesr aSo
when writer was at work on plaid play or ho en are ne
stipulated that the end OF one act shouu pe w. ar
rsafged that he could come on IN MS Dathlns ureSs,
Tho language of the extract here given from Ihe
BOSTON Home Journal tells its sufficient story Oh Ill
breeding and rancorous malice. weak case now
ever. is not made strong by insolence Inc iacu re-
mains unchanged: The play OF Bcau Bruihihen was
made and written by Mr. Richard Mansheid ana oy no
one else and no person moro surely Knows 'nls 10 Do
true than the young gentleman to whom,-out oi pure
kindnees,-Mr. Mansfield, in the hrst instance ui-
wisely permitted the authorship of his play 10 be
ascribed.
Az matter Of Justice to Mr. Mansfield the story Of
the making OF the play OF Beau Brummeh ought 10 DC
told About four years ago Mr.. Mansfield IN whose
acting had felt and expressed much interest ASKED me
for list OF old plays such In my Judgment IL might
be expedent for him to revive In response 10 tlt TO
quest mentioned to him many old pieces, long since
laid aside and in particular directed his attentlon to
the comedy Of " Beau Nash" by Douglas Je 'od-a
comedy which, in dictlon and perhaps In W.T. Is KIN
drcd with "The School for Scandal" Later, IN con
versatdon with Mr. Mansfield about Beau Nash" and
incidentally about other famous bcaux, expressed the
opinion that the story OF the life of Beau Brummei
might be made to yield material for comedy, Illus
trative of English in the picturesque time OF
the Regency. Mr. Mansfield concurTed in that opinion
found that he also had been thinking Of that subject
He had indeed read Captain Jesses Life OF lirmmeH
and Inc especially remembered and mentioned the passage
in that life in which Captain Jesse records Brunnes
reception when in his decpptude OF imaginary guests
at an imaginary feast The incident, it seemed to us,
could be expanded into effective scene OF insanity
and DEATH with which to end drama
few DAYS after this conversation occurred gave 10
Mr. Mansfield in writing the rough plan Of something
like play The scene was TO be laid partly in Dat
lands-the old country seat st eXtant OF the Duke OF
York-partly I'm London and finally In France. Beau
Brumme.-at the sacrifice OF truth,-was to be madc
man of high principle, delicate scnsbility ahecuohate
heart and moral worth. lie was to befrlend young
lady-rescung her from the Prince OF Wales and offend
ing the Prince in that lie was to love TINS young
lady and he was TO obtain from her promise oi mar
rage prompted by her sense of obligation. lie was
subsequently TO ascertain the fact OF her affection for
another and Younger man. and this youth he was 70
rescue from the gaming table and restore to safety ana
comfort In all this he was to act Win nODe mag
Notwithstanding himself to secure the happiness l
these young lovers. lie was to 60 into france, anu
there he was to suffer the hardships of poverty lie
was then TO do what Captain Jesse says he did do-tha
Is he was to welcome ghosty mobiles and ladies' at
phantom banquet. Finally he was to have powerful
death scene and the lovers whom he had protected
were to arrive in time to see him die.
Upon this general and imperfect basis OF sugges,
ton which hoped would be amended and improved
by his experienced SKILL Mr.. Mansfield resolved 10 Duu
the fabric of a comedy. He wished me 10 hep MN
in that work: but not being writer of plays, ana
being deepIy engrossed with other literary occupations
| could not do 50. lie therefore Obliged TO piV
Good aione lie kent tle subject constantly in his
thoughts; he reconstructed the plan; and he bean
the composition. lie was, however, DG'iIns i,HS
burdens Of care his mind was haraSsed by tpHD r
incident 10 his production Of Richard III ana i9r
considerable time he was compelled 10 let the subject
drift At last, many months latcr ne detSTil.eu ~
employ an assistant, to whom he might dictate nus
play, and who should perform for hun thc m9huu
labor Of writing. good friend Of MS, Mr; r. ~ a,
Ditbmar had recommended 10 him a young gentleman
from boston Mr.. Clyde Fitch who, 1t was said, mgnt
act as literary amanuensis; Mr. CHde run G was i
formed me- at regular weekly salary, and ne at
once entered upon the performance OF ms oihCiIi
duties MIR. Mansfield was then in Philadehhm, Sr
Fitch Joined him there, at the COnunentdl hotl au
I'm that house Mr. Mansfield dictated to That young gen
eman the greater part Of the play Of " Bcau Bium i
NELL Having by long thought upon inc suIyect,
matrred the scheme and arranged the details OF rs
NAV Mr. Mansfield able 10 act the seen - spe'y
ihe business and improvse the dialogue anu ms nc
did night after fight. in the presence OF Ms anlhU
ensis wifo then wrote all that he conid enerosr ~
chat he had thus seen and henId. That MI ttch :
memory Sometimes proved defective, and that ne some
times wrote words OF his own, Is OF course understood
int when Won are writing at the dictation OF ahOtlef
man Won surely do not become the author Oh MS com
nnsition merely because you mangle what you nave
bcord him saw or because you insert an occasional
In the way that have indicated the PLAY OF beau
pr,n,melT-- was made. Every idea that II contains
every situation. whether comic OF pathetic. every
Ieco of effective business every pungent hnc 90 us
in,t was originated by Mr.. Mansfield. The Veibase
Viii which il is clOggcd was intcrjccted by Ms anan
nsis TO that assistant, in order to encourage nm 10
a." his hest Mr. Mansfield gave contract as CO.
,rilor and for the same reason, was content lat ne
hnnid Arirc as the author Of the piece 'nt patience
Iae H. limits: and the friends of Mr. Man,hcid are
MOI cantent seeing him deprived Of the credit OF ms
or,, and nj the same time subjected o. INFRINGEMENT
and insult. Ami, "a