The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-22

and the manager had kept it some months,
but it was decided success, Daily agree
ing to pay the author 50 an act (the piece
had four acts) for each presentation. This
is said to have been the first instance on
record Of regular payment for a native
play, and il determined the price, which
has been generally adopted as a royalty.
Saratoga was afterward performed in
London under the name OF Brighton
(the English usually insist on Englishing
the foreign dramas they put on the stage)
and had, after translation into German,
quite a run in Berlin and other large cities
of the empire.
Howard, really the pioneer playwright
of this generation, stands at the head by
merit as by seniority, being somewhat
past 90. He has produced altogether about
a dozen pieces, the best known and most
prosperous being The Bankers Daugh-
ter" Young Mrs. Winthrop" THE
henrietta" and Shenandoah. The first
named had very long run at the Union
Square under a. N. Palmer's manage
ment. That was generally thought to be
its original presentation, but il had been
repeatedly played before in Chicago and
elsewhere with the title "Lillian's Last
Love" Howard is one Of the dozen well
known American dramatists who are
wholly professional. He may have cleared
to date from $3.50, 600 to $500, GOO by writ
ing for the stage, which, added to a consid-
cradle patrimony, makes his circumstances
comfortable Printed statements are In
circulation that he has an annual income
of nearly 1000 from his pen. This
would be at per cent the revenue from
81, 00O 600, manifestly absurd, but good
example Of the way in which writers
earnings are commonly exaggerated He
never could have authorized such a report.
He does not talk of such things, and he is
always sincerely truthful
Profits of Colonel Sellers
Henry Guy Carleton is also profession
al. having graduated from journalism TO
the stage. He is the author OF nine or ten
works, some Of them still Enacted. "Vic-
tor Durand" and The Butterflies are
the best. He is about 4e and has marked
talents. His earnings arc reported TO have
been in the neighborhood Of $50, 600 TO
$40, 600. with excellent prospects OF much
more.
The recompense OF n play depends on its
popularity, a certain rate being given for
each production when royalty is allowed
Managers often pay a fxed sum for a
manuscript az the outset, taxing all risks.
Bat authors generally prefer the royalty
plan and insist on it when in position 20
Go so. Mark Twain is said 70 have made
more than $50, 900 from Colonel Sellers"
founded on his and Dudley Warmers nov
el, The Golden Age" though the dram
atization for Raymond was done By a Cali
fornia journalist, who got othing.
David Beissco, born in San Francisco
IS or 81 years since and asserted 20 have
Spanish blood, has made good deal Of
money, estimated at more than 500, 900,
mainly by his understanding Of situation
and construction, acquired by familiarity
with the stage from boyhOOd. His CO.
operation With the late Henry 9. de Mile
ia The Wife. " The Charity Bali and
Men ana Women" ODE Mile gained
snug Independence by his dramatic writ
ings} contributed greatly 70 their scts5le-
ness. OF his own entire pieces May
Blossom" and Hearts % Oak" are best
remember
4 Rising Dyznzfi~t.