New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-30
THE RIGHTS or PLAYWRIGHTS.
ANITA WANT CHARITIES OBJECTS TO THE
MUTILATION OF HER MANUSCRIPT.

Anita Vivanti Chartres novelist and playwright
has secured order from Justice DAILY. of the
Supreme Court that will go far TO test the rights OF
dramatic authors to the inviolateness OF their own
manuscripts. She yesterday succeeded In obtain
ing. through her counsel. John w. Brinsby an or
der directing Mrs a. NJ. Palmer, wife OF the we'll
known manager. who now has charge OF Richard
Mansields tour to show why she should
not be restrained from presenting a play called
That Man" at the Herald Square Theatre,
January l6 or. for the matter of that. elsewhere.
Mrs. Charities is moved in this course of action.
she says in her affidavit by the fact that the play
from her pen has been altered and cut by the
defendant that she is hardly able to recognize IT,
The playwright asked, she says, TO read the
play to the members Of the company which was to
produce it, Later. she declares. the date Of the
reading changed. and she was told on Inquiry
that it preferred that she should he absent
She insisted however knowing the reason. and
Mrs Palmer told her that new second act had
been prepared by herself and Edward Rose Mrs.
Chartres says she insisted that the new version be
read to her and she declares that the changes had
vulgarized the dialogue and impaired the dramatic
dignity of the play. She adds that by its produc-
tion as altered without her consent, her reputation
as playwright would be irretrevably ruined Mrs.
Chartres specifies that the character OF Dolores,
which she had made the central character in the
second act. had been dwarfed by Mrs Palmer and
Mr. Rose and that another part had been built up,
10 the detrment of the artistic unity OF the piece
so as 10 make star part out Of the part 20 be
played by an actor called Reuben Fax. THE al
terations." says MIS-. Chaltrcs. ARE unspeakably
puere vulgar and in bad taste"
Along with her own affidavit Mrs. Charities sub
mits number of alidavs by playwri2hts. among
them being Bronson Howard. George II. Broad
hurst, Benjamin b. Valentine. Robert w. Cham
beers and Howard y. Taylor. Bronson Howard
says I'm his affidavit that he has been writing
plays since 1865. and that never but twice nave
alterations been made In his manuscripts without
his consent, and in both cases they were mace
when ne was absent the other side OF the At
l2ntic Ocean AuCustin Daily and Frank Mar
shall Were the managers who made the alterations.
Mr. Howard goes on to say that 1t Is universally
understood between managers ana dranatists Us 6 1d
esta blished reputation that changes may ne Hdue
only by consent of the author lnauthorlzedi
changes to manuscript, says Mr.. Howard, Woud
be almost sure TO result In damage 10 an author
reputation and might irjuriously affect his chances
of getting other plays produced. >,
The afidavits of Howard =. Taylor, George y
Broadhurst, benjamin Is. Valentine ana Robert W .
Chambers COZ roborate Mr.. Towards statements
regarding the established customs affecting the
treatment Of an authors manuscript. The answer
10 Justice Days order Is rcturnabe next Wedhes-
day Mrs Palmer could not he found last night