Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-21
lrARkINeToN,s "REAucAIRE"
The Real History of The Novel and
Play

l The Real History of the Novel and
play.
The real history of "Beaucaire.'
which Richard Mansfield is producing,
has not yet been told in full. says tile
New York Tribune The play is an
original comedy in four acts. The inn
| preston that "Beaucaire'' is a drama
tization of Booth Tarkington's charm
ing novelette,, Monsieur Beaucaire.' -
is not literally true. though Mr.. Tark-
| ington is the author of both book and
| play.
When lie had finished 'The Gentle
man From Indiana" and that novel
was in the first flush of success. he de-
termined TO try his pen on dramatic
composition. Mr.. Harrington had pre-
viously been conspicuous in theatricals
at Princeton university and is still an
active leader in the Amateur Dramatic
club of indianapolis.
He conceived the story of Beau
| caire." and. having gathered the
threads OF his situations together. he
wrote what every dramatist writes
before he puts his material into acts
and dialogues-that is. a scenario. This
scenario grew under Mr.. Tarkington's
pen, and with some polishing he found
himself in possession of a novelette,
which an extensive public knows as
"Monsieur Beaucaire."
How much the play of "Beaucaire"
was in his mind when he completed
the novelette, may be gathered from an
interesting and heretofore unpublished
document written by Booth Tarking-
ton himself. t is the dedication of
''Monsieur ,Beaucaire" TO his sister,
Haute Harrington Jameson. which was
set up by he publishers. but recalled
by the author before the book was
printed In it he speaks of his compo->
sition as if it were play:
You will not. trust, consider me too ingenious
when tell you that, while / have ever observed
your courtesy toward person in poor raiment
be Of an even finer quality than your treatment
Of gentleman in fine coat, yet
versant with your character could fail 10 be
aware OF the mighty liking you have for pretty
fellow in bTocades and satin, with brillisnts shin
ing from every buckle. Nor it be said of you
that, in spite Of your strong advocacy of all the
arts of gentleness, YOU shun the widest fighting
in book-with that measure Of horror which you
should for consstency's sake, exhibit, and I
make bold to offer YOU this play of Monsieur
Beaucare,' beseechng your attendance for an
hour. 10 watch, IL you viii. the faces in what
would have, for your pleasure, little theater;
and begging you during just the time Of per-
Torrance believe the real they
across the stage dancing in the candle lights of
long ago. while your kindly fancy brings 10 you
some faint wait Of the Frenchman's roses, with
the echo of the crumbled and forgotten fddles
which l have wished should play again for you,
my dear sister
Having completed Monsieur Beau
caire," MIR. Harrington returned to his
play. He had Mr.. Richard Mansfield
i'm view for the role of Beaucaire for
more reasons than this actors pre-
eminence or his fitness for the charac-
teriZation. During his varsity days Mr..
Harrington wrote n comedy which he
sent to Mr.. Mansfield. The great ac-
tor did not find i'm it all the technical
qualities which he felt would justify
its production, but he recognized the
gifts of the writer and sent him let
ter which the author says he has cher
ished as one of his most potent en-
coura gements. Hence Mr.. Mansfield's
creation of Mr.. Tarkington's first char
acter 10 reach the stage has in it a
strong measure of poetical justice.