The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-28
NOVELETTE, AND l. A
A History of How First One, Then the
Other, Came to he Written.
es Literary Review.

New York Times Literary Review.
The real history of "Beaucaire' has not
yet been told in full. The play is an origi-
nal comedy in four acts. The impression
that "Beaucaire" is a dramatiZation of
Booth Tarkington's charming novelette,,
Monsieur Beaucaire," is not literally true,
though Mr.. Harrington is author of both
book and play.
When he had finished 9TH Gentleman
from Indiana and that novel was in the
first flush of success, he determined to try
his pen on a dramatic composition. Mr..
Harrington had previously been conspicu-
Gus in theatricals at Princeton University,
and is still an active leader in the amateur
dramatic club of indianapolis.
He conceived the story of 'Beaucaire,"
and, having gathered the threads of his sit
uations together. he wrote what every
dramatist writes before he puts his materi-
al into acts and dialogue-thatt is, a see
mario. This scenario grew under Mr.. Tark-
ington's pen, and with some polishing he
found himself in possession of a novelette,
which an extensive public knows as Mon
sieur Beaucaire."
How much the play of "Beaucaire' was
in his mind when he completed the novel
cite may be gathered from an interesting
and heretofore unpublished document writ
ten by Booth Harrington himself. Ii is
the dedication of Monsieur Beaucaire" to
his sister, Haute Harrington Jameson,
which was set up by the publishers, but
recalled by the author before the book was
printed. In it he speaks of his composition
as If it were a play:
~ VII lO(s l. IIdSls GOliEAQCL III w
ingenious when L tell you that, while l
have ever observed your courtesy toward
a person in poor raiment to be of an even
finer quality than your treatment of a
gentleman in a fine coat, yet no one con-
versant with your character could fail to
be aware of the mighty liking you have for
q pretty fellow in brocades and satin, with
bTilliants shining from every buckle. Nor
can it be said of you that, in spite of your
strong advocacy of all the arts of gentle
ness, you Shun the widest fightirg-in a
book-with that measure of horror which
you should, for cOnsistency's sake, exhibit;
and so / make bold to offer you this play
of Monsieur Beaucaire." beseeching your
attendance for an hour, to watch, If you
will. the faces in what 1 would have. for
your pleasure. a little theater; and begging
you, during just the time OF performance,
to believe the actors real, as they move
across the stage, dancing in the candle
lights of long ago, while your kindly fancy
brings TO you some faint watt of the
crumbled and forgotten iddles which j
have wished should play again for you, my
dear sister"
Having completed Monsieur Beaucaire.' -
Mr.. Harrington returned to his play. He
had Mr.. Richard Mansfield in view for the
role of Beaucaire for more reasons than
this actors pre-emineuce or his fitness for
the Characterization. During his varsity
days Mr.. Harrington wrote a comedy which
he sent 10 Mr.. Mansfield. The great actor
did not find in it all the echnical qualities
which he felt would justify its production
but he recognized the gifts Of the writer
and sent him a letter which the author says
encouragements. Hence Mr.. Mansield's
creation OF Mr.. Tarkington's first char
acter to reach the stage has in it a strong
measure of poetical justice.