Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-15

runs under the charm of your original
creation, which is at once both spiritual
sometimes mutinOus sometimes tragic,
and always imprinted with rare beauty,
noble pride and an exquisite grace. Your
Du Barrf appears to me one Of the most
splendid figures I have seen during nv
dramatic career" Unfortunately, M. Richie
pin is almost unique in holding this view.
II 1t were not stated candidly that the
new piece about to be produced by George
Edwardes at the London Days is an adap-
tation from a French opera by Messenger,
playgoers here would be likely to enter
tain uncharitable suspicious concerning its
possible genesis. The last two attractions
at this theater have been "A Country
Girl and THE Cingalee-" When the run
of the first was about half over a play
wright named Augustus Moore accused
Mr.. Edwardes of having cribbed several Of
the best ideas in it from a scenario which
Moore had submitted to him, but which the
manager had rejected The dramatist sued
he was awarded $500 damages. Later Mr..
Edwardes produced ''The Cingalee," which
ran nearly year. And now, after one of
the most sensational theatrical trials ever
held In London, a special jury has ordered
Mr.. Fdwardes to pay $4,000 to writer
named Fraser on the ground that THE
Cigalee" is practically copy of piece
called 1.-THE Hanjiahn." which Fraser orig
inally submitted to Edwardes and which
the manager declined to produce. The evil
dence proved so conclusive that little COM
meut upon it Is called for. When Capt.
Fraser, who is an English oncer stationed
in India, first submitted his manuscript of
1.-The Hanjiahn" to Mr.. Edwardes, the lat
ter Immediately opened negotiations with
him regarding its production, but these
were broken Off because Fraser declined
To work with a collaboration suggested by
Edwardes-J. L. Tanner, author of The
Messenger Boy" and 1.-THE Orchid'-and
Fraser's manuscript was sent back to him.
when 1.-THE Cingalee" was produced, the
..book" was credited to Tanner, who is a
regular member OF Edwardes' staff. But
between this play of Ceylon and the play
of India which he had offered to Edwardes,
Captain Fraser discovered such unmistaka-
HE simflarfties that he lost no time in
bringing the suit which has Just been con-
Guided It Is remarkable that Edwardes
ever allowed 1t to go to trial
1.-The Cfngalee'' has been produced in the
United States and its main theme probably
will be remembered. Perhaps the most
original character in the piece is Cham
buddy Rahm, the comic Babu lawyer-who
is obviously modelled after "Baboo Jabber-
lee" the hero Of Mr. Anstey's "Bayard
from Bengal" Captain Fraser's lawyer
had little difficulty in proving that 1t was
his client who originally suggested to Mr..
Edwardes the idea of such a character.
Fraser's play, The Hanjfahn,' contained
a native potentate who rejoiced In the pos
session Of twenty wives. '"The Cingalee"
also contained much-married native po-
tentate. But, In transferring his scene
from India to Ceylon. Mr.. Tanner evidently
forgot that whereas in the former country
a native prince-as Mohamn1edan-would
be entitled to unlimited spouses. in Ceylon,
as Buddhist, he would be allowed only
onet In Captain Fraser's play the heroine
was to make her entrance through tangle
Of irfses-which grow wild in India. In
sTThe Cingalee' the heroine, Nanoya, Is first
seen looking through a tangle OF irises.
But these flowers do not grow in Ceylon!
Mr. Edwardes specifically denied having
passed on Captain Fraser's scenario to Mr..
Tanner to be used as he saw fit, and Tan
ner as vigorously denied having utilized
the military mans ideas. II. however, the
whole thing was an accident, the verdict
for Captain Fraser Of $4,000 is likely to
prevent the occurrence of such mistakes In
the future SO far as the management of
Days Is concerned