New-York tribune., 1905-11-23
NOT TO BLANE.
Stolen Story" Unacittingly Signed
bu Him to Help 4nother.

A morning newspaper yesterday kicked up a
tempest in the theatrical teapot by disclosing the
fact that an article in THE Booklovers Magazine
for November, on the art Of acting. signed with
+ba name OF David Belasco is in reality lifted word
for word from George H. Lewes's monograph. ION
Actors and the Art of Acting published than
twenty-five years ago.
THOSE who are intimately acquainted with the
tricks of the trade know that busy a manager
as Belasco has no time to write magazine articles.
and frequently puts his name articles written
by others, usually his press agent which are as
a rule glanced over by the manager. These wise
ones smiled and said 'Nr. Belasco didn't look over
that manuscript carefully enough, else he didn't
know Lewes's essay. But 1 pity the man who
wrote itr'
Others not so wise" wondered. and the Appis-
tons. publishers Of THE Booklovers Magazine.
were not exactly pleased.
Mr.. Belasco yesterday afternoon denied the au-
thorship of the article and told how It was written
He says that months a man named Lee
Kugel. who is known the Ralto as press
agent came TO him and asked for an interview.
He said he was hard up. and Mr.. Belasco says he
Cooked it. and Belasco yielded to his plea, ana
talked with him for hour.
Later Kugel came back with the interview WRIT
and said he could not sell 1t unless II bore
Mr. Belasco's name. So the manager, glanctng,
he says, at the MS. only hastily, as he was busy.
signed his name. he supposed to his interview He
never saw II IN print till yesterday, as his time
has been taken up since the issue appeared with
his new play. He said yesterday, when he read
it. that he did not even agree with Mr. Lewes,
characterizing the essay words, words, WORDS
Mercy" he said ''does anybody suppose haven t
my own ideas about acting and the theatre? He
was angry at the newspaper which printed the e4-
position of the stolen story" because he was not
asked to vindcate himself first, and he had ses-
sion with the Appletons.
Joseph H. Sears president of D. Appleton & Co,
later gave out this statement. describing what
took place:
The Editor of "Appleton's Booklovers Magazine"
furnish an article on The Art of acting, by Da-
vid Belasco. MIR. kugel was told by the editor
that If he could get article-not an interview,
but an article-by MI. Belasco we would be glad to
in signed by Mr.. BeIasco, as he has admitted.
about a month after the first interview, and on
August 23 paid for it with a check ToT $40.
We have the check. with Mr.. kugeIs Endorsement
We did not question the good faith OF Mr.. huseI,
In view the fact that he is known 10 be literary
agent and press agent and writer With WhoIn
.Appletons Booklovers' Magazine mas already
had correspondence.
I asked Mr. Belasco two questions: Mr Belasco.
did you write this articeF
Nj Belasco answered that he did not
Mr.. BeIasco replied: yes. that is my sigma
! want to add that 1t never occurred 10 me. as
II is contrary TO the custom OF the trade to go
behind an agent who furnishes manuscript, to
correspond direct with Mr.. Belasco TO ask nm
either whether he wrote the article or whether ne
signed il. The article published IN the NoVein-
her issue and was on the newsstands on October %
We paid the literary agent for the article Under
standing that IL included all payment for the manu-
script, and hence paid nothing to Mr., Belasco we
have thought OF copying old article and signing
his name to It,