New-York tribune., 1910-07-16
SIR WALTER AGAIN
Another Of His Helpful Letters to
James Bailey.

The letters from Sir Walter Scott,
fragments of which we recently bor-
rowed from The Athenaurn.' \ We're
written, it seems, TO James Bailey. of
Trinity College. Cambridge, who died in
1864. One more long letter fills the sec
end and concluding instaIment It con-
talns further evidence of Scott's noble
generosity in this passage:
AS to the trifins assistance I have been
able 10 render you, allow me to say that
as the public has been very generous TO me
nave always endeavCred the very best
mode Of evInCing nay gratitude TO be of
service TO such young men of promising
talents as may afterward contribute TO in
struct or delight my many-headed bene-
factor, Therefore the Cheque has a brother
Whenever your occasions require the use
OF II and as TO the mode of repayment 7
leave II entirely 10 yourself under the sole
condition that you do not give il a mo-
menJs thought till il Is complete summer,
or: rather, FdTTeSt weather in your affairs.
] do not exactly know what mEy be the ex-
penSe Of your residence at College. but l
think II viii be hard If il cannot in one
way and another be comfortably provided
for.
Scott continues to look with a friendly
eye upon the idea that his correspond
ent should take orders. but admits that
there is no occasion for hasty decision.
4 trust" ne says you will land in the
Church if no better mode Of provision
occurs, but it may be considered at
present as a sailor regards a haven
under his lee which he can run for if un-
able to keep the sea Good Master
Bailey was SO far from taking orders at
the moment as TO be conte1I, hitting the
writing of a play. On this subject Scott
writes:
Your ambition respecting the stage is Ial
very natural one: but dramatic composition
Is IN degraded state. The Theatres are
neglected by competent judges as from
their immense size they no longer afford
the rational amusement which thew used
to give TO the better ranks of Society. They
are unfortunate also IN the hours Of per
forn2nce differing from those Of better
life and being accom- N odated only 10 me-
chanicks and tradespeople. All these have
their source in one great eVil-Lhe Monop-
oily Of the two patents 1t arises from this
also that instead of actors being found for
new parts. parts must be written with
view 10 the talents OF some particular ac-
tor. and above all II follows that on an i'm
nense stage the eye is addressed rather
than the ear, so that half the spectators
hearing lnperfectly and the other half not
at all they are impatient of every thing
approaching 20 length of speeches however
beautiful the poetry and the author is
obliged 70 keep moutHG from beginning 10
end Of his piece and every word that does
not carry forward the action is heard with
irnpatience The success OF the piece being
thus made to rest exclusively on action one
grand difficulty occurs-that namely OF Civ
ing variety Of interest or novelty of story
feeling and diCtion can be easily varied
and beautifully varied I'd iHdnitpBi-but the
detail of plot has been so often twisted
and .wined that IL seems difficult 10 afford
anything Ike novelty. Yet with all these
difficulties and many others l would
strongly encourage YOU 10 attempt the
drama-it IS Just now az a low eI7ough ebb
and VINO knows but the tide may change
in its favor. Above all consider your plot
well and take care thar the interest is not
exhausted before the conclusion OF the
piece ! think ! can ensure your play q pa
tient consideration al one Of the London
Theatres when finished