ANNA DICKINSON GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Frohman, Daniel 1871-93 UndatedSt. James's Hotel. 16 Jan. 1871 Bien chère amie, Qu'est.il done arrivé que je ne vous ni pas vue aujour. d'hui? Vous ai-je Defolu en quoi-que a soit? Estee parceque j'ai réclamé le baiser que vous prétendiez me devoir, et qu j'eusse reçu avec tant de fierté, qu'on vous a vainement attendue, tout a long jour? Vous dire à quel pointj'estime votre sympathie, à quel degré je m'enorgriellis de votre amitée, est chose impossible dans aucune langue: "Je vous le rends bien!" est tout ce que je puis trouver. Vous savez que je suis cloué icic, par cette maudite chute, qui m'a foulé le fried? Sans quoi, j'eusse été pris de vous, dés hier matin. Vote delicieus présent ne m'a pas quitté, depuis sa reception; et l'ami Brackett a dú vous dire combien il m'a touché. Dites si l'ou vous verra, envoyez une ligne, un mot; et--si vous ne pouvez venire--quoiqu'il arrive: j'irai à vous. Votre feroué, de coeur: Ch. Fechter.26 East 10th Street 23 Aug. 71 Chère amie, "I am here!" Where are you? I have just had a nice illness, have not touched solid food for some three weeks--and--must I avoi it--have had your last, good-hearty-kind letter in my mind the whole time! I wanted you, that's the English of it! I have bought the property of fourteen street; and kicking the payless thing inside out. I am hard at work at the new plans; and would like you to see them--is it impossible for you to come? I shall be here some three, or four weeks longer; then, when the building is started, shall go to fetch Miss de Clercy now in England with Charley Arthur alone being here, with me. If you have not forgotten that last letter (that I'll never forget) I hope to see you. I hear you were in Boston, lately--are the Bracketts there yet? Or did you go on business? Do write to me, and do come if you can. God bless you dear soul, and bring you quick to votre dévoué de coeur: Chas. Fechter such a "Corsican" and "Hamlet" I have for you! 12. Sept. 71. I am not lucky, "bein "chere amie"- Not only do. I miss your lovely letter- You see that I understood it, this time?- but, again, I had the stupidity to twist my "Guy Blas" foot, anew; and has to remain, at Barlows'', in the country. until I could manage to walk about - Last night, only, did i come back; and found all I had lost! But-alas!- could not recover it. You know if I mind working hard? But to work, as I do, and see the recompense fly away from you, through a mere turn of the foot, is rather more that I could bear with sainted patience; and I fear, no one had occasion to bless my coming here. You were sorry, say you, to have prevented me from visiting the Atlantic City! Sorry you were, but greatly punished was I, who. might have enjoyed life, as I love to spend it; With the souls' eyes! with the hearts 'own language.' Oh! how I long for you to know me better! How dearly I would treasure every recollection of such "tête á têtes"- But you seem to train everything by steam; and fly through life, as some busy angel, doubtful on the real object of his mission, or extent of his own power. Still you are so decided in your wild course; so obstinate in your decisions that I hope the new element brought home to you: A true, and devoted affection, of one who trifles not, who never lies, who can reasoneven with folly. (his own, mind) will become a part of your thoughts, an essential aim to your actions, a moral necessity of your Dear life - Be it so: I am happy- If I am mistaken -Dont' say it to harshly-but let me know: Doubt is one the tortures forgotten by the Borgias! I would not overlook it, had I to punish a friends 'foe; but could not inflict it for myself: It is too horrible. Do write to me? Do bring me to you? Do try to know me? I feel we might read each other so quickly and so well! - 5. I can stand, and walk; yes a little; and what a pretext indeed to be on the sand, away from others? A poor lame fellow has privileges, unknown to robust visitors, has he not? " Quoi qu 'il en soit:" Your home, is my dream; and that visit is the one my heart longs for- "j'attends" Yours "de coeur, et "d'esprit"- Charly26 . Sept . 71 . Chere amie, J'arrive: Just in time to drop you a line. I found both letter, and telegram, on my return home: Both safe. Will write "longuement" to-morrow. God bless you, ever. Votre: Chas Fechter. 24 Chas. Fechter Madison Square Theatre 24th St., adjoining 5th Ave. Hotel Steele MacKaye, Manager Daniel Frohman, Business Manager New York, July 30, 1880 My dear Miss Dickinson: My lawyer says the contract is all right and fair. That it means no more than it expresses, and that the sickness clause does not terminate the contract; it is a — a sort of vacation. Yours truly, Danl. FrohmanHaverly's Fifth Avenue Theater. Broadway and Twenty-Eighth St. J. H. Haverly, Proprietor and Manager. New York, Aug. 21 1880. My dear Miss Dickinson: I saw Mr. Price today. He appears to think that Miss Davenport cannot rely upon yr supplying the new play. He said it was promised - the play complete - on Friday, I told him therefore to wait and that it would be completed upon that day. He thinks, in case of disappointment that "Pique" had better be prepared for at once. I discouraged that idea because I have little faith in it myself, and have asked him to hold back till Friday. I hope you will be ableto show up with the play as per promise, and, knowing your speed at this kind of work, I have no doubt it will be completed on time in order that we may all get to work at it. With very best wishes & my thanks for the "Ragged Reporter" I am very truly Danl. Frohman Haverly's Fifth Avenue Theater, Broadway and Twenty-Eighth St. J. H. Haverly, Proprietor and Manager. New York Aug. 24 1880. My dear Miss Dickinson Yours received this morning. Also your telegram of yesterday. As I am now free from the Madison Square, I can be at your service at any hour you name. - especially as all our interests seem to be focusing just now. Telegrap me when you wish me. You can come right here to the theater where I trust the atmosphere of welcome will be more agreeable than at theMadison Square. Very truly Danl. FrohmanBlank No. 1 THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY. This Company TRANSMITS and DELIVERS messages only on conditions, limiting its liability, which have been assented to by the sender of the following message. Errors can be guarded against only by repeating a message back to the sending station for comparison, and the Company will not hold itself liable for errors or delays in transmission or delivery of Unrepeated Messages. This message is an UNREPEATED MESSAGE and is delivered by request of the sender, under the conditions named above. A. R. BREWER, Sec'y. NORVIN GREEN, President. Dated New York Aug 30 1880 Received at 145 Pm To Anna Dickinson c/o H E Chatfield Davenport telegraphs she will arrive Thursday telegraph her[????] [??] Danl Frohman 11Collect25 [??] [*Read the notice at the top*] Madison Square Theatre Mr. M. H. MALLORY, Proprietor. Daniel Frohman, - Manager New York, May 22d, 1883. My dear Miss Dickinson, I have just 20 minutes time to get a train, as I leave town for this week, to return next Monday. I have read all but the last act of your play, and like it very much. If you can afford to let the matter rest until, the rehearsals of our new play are over it will be better, as which time I can get Dr. Mallory and Mr. DeMille to go over it again. Should you however wish the play, send a letter to Mr. Wesley Sisson our Business Manager and he will attend to it for you. In the meantime however we will keep it until we can get time time to go over it again. Yours truly, Daniel Frohman Miss Anna Dickenson I428 Spruce St Philadelphia Penn. Madison Square Theatre Mr. M. H. MALLORY, Proprietor. Daniel Frohman, - Manager New York, May 29th, 1883. My dear Miss Dickenson, Your letter received yesterday on my return. I will try and get matters settled one way or the other with our people within a week, and will let you know the result. immediately after. In the meantime, I am, Yours respectfully, Danl. Frohman Miss Anna Dickinson I428 Spruce St. Philadelphia, Penn. Madison Square Theatre Mr. M. H. MALLORY, Proprietor. Daniel Frohman, - Manager New York, June 6th, 1883. My dear Miss Dickinson, Our reader, Mr. De Mille, as well as Dr. Mallory both like your play, so do I: bu I feel assured that no terms could be arrived at touching its purchase from you. Mr. Mallory can buy plays very cheap, and he feels that much of the success of a play is due entirely to the theatre, [and of] to the manner of its presentation, as well as to our management. He does not feel that he ought to pay outside prices for them, and for that reason I fancy it would be hardly with my while to keep your manuscript any longer. I also believe that you would not care to leave the manuscript here an indefinite time for production, and on that point we never agree to produce a play at any state time. So many plays have been received by us, which are not liked by our people, that their regard for your manuscript is a compliment to its merit; but I know your idea of terms is much beyond ours. I will send it to your address when I hear from you. Very respectfully, Danl. Frohman Miss Anna Dickinson I428 Spruce St, Philadelphia Penn. Madison Square Theatre Mr. M. H. MALLORY, Proprietor. Daniel Frohman, - Manager New York, June I2th, 1883. My dear Miss Dickinson, Your letter received. The best American writers prefer a royalty. Ten Dollars a night covering all our companies is deemed for our plays a liberal price. As our runs are very long, you can easily see that a very fair income can be derived from them If this is satisfactory to you, [we] Mr. Mallory will read the play again with a view to its production. Yours respectfully, Danl. Frohman Miss Anna Dickinson I428 Spruce St Philadelphia Penn. Madison Square Theatre Mr. M. H. MALLORY, Proprietor. Daniel Frohman, - Manager New York, July I3, 1883. My dear Miss Dickinson, There is so little chance of doing anything with you play for so long time ahead, in case Mr. Mallory did wish to produce it, I am afraid we had better let the matter rest now. If the play is still in the market a year hence, and you still feel like so doing, I should be glad to open the matter again for you, and bring it to Mr. Mallorys attention. He does not feel disposed at present to do any thing in regard to its production, because of the amount of material now on hand and contracted for. Yours very respectfully, Danl. Frohman Miss Anna Dickinson I428 Spruce St. Philadelphia Penn. Madison Square Theatre Mr. M. H. Mallory, - - - Proprietor. Daniel Frohman, - - - Manager New York, Jan 28, 1884 My dear Miss Dickinson There does not appear to be much chance at present for the play. Mr. Mallory is very indefinite. I'll keep it till you send for it. Very truly Danl. FrohmanThe Lyceum Theatre Fourth Ave and Twenty- Third Str Adjoining Academy of Design New York New York Theatre Co. - Proprietors Daniel Frohman, Manager. New York, December 14, 1893. Miss Anna Dickinson, 47 West 12th Street, New York City. My Dear Miss Dickinson:- Mr. Leander Richardson writes me that you have a play you would like to submit to me and suggests my writing to you on the subject. If you think the play is suited to the company of the Lyceum Theatre and to an audience which likes modern society comedy-dramas, I should be very happy to read it if you will send it to me at this theatre any time this week. I beg to remain, Very truly yours, Danl. FrohmanThe Lyceum Theatre Fourth Ave and Twenty- Third Str Adjoining Academy of Design New York New York Theatre Co. - Proprietors Daniel Frohman, Manager. New York, December 18, 1893. Miss Anna Dickinson, My Dear Miss Dickinson:- I have read "The Test of Honor" and while it is an interesting play and is well written, it is not the kind of piece in which I can see any money for you or for myself at the Lyceum Theatre. With many thanks, I am, Sincerely yours, Daniel Frohman n.Madison Square Theatre. Manager's Office. Monday My dear Miss Dickinson Yours rec'd this morning. I am sorry nothing definite has been brought about by the consideration of your play. Our folks thought quite well of it; but other plays, for which commissions had been given, have absorbed their attention - and some [of] one of these - and all are very loved - will be done next. We have, as you say, an "array" of people, - but we need them. Our experience has shown that the young, attractive girls are necessary for regular steady work. The theatre, too is small. We must have youth in theyoung parts. The success of the Rajah is largely due to the two bright pretty girls. We want as much of an array of that kind that we can get hold of[f]. I should like to have you see the Rajah when you come to town. I shall be gone all four days of this week. In case I am away I will have our business manager Mr. Sisson attend to any of your wants, if you come during my absence If I can serve you in any other way, command me. Very truly Danl. FrohmanMADISON SQUARE THEATRE. MANAGER'S OFFICE. June 27 My dear Miss Dickinson Occasional absence from time has made the delay in replying to your last letter. The price named to you, means for each performance given by each of our companies that may play the piece. if it goes like "Winthrop" or "Esmeralda" there w'dbe from three to five companies playing the peioce in the same season and repeat again (if play interest enough) for several season. Just as we do with out other plays. There would also be the chance of but one company. Mr Mallory desires me to say that if we meet on the question of terms our people will go over the play again, before the final acceptance. Very truly Danl. Frohman Anna Dickinson. }