William Mackay on T. W. Robertson's Play "School"

Transcribed by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
This is the story of how William Mackay, then studying for the law, wrote his first published piece, leading to his career in newspapers. The letters that occasioned the piece and a criticism of Mr. Robertson’s play are given first for context, followed by Mackay’s account and then his first published piece.—DP.
Sir,—It may be of some interest to you or your readers to learn that the comedy School now performed at the Prince of Wales’s Theatre is a play which was performed with great success at the principal theatres in Germany last year, and that Mr. Robertson has only the merit of translation. I myself have seen it acted in Hamburg and Cologne. I do not think Mr. Robertson will deny this fact.
I enclose my card, and beg to subscribe myself
VERITAS.
Jan. 18.
Why does not “Veritas” give the name of the German play?
Sir,—I am thankful to you for reminding me that I had forgotten to give the name of the German play acted in the Prince of Wales’s Theatre under the name School . It is called there Aschenbrödel, and the author is Mr. Robert Benedix, a well-known theatrical author.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
VERITAS.
January 20.
Sir,—Is Mr. Robertson going to contradict or explain the allegation made in your columns on the 20th and 21st inst., that his so-called new play is, in fact, a German play, Aschenbrödel , by Robert Benedix? The public have a right to be informed on this point, as School was put forward and accepted as an original work. If the charge is true, it becomes difficult to understand the morality of those concerned. If your correspondent’s statement be incorrect, Mr. Robertson and Miss Wilton owe it to themselves to say so.