“As soon as this hateful season is over (the spring season is always so hard on me—engaging actors, getting manuscripts together, etc.) do let me come over and talk over ‘King Henry IV.’: meanwhile, I must read it again, as parts of it are very faint in my memory. I do not believe in combining the two parts. I had thought of ‘Julius Cæsar,’ which I consider the greatest play in the world; but it is so well known that it invites comparison. It is much better to produce a Shakespearean play but little seen....
“With many thanks, all good wishes—and looking forward to seeing you and talking over a Shakespearean production, I am,
“Faithfully yours,
“David Belasco.”
(William Winter to David Belasco.)
“New Brighton, Staten Island,
“March 8, 1917.
“Dear David:—
“Your letter of March 2 has reached me.
“I was glad to hear from you, and I thank you for your kind wishes. I improve but slowly: still—I improve.
“The work goes on—but not well. It goes slowly. But still—it goes. I do not remember ever experiencing so much difficulty in putting biographical matter in order....
“As soon as the weather settles, and the pressure of your business will permit, I shall be glad to have you come to see me here. We can then resume talks about your adventures; and we can confer about ‘King Henry IV.’ The more I have reflected on the subject the more I feel that you would do well to revive that play. It requires editing, of course,—but it is a superb work. Besides Falstaff, King Henry the Fourth, Prince Henry and Hotspur are all splendid characters (I prefer the Prince to Hotspur: actors usually do not), and several of the others are almost as good.