“New York, November, 1904.
“Thanks! Thanks! You’re a dear brick and some day I will do as much to relieve you of anxiety. Buy the prettiest and finest rider’s dress, with hat and cloak to match, and send the bill to me. I am sending you two good actors, one for the Prince, the other for the Fisherman. I am rehearsing them myself. After all, it would have been dangerous for us to permit any one actor to double the parts in ’Frisco. You must think so too, so instead of weakening the cast I am strengthening it.
“But never mind that, you have helped me out of a dilemma and you’re a bully girl. As soon as the play is on I shall join the company and spend some days with you to talk over your new piece and the cast. It will be well to begin to get the eight people under contract. If all goes well,—and it will,—you’ll be in New York all next year! Love to your mother and yourself.
“David Belasco.”
VARIOUS LETTERS AND INCIDENTS OF 1905.
In June, 1905, Belasco, accompanied by Mr. Roeder, sailed for England, his purpose being to purchase, if possible, or else to arrange to build, a theatre for his own use in London,—as Daly had done many years before. This ambitious project, however, proved impracticable of execution and, though he has never finally abandoned it, he found himself forced by circumstances to set it aside and he soon returned to America. While he was in England the subject of his fight against the dominion of the Syndicate was discussed in various newspapers: in one of them I find the following letter:
(David Belasco to “The London Referee.”)
“Hotel Russell, Russell Square,
“London, W. C., June 17, 1905.
“To the Editor of ‘The Referee’:
“Sir: