"UNDER TWO FLAGS."

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4273, 30 November 1874, Page 3

"UNDER TWO FLAGS."

* TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—Will you kindly allow me to offer a few remarks on Mr. Searle's letter in Saturday's issue concerning tlie drama "Under Two Flags." I have kept it by me unread for the last seven months, and only attempted to produce it when I found my company sufficiently strong, with a scenic artist of great ability. All who know me must admit that selfishness is not one of my sins. If there had been the slightest merit in the adaptation I should have been most happy to have sounded its praises from pole to pole. Great playwrights of a few years back—Bulwer, Knowles, and others —kept their names concealed till assured by public voice; present authors, it seems, assure themselves first, and chance the public voice to come afterwards. Unfortunately for the management in this instance the public voice was silent, and the play an utter failure on the first night, and only rendered a success on the second night by the kindness of a literary gentleman in town who reconstructed and re-wrote the whole affair. lam very sorry Mr. Searle's good nature should be so upset by a very laudable ambition for his wife's success in the literary world (to whom I wish the greatest prosperity); but if he really thinks "Under Two Flags," in the form received from him, of such great value, I shall be most happy to return the manuscript at a very liberal reduction on its original cost. Trusting you will excuse the liberty I have taken by trespassing on your space.-—I am, &c, Clara Stzphensom, Wellington, 2Sth Nov.