Notwithstanding his correctly adverse opinion of “L’Assommoir” Daly was induced, in deference to the wish of his father-in-law, John Duff, to buy the American copyright of the work (for which he paid £200, furnished by Duff), and to make a version of it, considerably denaturized,--in five acts, containing twelve tableaux,--which he produced at the Olympic Theatre, New York, April 30, 1879. It was a complete failure. (The only memorable incident associated with that production is that in it, as _Big Clémence_, Ada Rehan, the supreme comedy actress of her day, made her first appearance under the management of Daly.) On June 2 an adaptation of the French play, made by Charles Reade, was brought out at the Princess’ Theatre, London,--which, because of the extraordinarily effective acting in it of Charles Warner (1847-1909), as _Coupeau_, achieved immediate and, unhappily, enduring success. Maguire, reading in a newspaper dispatch of that London success, undeterred by Daly’s New York failure (perhaps stimulated by it), had at once asked Belasco to make a play on the subject for the Baldwin Theatre. This, as soon as “The Moonlight Marriage” was launched, Belasco had done,--basing his drama on an English translation of Zola’s book and completing his work within one week. All concerned were hopeful that this new drama of violent sensation would please the popular taste and serve to set the Baldwin once more in the path of prosperity. It was presented at that theatre July 15, 1879, and it was sufficiently successful to gain and hold public interest for two weeks,--a result due in part to the excellent acting with which it was illustrated, in part to the dexterity of Belasco’s exacting stage management. A single comparative incident is significantly suggestive: in Daly’s New York production the fall of _Coupeau_ from a ladder was, palpably, made by substituting a dummy figure for the actor who played the part: in Belasco’s San Francisco presentment the fall of _Coupeau_ was so skilfully managed that, on the opening night, it was for several moments supposed by the audience that an actual accident had occurred. This was the cast: _Coupeau_ James O’Neill. _Lantier_ Lewis Morrison. _Mes Bottes_ C. B. Bishop. _Bibi-La-Grillade_ James A. Herne. _Bec-Sali_ John N. Long. _Pere Bazonge_ John W. Jennings. _Goujet_ Forrest Robinson. _Gervaise_ Rose Coghlan. _Big Virginie_ Lillian Andrews. _Mme. Boche_ Jean Clara Walters. _Mme. Lorieleaux_ Mollie Revel. _Nana_ Katherine Corcoran. _Clémence_ Blanche Thorn. A HOT WATER REHEARSAL.