I am greatly honored to know that you are really going to write the history of my life! I will not say “It is an honor that I dreamed not of,” because I _have_ dreamed of it. But I never thought you would really undertake it. Of course I will, as you ask, very gladly do _anything_ and _everything_ I can to assist you. But though my life has not been altogether an easy or uneventful one, in all sincerity I can hardly think of it as worthy of your brilliant pen. Yet you know how I have always looked up to you, and so you will know how much this means to me and how much I appreciate it. And because “I hold every man a debtor to his profession” I am more than delighted that you think the public will be interested in the life of a theatrical manager,--and that manager me. If only I had been able to do all that I wanted to, then there would have been a career worthy even of your pen. It pleases me so much whenever there comes a real, worthwhile tribute to the profession I adore--the Stage! It is great and wonderful to think that my name is to be written in the records of the American Theatre by you: that hereafter the name of Belasco (just a stroller from California in the dear old days of the pioneers) will be found written by you along with the names of those who made our Theatre _possible_ as well as great. I mean the men and women who gave my profession of their best--long, arduous, weary years of hard, hard work, at the sacrifice of personal comfort; who studied and toiled and played their parts uncomplainingly night after night in the changing bills; the friends who were never too tired to learn something; who lived simply and poorly and yet had the courage to marry and bring up their children and give the Stage a new generation; the friends who found joy in the few hours they held sacred in the home--often a barren room or two. Beautiful! Those are the boys and girls I love--our pioneers. What pathetic figures--what noble examples many of them were! Such men and women I reverence--I salute them! And I thank you for the compliment you pay me, as a humble follower of the Theatre, when you write my name with theirs.... We must meet soon and have good, long talks about the golden days in California,--_my_ California. _Facts_ I can give you: exact _dates_ I will not promise. I have never kept a “Diary.”... As far as I possibly can I will make my convenience to suit yours.... Faithfully, DAVID BELASCO.