“From the time the play opened until the present day I have had many offers for it. George Edwardes promised an enormous guarantee if we would come to England. George Newnes, proprietor of ‘The Strand Magazine,’ said: ‘I am not a theatrical manager, but I want to bring your play and Mr. Warfield to England.’ Cyril Maude, Arthur Bourchier, and Sir Herbert Beerbohm-Tree all applied for the acting rights. Another great fortune could be made out of the piece were I to allow it to be played in stock and moving pictures, but I have turned a deaf ear to all inducements. ‘The Music Master’ is for David Warfield; more than that, The Music Master _is_ David Warfield.” A SHEAF OF OLD LETTERS: IN THE MATTER OF THE THEATRICAL SYNDICATE. All of the following letters by Belasco were written during the first year of “The Music Master,” and they well characterize the purposes of the Theatrical Syndicate and well indicate Belasco’s lively opposition to that oppressive monopoly. The second of them is addressed to his cousin, the son of the famous English actor David James, and it refers to a proposal made by the younger actor so named that he should be brought to America, to act in some of his father’s parts, under the management of Belasco. (_David Belasco to Blanche Bates._) “Belasco Theatre, New York, “September 28, 1904. “My dear ‘St. Louis Pet’:-- “Thanks for your message. It was sweet of you and your dear mother to think of me. Warfield and his little play hit them _hard_, and we have struck another terrific blow in the _solar plexus_ of the Syndicate. “Mrs. Carter’s new play [“Adrea”] is written and I am already at work on yours [“The Girl of the Golden West”]. I am crazy to see you and go over the story before I get at the dialogue. As soon as Mrs. Carter’s play is produced I shall join ‘The Darling of the Gods’ for a few weeks, as we must have a lot of talks together. I am going to do something _bully_ for you,--a part that you will love. Won’t you be happy when you are again playing in New York at the home theatre! “Keep well. Love to your mother,--and remember I am “Always your friend, “DAVID BELASCO.” (_David Belasco to David James, Jr., in London._) “Belasco Theatre, “New York, October 14, 1904. “My dear David James:--