TLS: Friday, August 01, 1919

Provincetown, Mass.
August 1, 1919.

My dear Madden:

Don't worry, the manuscript covers will be kept under lock and key from all layette designing -- when I get them, which I probably will when I trek to the hamlet tomorrow. And many thanks for the advance felicitations!

I have been waiting day by day for glad news in regard to "The Straw" and waxing impatient at the lack thereof. Hasn't old John D. definitely specified his honorable intentions, and isn't he yet willing to name the day and bind his word with coin of the realm yet? To whom did you submit the copy which the Guild returned?

Is there anything new from the Siegel vaudeville proposition?

Speaking of the Guild, I received a letter from Peters about my play. He is very high in praise but says that "even if the rights were available" he doesn't think it's their kind of play. This leads me to believe that my former suspicion that they had heard Williams had taken it while the ms. was still under their consideration, may be a true one.

Let me know the dope on "The Straw" as soon as you have any, will you? I'm tremendously excited about the future of that play.

With very best regards,

Very sincerely yours,

Eugene O'Neill.

P.S. (over)

I am in receipt of a letter from Madame Benrimo (Kathrine Kaelred, the actress, wife of Benrimo, the playwright) asking about my one-act plays for London. Will you get in touch with her? Her address is 1 East 56 St. -- phone 865 Plaza. She seems to think I am my brother who played with her in "Joseph & his brethren". Disillusion her. Will you kindly do this at your earliest? She "beefs" a lot about having tried to reach me -- she and her husband --for a long time without success.