ALS: Wednesday, August 20, 1919

Provincetown, Mass.
Aug. 20th

My dear Madden:

Your letter of Saturday reached us today. I realize the strike situation must have everything up in air and hope the damn thing will be settled soon.

If you can settle with Williams for "The Straw" at once the money would come in very handy. What with The Event this man's family is expecting -- well, you can understand. Feb. 1st as a production date is all right for me. In fact, providing "Beyond" and "Chris" turned out winners, I would not be averse to granting him an option on an extension. But you know best on this matter -- what the chances for the placing of the play are elsewhere, etc. -- and I leave it up to you. But I would like to grab the advance as soon as possible.

I don't agree much with Williams' ~~dope~~ on too many plays appearing in one season. If I were grinding out inferior work in a rush for a bankroll, it would be different; but I spent almost two years on the three plays and am willing to stand by them. Also I have plenty more where those came from -- in my "bean".

Neither do I concur with W's dope on the last act, and it is important he should understand this. "The Farm" means the sanatorium. Most of them are called "Farms". To change the scene would mean a complete rewriting of the whole act. Also it is honestly impossible in the nature of the case that the scene could be laid elsewhere. As the girl would have to be in bed -- as the head nurse would have to appear -- I don't see how a change would make anything more hopeful -- and any change would be bound to be illogical and forced. If W, when I see him, can convince me that a change can be made without spoiling the unity, I am willing to make it -- but I want it understood cold and clammy that I'm dead set on the play the way it is, and it will have to be a wonderful suggestion indeed that will move me from that stand.

From the way things look now it doesn't seem possible that the rehearsals for "Beyond" will come off on schedule, does it? Tell Williams when you see him to give me fair warning in advance as I can't leave here on any instant's notice.

Am sorry the Benrimo letter missed you. I gave it to someone to mail who probably still has it in his pocket. Madame Benrimo wrote me to ask about my one-act plays for London productions. Her husband is over there now. She is Katherine Kaelrod, the actress, as you probably know. Her address is 1 East 56 St. -- Phone 865 Plaza. Will you get in touch with her and explain the delay -- she wrote over three weeks ago.

Have the "Ile" vaudeville people given up the idea?

With very best regards,

Very sincerely yours,

Eugene O'Neill.

P.S. You'll write me soon again, won't you?