ALS: Thursday, September 25, 1919

Provincetown, Mass.
Sept. 25, 1919

My dear Madden:

Many thanks for sending me the wire! It sure gives my spirits a boost to know things are moving forward.

I'm just as well pleased that Williams passed on "The Straw". I'm thoroughly sick of his stalling, and to have another play thrown into the discard of his desk would have been too much -- no matter how much I might need the advance.

Belasco, eh? It strikes me he might consider it if he wants to "make" some new female star -- Eileen Huban, say. Will he give it a quick reading at this time, do you think?

In writing to Tyler in answer to a letter of his just now I was tempted to mention "The Straw" to him but thought I better consult you first. What do you think? I'm sure I could get him to give it a reading at his first opportunity. But I don't want to do anything that would interfere in any way with your plans, or act on my own hook without first getting the O.K. of your better knowledge of conditions. Let me know.

Under separate cover I am sending you -- registered -- my copy of "Chris". Will you kindly have a copy made and send the two back to me for comparison? Mine is not red-inked but I would like the copy to be. I've got to have another script to deliver to the publisher, now that I know "Chris" is to open in November. B. & L., you know, want to publish at the same time as the production.

It will be a great help if you can have this done at the earliest possible moment.

Thanking you for this favor, with very best regards,

Very sincerely yours,

Eugene O'Neill.