SHAVIAN MS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 24 July 1929, Page 5

SHAVIAN MS.

HE TORE IT UP WITH SAVAGE - GLEE ,7: PUBLISHER RESCUES ONE ■ '•■"•1 Mr Bernard Shaw's claim that there" is no complete MS. of any. of his plays or books in existence is ' disproved." bv the fact that Mr Gabriel Wells, the NewYork bookseller, has this week acquired the complete script of Mr Shaw's 'first play, "Widowers' Houses," which was produced at the Royalty Theatre in December, 1892, says a London paper.- -.•-.- Mr Shaw started to write this play" in 1385, and finished the first "two acta in that year. N',ot until 1890", however, was the first part of Act 3 finished', the remainder of this Act being completed in 1892. Most of the play is contained in anexercise book, but tho book being filled, the completion was written.!, on slips. At the end of the book in Mr Welles possession is written in Mr Shaw's handwriting: "do on to MS. on loose slips." Mr Wells also has the packet of slips. Though the price paid for this unique..manuscript is not disclosed, it is tho " largest- sum ever paid for a work by a modern author.' ' Its sale has provoked a characteristic letter from Mr Shaw. Writing to a, friend, lie says:— "I shall always disparage relics,' be- '• cause ! am an Irish Protestant in the marrow of my bones. "I tear up MS. with savage glee, though I suppose- you could sell them at £3CO an ounce. I tore up 'St. Joan,' except, ten pages which have dates -on them, and I did the same with 'The Applecart,' "So if you are offered an original MS. for a million or so, it will be a forgery." Despite this warning, Mr Wells is quite satisfied that his latest purchase -, is perfectly) genuine, and will continue'" to assiduously gather together any Shavian items that chance to come into the market.