SHAVIAN MS.

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 720, 20 July 1929, Page 6

SHAVIAN MS.

He Tore It Up With Savage Glee PUBLISHER RESCUES ONE Mr. Bernard Shaw’s claim that there is no complete MS. of any of his plays or books in existence is disproved by the fact that Mr. Gabriel W’ells, the New York 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 1885, and finished the first two acts in that year. Not 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 an exercise book, but the book being filled, the completion was written on slips. At the end of the book in Mr. Wells’s possession is written in Mr. Shaw’s handwriting: “Go on to MS. on loose slips.” Mr. W‘ells also has the packet of slips. Though the price paid for this unique manuscript is not disclosed, it is the 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, he says:— “I shall always disparage relics, because I 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 £3OO 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 continm: to assiduously gather together any Shavian items that chance to come into the market.