With autograph notes by Hal Gye, and drawings

Component identifier:

Item 38(b)

Content Summary:

A brief extract: 'Den' never said anything to me about the American issues. He was only concerned with himself (rightly so - but selfishness is not a virtue) and he seldom confided in me unless his confidence would be to his advantage. But, as I've said before, when I received letters from George Robertson he'd coax round me until I'd tell him what was in my letter, or I'd give him the letter to read. When he'd receive a letter and I'd be by, he'd read it, set his mouth in a firm line, put the letter in his pocket firmly, and stare at me like a Cop. Still he was a nice bloke (when he was not so well off...when he was making money he liked to mix with the Haves more than the Have-nots. He wasn't much of a credit to himself in the end, vain, swank-pub - Mr Dennis's taxi! - coot...The poet enjoyed His (F.S's) missing the mail. (Den didn't have to foot the bill for the mistake) and he wore a huge grin when he mentioned it to me...'

Fred Shenstone missed the mail with the copy for America, and so it was necessary to cable. There are no illustrations in the American edition. When he was at the peak of his popularity Dennis told Hal Gye that he had eighteen thousand pounds in the bank. It all went. When he died he left his wife as poor as she was when she married him.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The collection was purchased from Harry Chaplin in 1981.

Names:

Chaplin, Harry F.

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