LUCKY AND UNLUCKY MEN. [To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—You published an article in the Spectator of October 14th headed "Unlucky Men," in which the writer entirely mis- represented my meaning, and then proceeded to combat a proposition which I had never advanced. Ill-luck has not pursued me through life. But if it had I have too much sense to howl about it. I should feel it was my own fault and that I got but my deservings. But when it is said that I bring ill-luck to my employers, that however well I may play my part the play is sure to fail because I play it, that a fiasco is prophesied for a forthcoming production as soon as my name appears in the cast, that managers are, or pretend to be, so influenced by this preposterous lie that they refuse to engage me and so deprive me of my means of living, I think it is time to protest. Far be it from me to imply that the writer of that article had any wish to injure me, but it is injurious none the less, and the injury is all the greater because, as I see, the Manchester Courier, and possibly other papers, have taken their cue from it and are running their arguments on the same false lines. I beg no favours, I demand justice, and the usual editorial vanity which forbids the acknowledgment of an error will not, I hope, prevent your granting me that.--I am, Sir, &c., HERMANN VEZIN. 10 Lancaster Place, Strand, October 21st.
[Our article was founded on a close perusal of Mr. Vezin's letter to the Era, and we were careful to say that we "entirely believed" him when he said that the accusation of unlucki- ness as regards himself was false. It is needless to say that we had no desire to depreciate in any way so able and accomplished an actor as Mr. Vezin.—En. Spectator.]
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