Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1904 — A Young Collaborator. [ARTICLE]

A Young Collaborator.

Mr. Barrie is said to be indebted to a little boy for one much applauded line in bls play of “Little Mary.” The play deals satirically with the vice of gluttony, and this is the first time In tbo author's literary career that ho has not relied solely upon his own talent.

He has a favorite companion nnd friend, little Tommy Davis. One day Mr. Barrie brought the boy some sweets, and asked, as he presented them: “If I gave you these and told you, If you ate them, you would be sick in the morning, what would you say?” “I’d say I'd be sick to-night.” Mr. Barrie was delighted with the answer, fitting, as it did, so completely his conception of a gluttonous appetite. “Let me use that for my new piay,” he said to the boy, “and as part author, you shall receive a royalty of a halfpenny of every performance given.”

The little author of course accorded permission, and a contract was drawn up and duly signed and sealed. The London newspaper which tells this story says that Mr. Barrie has scrupulously adhered to his bargain. The play is extremely popular, and little Tommy bids fair to amass a small fortune—-a small fortune, be it remarked. -