ALS signed “C. L. Dodgson,” one page, 4.75 x 6.25, May 4, 1892. Letter to drama critic Clement Scott, in part: "To judge by the 'Standard' notice of Lady V. Greville's play, you must have had but a dull afternoon! When you see your way to appointing a time for me to bring my cousin to see you, would you kindly give me 2 or 3 notice, that I may have time to arrange with her. Your words, about ladies going on the stage, are rather gloomy: but, even in my limited experience, I find evidence that they can do it, without harm to themselves, &, I am sure, with good to others." Annotated "Lewis Carroll" below the signature in another hand. In fine condition.
Already known for his acerbic and grating critiques, Scott would give an ill-considered interview in 1898 in which he attacked the morality of theater people, specifically actresses, saying that 'it is nearly impossible for a woman to remain pure who adopts the stage as a profession...Temptation surrounds her in every shape and on every side; her prospects frequently depend on the nature and the extent of her compliance, and, after all, human nature is very weak.' The theater community's backlash against him ended his career as a critic. Scott's 1892 review of Violet Greville's play, Nadia, apparently foreshadowed some of these controversy-spurring sentiments.
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