New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-23
sARDOU's "DANIEL ROCHAT."


FROZEN" CONSENT.
NJ. SardOu's hero, Daniel ROchat, is an atheist,
A man IN public life. noted the Radlcalism OF his
speeches and writings Tho scene play Is laid ct
Fcrucy switzerland the occasion "a the centenary OF
VOltaire, upon whom Mr. ROcbat makes spee"a In
public. While travelling through Switzerland previously
on his way Ferney he has met two young sisterS'
half English and half American and with the eldest,
Leaf no has fallen deeply love. He finds that they are
living at the Chateau FPrney, with their aunt, and
Lea goes with her friends to hear his speech.
Enter DANIEL, surrounded By his friends and fol,
lo'ced b. ne cr09d Cries, Of " Vice RochqtF" ana
LEA--(Much mOrcd) An Monsieur how beauti-
ful it was oh! how beautiful IL was!
D.-(Radidnt) ALI MISS Lca-of all the applause
which reaches me this goes straightest 10 my heart
LEA-I wept!-I do not conceal it'll do net even
resist the desire to tell you So. Oh! Monsieur-t9
find such elOqueDce-sO much mind, and reason, ana
hcartl And how bad you were to hide your
self! Why did you not tell us who you wereS >,
D.-Bccause my name does not sound we'll IN all
ears! II you had not shared my beliefs
LEA-A daughter of America-and of free Eng
land!-a Republican by birth and race whose
father consecrated his life to all the liberties OF his
d. did not know i'll And in that doubt was
so afraldyes, afraid; that is not saying too much
ERfn Miss Lea. only in full possession OF my
self when l saw you applGudiugl Oh! then l rose
to the occasOn And II attained to some buTsts OF
real clOquence, it is because my force my conVlc,
tom my aiIlOT my faith, ALL drew all from yOn
LKA-l would might believe 1t should he not
indiflerently pfOud to inspire sucn words anu
would wish TO be there always " hen you speak.
DIT only rest with you tn be there.
LEA-But we are not alone They are looking at
D-You see thcmR do notl We are alOne-and
| only see amt here You
LEG-rhe place Is singularly chosen for such an
interview.
D.-I have not chosen it. find 1t favored by my
emotion aud your own tor your hand tIemDles'
Lea. and il is no longer for the same reason;
LEA-But, assure you that theyarc looking AT
us-at least, let go my nand go,
Doh lno indeed / will rot let it 90 TIL you
have told that you are really willing That
LEA-i AM indeed willing, since have already
known It long time, and have not forbidden It,
But leave me my hand, now
D.-Now. less than cYe-!
LEA-Then ask ne for it very quickly that may
DECCaTyng her hand to her Ups) Oh my love !
In the last scene Second Act the pair go through
the civil ccrmony before The Mayor and as the curtain
faIs with IL, cOmpany coin. out 70 breakfast tue
Protestant clergy enters and IOcat ~ amazed 10
hear from Lea Mr.. Clarke IS presently TO marry
thru With tue opening OF the Third Act tho breakfast
ends and Lea enters tho salon Rochats athcisIic
friend Bidoche Il pcrsuadlng the bridegroom that he
must not yield TO the Performance OF the religious cere-
mony- his opinions his writings, his speeches. his pop
ulanty forbid Lea and Rochat are left alone:
LEA Ny dear Daniel, youwl think me
very curious, aud am entering very quickly on my
wiie's role; but what question were you DECLARING
7
D-Oh paldon! discussing politics, religion
naturally. Fargis wa .pGrriug little with the
doctor. Who Is au-atLciat! They are quite numer-
Gus, assure You.
LA pity them. ,.
D-Whv Uddachc is not unhappy. not the least
i'm the world He is Il most loyal, worthy fellow, ana
very intelligent. lie would ~; ask nytGIn2 pet
Ter urr,,al, than 10 thluk differently But what
can nc do IA s4ruRt III hi5 science demonstrates
t. hm that there Is no tod .,
LEt-And without positive proof ne CONES 10 tFi
nrnule like rs TRANQUILITY installed IN onr Drllcl
You imagine that It is all pcop!ed M y0nd,r No.
II - ail yodi That which appears To You All blue
y a: ali III biecoi% Fee tac BIT THIS conversation is
a Httic singular Tor such % d.. 3, q,
p-On IT,. contrary, La, 30 - most scasohaoic' 1
M, n tell Won ilai tins conviction of the doctors Is
that of mi,t %: my iriends-anI '"n Lea WHO nAc
me. wsh humanity happy ann fac.
/ IrN-Bu; ChristIau-not atheist Aud yOu'
/ Dluiri you yourself the proof , g.,
D.-i, Lea To tell yon truly THINK Il niue IKE
Lra-You. Dmir,f-yon. athcisti Oh Daniel
! /, n possible YOU! Jou' ;oui
D.--My beloved Lea, hear me- pray You. i"u
/ sl.r, tbc common prejudice which sees IN
! the uubcllcy,r only mai delivered over 70 MS
', i,,us ,yLo wilhugl, A,irks his iu,icS, and who
can be- neither "A respectful son. tender husDahj
! nor "A devoted father. But what an error my Lea
Far from that, and entirely To- tho cOntlary instead
Of dis,ipatlug him-rli ~ yondrI M i0ollsh utehS
"il G,. thoughts are dIfc ted to the love lit.lc
! world which lTayItatrs abound him-al the
warmth OF his heart cone 'nratcS Itself on TINS dGat
| reality Which - here WitiiH ICd'i vi ms '"u @
wife his chllrcn And hi affection Tor them Is so
much deeper as there ~ nothing more hUthius Drt-
lar mott else 10 love-. Let nc SPEAK, ieu, i"u
nr,'.,.strd. AN athrist"- " an athels.," Tor
| iuuatriy sur humanity! For, instead oi lhinAihS
realistically OF ones own safety III the other world
W. think only Of he safety OF orr fellow creatures
| IN tins! All the attention which we no longer
give tn God We give to man, 10 the weak. the poor
| The disrnhrritcd. the suileung-to whom We say :
| "Ynur celestial happiness Is illusory That which
ia only real is your present misfortune We arc
gong to work to give you o.. tnt" 1mo ' ~
| Heaven Isn't that good Is IL not gehelouS'
uT%'TLat is the bread of the body Daniel, not
that OF the SOUL There are other miserieS tiian
those of poverty THE InIserics of the heart! ANA
those afflicted ones, those wounded llVcs, whose
eyes look up yonder toward Supreme consolatloh'-
! what is left for themI
| D--R'sguatiOn.- betorel -,
LEA-Oh, mol not as beforel Sipce there where where
We said to them, Resign yourself! there Il SOME
| thing esoW you tell them " Resign yourself theFo
| Is nothing moTeI
! D.-Such Is llfel ,o,
! Lc,nT-tO the wife who mourns her husband! To tho
mother who mOurns her child. ana VINO CRIES 70
you: " shall SEQ hIn again, wln mol Sou I'LL
D-AIas! no!
Leland coldly, implacably, you snatcn IRON ron
her the only hope which consoles her; ana You ASK
! me Atterward "Am | ROOdf Am chariaDIe 7
! No: Won are not good you are not humane you
are cruel, aud that IS AL On! DanleI, Dan ii,
so grand, 80 devoted !--whO dreamed you TIC cnal-
plon OF all generous ideas ..o ., -r,a.
D-Niy dear Lea, lot us speak no more oil WHAT
forIncnts You We will have all our life to think
IEA-Oh! will lead you back to God. Daniel! l
! swear II! ,. l.. ~ ,,ooL
! e ,'',r. nr,,nnt matters You still love me- Lea
! Then. INV dear heart you must give me an lmInc-
doir tak of this love beyond proof. 1t l. nor az
Grult: It is very simple; 10 Is oniy, my dear Leu
| nor 10 20 10 the church!
IEEEin Truth, Daniel. l am so Supplied that ash;
myself II really understand you ley ne sS fr
You ask Inc not to have our union OlcsSc" W VA
| Clarke .sS !;
| D.-That is it,. Remember that this lnterieres IN
| no way with your convictions You thnK WhaI you
ncase | only demand the sacrifice of tho exterior
| the envelope the scrylce-that IL AL! e.,
LEA-But. Daniol-havc You Thought OF III
that - simply asking me not to be your Wlte! =,