New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-16
PARTISAN LITERARY LIFE.
ERNEST DAUDET'S NEW PLAY-SUlClDE OF
HECTOR CREMIEUX-ZOLA IN ITALY.
Paris. Sept. 90.

I have seldom known p great Frenchman who
had not brother less great. but endowed with
eminent qualities which the lustre OF the greater
kept in the shade Victor Hueos brother Abel
was held down by the fame Of Victor. lie wrote
charming books on archaeological subjects and
accounts Of tours he made in France and Italy,
but no bookseller would speculate IT them because
they were by a Hugo who was not Victor Louis
Blanc had a brother Charles. really distin-
guished writer, chiefly on ar' subjects But until
Louis went into exile he had no chance OF MAX
ing any sort OF a mark and when Louis came back
70 France. Charles found himself again eclipsed
The mothers of great Frenchmcn generally set up
their less great sons the superior, by virtue CT
natural endowments. members Of their families
Ernest and Alphonsc Daudet are instances in
point but Ernest the pioneer of Alphonse In
the Partisan world and was brought to Paris from
a provincial school in which Alphonse was an UNI
dcrpaid and undcrfed usher. The elder brother
as Alphonsc so beautifully relates in Petite
Chose" pushed the younger in every way in his
power, getting him situation as secretary to the
late Due dc Morny. in the palmy days OF the EN-
rire and creating for him the current Of circun
stances which enabled him to find the types which
figure in his novels and to work free from the
dread Of hearing the wolf bowling at his door
Ernest Daudet is Il man of really firstrate talent
but is not gifted with that penetrating grace
which is so attractive in AphonSr, and which So
lcautifcs every subject that he touches with his
rem Nevertheless were Ernest not the brother of
Alphonse Daudet h. would stand much higher, |
am persuaded. than lie does. He is not in the
least jealous OF the younger and more celebrated
brother but he must feel depressed at llndng
himself rated so much beneath him author.
The warmest affection unites the two brothers.
Alphonsc is miserable AZ TIE SUCCESS Of Ernest
being less than his own, whether in the book
market or a. n writer for the stage. lie suffers
cruelty from disease which is concentrating all
the nervous power H. his brain, TO the detrlheht
of thc rest OF his body Ills sufIerings have been
lattery rendered more acute by his inability To
witness tho frs, representation Of play Of Ernest
"I'n d amc Parisicn' adapted from lie Defro1ue'
a novel by the Latter. Alphonse expected that 1t
would be great sucC,ss, which in some degree II
has been. and wanted TO be present at the authors
triumph But the physician said he must not
breathe the bad air Of theatre, or s' up late AT
night and so hc had 70 stay al home 10 his bitter
disappointment
Ernest Daudet lives In ! narrower sphere than
Alplonso. being more dcvout Catholic and
lcgi,imisf He knows what fashionable ana aris-
tocratic life in Paris Is and shows il to ne IN TN
Drame Parisien" To judge from his play one
may have nice time in that exalted sphere
Lent and Advent are rot the dull'et seasons.
Ladies then hear eloquent preachers with whom
they fall in love in way, call on them IN me sac
ristv 10 pour out their hearts and souls heor" thcm
and then 90 TO 1--WE o'clock eas 70 chat about these
nulpit orators Tic first scene Of " Tn Draine
parsien- gives us a sacrisiy at a fashionnole
church after q Lent sermon We see there 'he
crca. Dominican preacher. Father ViGnal, VINO
makes up 70 resemble Father lIyacinthe. such as
he was when Nine Iicnrcttc Brown did his
portrait for the Salon twerty-lour years ago
We have the Marchioncss &c Revignac. the Baro-
ness ne Charlin. the Countess de Veran and Rose
Morgan, a cocotte dressed u perfection. and in
state OF feeling which might easily lead her TO
stand in the relation OF a Mary Mazdalen to
Father yignal Ono can realize from this play
what ordcals eloquent priests pass through In
Paris unless when they belong 70 the order OF
Jcsuits whose discipline Is too severe to authorize
sacristy conferences with far and emotional peni-
tents The hum OF conversation ceases. ana all
the ladies have withdrawn, wien one in elegant
mourning comes in, alters piercing cry anu
asks 20 be heard in confession. The DOMINICAN
M first feels like sending he. away. but she sup
pIicates So hard that ne zoe, behind a grating at
which she nc,s down. She Is lovely Dclhg' anu
the widow OF Count lo Veran who was found one
morning shot through the forehead with pistol
ball. and in his own house, too after supper
given by him there. The Countess, who had lived
apart under the same roof from her husband, had
not been informed Of the crime until her usual
hour for getting up in the morning. As the
Dominican sits behind the grating, md she NUT
,ers her confession into his ear. we do not know
,ybnt she is saving to him. He seems. however.
startled by what She SAYS
In the second act, which is supposed 10 take
ulace six months ait.r the first the murderer OF
the Count is still undiscovered and tho investlga-
ton about IL about 10 terminate. when the lnVes-
tigating magistrate has bright notion IL is 10
get Up a supper table at the Counts. with the
same servants and guests his may refresh
memories and perhaps awaken conscences, ana
lead 70 admissions involuntary other. Rose
Morgan il the first To arrive, ard In a dress OF
salmon pink brocadc with long feather-bordered
train and n long skiIp bluegrecn opera cloak.
slit IN at sides and back and trimmed with fur.
She il wonderfully beautiful in thee garments
Each Of the scntlcnea and ladies is in turn OK
nmined and turns away suspicion. All OF them
but Rose Morgan had left the Counts at in
the morning. Rose is then examined. IL trans
snircs that she hal wanted the Count 10 give her
30 1000 francs TO satisfy an extravaganza caprice
and that he refused The day after the murder
she had plenty Of money. Where did she get IL :
She fails TO explain TO the satisfaction OF tho
magistrate The other ladies are jealous of her
beauty. her dog. collar necklace In pearls and
brilliants and manage 10 strengthen the suspicious
Of the magistrate lie makes her mount horse
shoe stairs in the hall where the supper Is lad
out and putting a revolver in her hand cries OUT
in n strident voice: "Show now, Rose Morgan
show now, how you shot Count de Veran' one
screams and in instant the horrors OF her s''ua
ton and all The suspicious circumstances thar
have been rakcd up fash upon her NINA one
faints. but AS she RECEIVERS quickly the masls-
trate accuses her OF merely pretending 70 laihl.
We next sec her In the third act in the dock