New-York tribune., 1900-01-07
IA CHILD'S CONSCIENCE, /,
THE NEW PLAY BY NJ GAsTON nv
PRODUCED AT THE THEATRE
FRANCATS
Paris. December "a

a far
permanent somewhat resembles that ~ v-
Augier. Of whom he was the favorite punr =
tave Larroumet. the successor Of Fran.s-
Sarcey as the theatrical critic OF the -
In referring TO the new play. SAYS. ..vv,.,
Conscience de TEnfant' a dramatist is a
who is entitled to a foremost place among a
ers Of the new comedy" VI. Emile Fao,,.. |
veteran critic Of the Journal des Deba,sa &
that in La Conscience de TEnfant" ons 60
real talent, which undertakes and prori.-
great deal Certain scenes are develoued -,
master hand. NJ. SardOu, who was pres..
the first night, is somewhat more severe =, 4,
Judgment for when discussing the Dlav
next day. while lunching with a few fria,d,
said of it: 1t is very uneven piece Of NJ,
manship. There are admirable situations -
passages. which are at times disappointi,.
followed by lacUnes. But this defect sear,,
me to be merely the result OF insufficient ~.
teal experience with the stage. Altogether f.
a good play and NJ. Jules Clarete is n
heartily congratulated for bringing it out ar p.
Theatre Francais-'
On the evening that la Conscience de rP.
fant' was first produced what most impress
the writer was that the entire female portion d.
the audience was loud in enthusiasm for t.
play. while nearly all the men We're reserved An.
critical My own feeling is that the PLAY ur
not be a lasting success, and that the ions
share of congratuIation is due TO the actor
rather than to the author. The play may be saa
to be true to life. but it would be difficult 4
find a comedy which ends in so striking a nan.
ner, with the reward of vice and the puniss
ment of virtue.
y detailed description Of the sequence Of Il.
four acts of La Conscience de TEnfant" woup
make a long story but brief outline of H.
play will convey an idea Of its merits as We'll q.
of its faults. A tyrannical grandfather
Cauvelin, former president of the Court OF Css
satiOn, may be described as a French Purita-
whose notions of virtue and honor are simfs.
TO those of MOliere's AIceste. This severity do
not, however, prevent him from marrying hi,
son Emmanuel TO Eva. fighty little coquet,4
whose head is completely turned by mundans
fiattery and luxury; nor does it prevent hin
from giving his daughter Jenny in marriage %
MOntret. a reckless and adventurous cOmpan7
promoter Montret is secretly carrying on a DIS
perate Irritation with Eva, his own sister-in-aH
Nine Cauvelin is tender hearted grandmother
whose affection for her children serves as FOL
for the characters of her son-in-law and h.,
daughter-in-Iaw. NJ. and Mime. AIOntret have a.
only child Germaine. a charming girl who is
betrothed TO Jean. young civil engineer. who's
father. NJ. Richard. is a retired naval Ofies,
and college friend of Cauvelin.
As may readily be imagined. there is an irre
pressible conflict between the austere. old fash
icned Cauvelin and the ultra modern, adveu
turous company promoter MOntret. and it is TINS
conflict which supplies the action of the play
Cauvelin discovers that his son-in-Iaw. Mon
tret, is about TO be summoned before the trib-
unals because he has declared fictitious div
dends in one OF the enterprises OF which he Is
the manager, and also that MOntret supplies
funds for the eXtravagances of a lady in fash
ionable society. of whose name Cauvelin is ig-
norant. Cauvelin directs his efforts To preseu.
ing Germaine from the paternaI cOntagiOn- II
is willing to save Nontret by sacrificing Iargs
sum of money, and does so on the condition tha:
Montret accept q divorce and sign an agree-
ment never again to see his daughter Germainz
The ex--lagistrate gives his daughter jenny
such indications that she intercepts a love lei
4 ter from her husband NIontret which turns or
to be addressed TO her sister-in-law. Eva. Jenny
sees no remedy but divorce. CauveIin is noE
master of the situation. He has the law on hi
| side, and makes use cf it with pitiless severity
He informs his son Emmanuel of his wife's mis-
conduct, and cOmpels him. much against Ii
WILL to divorce her. We are now in the middle
/ of the third act.
! 1t is here that the piece begins TO Justify il
| title. Ciermaine. the heroine, adores her grand
/ father Cauvelin. She also loves her father Mon
tret The young girl reveals the rieidity Of ha
principles by refusing to accept an enyelope
1 S1OO 0OO qr1