New-York tribune., 1901-11-02

THE ITALIAN POETS LATEST TRAGEDY AND TIL
FARCE sPRINGING THEREFRoM

THE ITALIAN POETS LATEST TRAGEDY AND The
FARCE sPR1NG1NG THEREFRoM.
Roman correspondence London Morning Post
Gabrielle D'Annunzio has just been the vlctlIn a
of an incident which a less known author
might consider to be piece of good fortune.
For some months he has been hard at work
"D'Annunzianizing" the tragic story of fran
cesca da Rimini. The subject of the poets
labors was no secret. His admirers had an
nounced to all who cared to hear, ana TO
many who did not care to hear that the great
little man was preparing to present the world
with immortal version of the immortal
tragedy. 49,, 49,,
master had finished his work and had sum
moned his intimate friends, together with the
actors and actresses who are to be honored with
parts in the new play, TO listen to the readillS
of his latest work
The fortunate guests fastened to the Dan
nunzan villa at Settignano, there to Isten WIN
bated breath to the reading of the priceless
manuscript. 49, -,
Eleanor Duse dale belle mani, had filed the
room with roses. so that the perfection Of art
might be fifty surrounded by the perfection Oh
nature. .o,
The reading of the first two acts took precisely
two hours and though it had been settled that
at this point the ceremony should be interrupted
and resumed next day, the audience insisted on
hearing the final three acts in order to possess
Immediately the entire conception or the WORK
in its inimitable beauty.
1t Is not known what impression the guests
rec eived Possibly it too sublime to ADMIT
OF expression But i'll inspired auditor
hastened next day to communicate to friendly
journal the giSt or the plot ana ~ 6l'e liz
outside world fOretaste of coming joys.
Seeing that many Of the guests were con-
nected with the press, and that no express
rromise OF secrecy appears to have been eN-
acted this indiscretion was not 10 be wondered
at. =.
D'Annunzio. however thought fit to pen
violent public reprmand to the "boor who had
thus presumed to violate his hospitality. me
Journal when had printed the Doors com
munication at once placed a member OF us
staff at D'Annunzio's disposal in case the out
ragged poet should desire to seek satisfaction at
the rapiers point. The "boor,' however
self as a target for the writer's lunges.
Fortunately the sanEuiuary duel vii! be
avoided and those admirers who tremhled for
the safety Of their idol will have the satstac-
tinn of knowing him to be safely enthroned IN
his dining hall at Settignano under the royal
daTs which protects his immortal head. "hllg
guests of common clay on lowly seats around
the board forget the viands and their appeutes
TO listen to the golden words which fall Toih
the masters lips. ~ -,
The importance Of Francesca da tinlnl de-
pends less on it's own ineffably artistic qualtleS
than on the circumstance that II is understood
10 he the first Of the classical tragedies Whlch
D'Annunzio is about 10 reWrlte. -Sophocles
Jcschvlus and Shakespeare Will be revised ana
nerfeCted The one play which may be alloWeu
Ia stand IS Hamlet" but Romeo and Jullet
needs 10 he thoroughIy overhauled. j..
And yet ungrateful WoTld coIuP'"'''7 -
the mediocrity OF modern art.