The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-01


upon the secular schoolmaster of the
district, a Jew. The victim suffers trans
portation, and it becomes the mission of
the hero of the book Marc Froment, a
brother secular school master Though a
Gentile) to vindicate the innocence of the
Jew and lay the crime at the door of the
real culprit. Thus the experiences of
the hero are to a considerable extent the
reflection of Zolas own part in the Drey-
fus drama.
Rudyard Kipling is shortly to have his
first novel staged in England. If 1T is
success there, we may hope to see the
plav in this country early next season
1.-THE Light That Failed has had a
curious history. AS it was first conceiV-
ed by the author, the story closed with
the hero stricken blind, hopelessly max
ing his way across the Egyptian desert
Maisie, the heroine, has been lost to the
reader sometime before the final tragedy
1t must have taken great lot of per-
suasion to induce Kipling to change the
story but, at any rate, change it he did,
so that in its recasted form, there is a
happy ending. AS one critic has said, a
tale with two tails is strange thing,
but a play with two last acts would be
much more freakish.
Without doubt, Kipling's consent to
the dramatization of the story was Sc
cured with more difficulty than was his
aid in changing the plot AS novel,
the story was changed first to make a
happy ending, and then back to happy
author-for Kipling was never satisfied
with the story except as he first wrote
1t. Now. to make play, the plot must
be changed again-the play demands
something else than the tragic ending of
the book. The blind hero must regain
his sight and find the heroine. We can
not imagine an audience satisfied to see
the curtain drop on a blind man riding
off the stage on camel.
The stage requirements, that a play
have happy ending, have spoiled many
q good story when they have come into
the dramatizers' hands. Monsieur Beau
caire" is a case in point. AS a story,
this little gem of Booth Tarkington's is
great. AS a play it is almost common.
place. The dramatist felt the necessity
of making a happy ending.
To get back to Mr.. Kipling and "The
Light That Failed" it does not follow
that this play will be an ordinary one.
AS story with hppy ending, it is not
ordinary. There are many who like it
better that way. Perhaps the play will
be as successful as was the book.
Mr.. Kipling is making his usual mid
winter absence from England. The place
that claims him is home in South Africa
which Cecil Rhodes gave him. The great
empire builder and the author were most
intimate friends, and each admired the
other tremendously. Kipling used to love
to play tricks on Rhodes. One night
they had to make a trip together and
kipling volunteered to get the sleeping
car tickets. When they got on the train,
Rhodes found that his tickets called for
an upper berth while Kipling was pre-
pairing to occupy the lower just beneath.
The heavy Colossus demonstrated, but
Kipling refused to give up his lower
berth. The men went to bed and about
midnight Rhodes was awakened by Il
loud voice of a huge Boer, who had just
boarded the train and wanted place to
sleep. With a chuckle Rhodes discover
ed that the noise had not disturbed Kt.-
ling, and then, putting his head ''+ he
said softly.
That's all right My little 49, Is
sleeping in the lower berth here and you
can just push him over and get in $3.50. -
In about a minute Kipling had aroused
the whole carful of people by his shouts
and kicks at the man who had tried to
push him over.
Sir Gilbert Parker has had to postpone
the dramatization of 1.-The Right OF
Way" on account of Parliament meet
ings, but he expects to have the Tiay
ready for next season. William FaVer-
sham will enact the part of Charley
Steele in the American production.
Hearts Courageous" is another popu-
lar novel soon to appear in stage ver-
sion.