New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-21
" THE PATHS OF VIRTUE"
4 Highly CleUer and We'll Acted
Comedy at the NouUeautes.
Paris. November II.

a,es --ese-red The public almost e-cicsiNely Win
broad. roricksone farces verging on the bur-
los,ra s,ch as Feydeau's Hotel du Liore
7-.t.-rs 60 Alexandra Bisson's "Controleur De
-[-a-,1 La Feydeau's Dame de Chez Maxim
.-s Pierre Keber's "Loute.'
les sertiers Ge Ia Tertu-'rThe Paths Of Writ
ue~-a play in three acts, by de Fiers and de
,~s1ls-et is a victory for -ure comedy over the
ho-serlav farce with which Parisians have been
saturated II MeiIhac has been described as
--sIarivaux treated with salt and pepper" the
rev work Of NM. &c Fiers and de Caillaret may
with equal propriety be defined as "MarivauK
sprinlzled with cayenne" II is s comedy Of high
order. gay amusing. logical. fun Of wit and
observation. II is not easy 10 analyze L story
Ct Les Sentiers de Ia Tertu." The action is
rather thin: or. rather. there are several skens
q action crossing each other in this clever
study OF feminine psychology. wherein the au-
thors 5uggIe with hearts and sensations as II
1hey were silver balls manipulated by sleight-
of-hand
C5clle Gerber. admirably unprecedented by
lI-ao. Marcelle Lender. is bright highly cult
ure5. pretty young married woman moving in
the smart. fashionable society Of to-day. The
charms OF this attractive woman are enhanced
by her Uncomprornisng virtue She is mum
dane leader. Her life IS divided between her
husband. her Eodchud Slnone Chevriere. q girl
O. seventeen, brought Up with intelligent Ameri-
can freedom their mutual friends. and charity.
An the captivating young Cecile Gerber
had only had d son OF a daughter OF her Own
flesh and blood to occupy her affection and in
terest, * would indeed have been a happy
family. but then We should have had no bril-
liant society comedy The play in this aspect
IS highly moral one. for il presents striking
object lesson o. the pe-ils that beset childless
married couples. Thus Cecile Gerber is sur
rounded by many admirers. She remains true to
her principles and faithful 70 her dun, pompous.
wealthy. middle aged. baldhesded husband.
ChsUmette. Deputy and former Cabinet min
ister-a part acted TO perfection b. Nobet-is
he- favo-ire friend Ee fazcinates Cecile by his
profound knowledge Of human nature his YER
sa1Ie conversation and sympathy. ChaCmette.
nevertheless. with all his talents cannot pene-
trate further than the strata OF platonic friend
ship or innocent coulra deship. Il IS skating OF
very thin ice Bat there is genuine purity and
respectabIIiJy about Cecle's paths OF virtue, al
though they are streHn with captivating or
chids. with door &. fenina. with rustling OF
six skirts. with the aroma Of flesh. and with in
duIEert, provoking smiles. There IS "a charming
EceEe where CecLe explains 10 Chaumette that
she considers Il her mission 10 bring back the
er-iug sheep OF her own sex 70 the road OF
virtue from which they have strayed. The
mission Is by no means a s-necure. for the flock
IS large and comprises scores Of fashionable
r
character OF Suzanne Fartin is taken from life,
and is an inimitable portrait Of the fraI. i'm
presslonable weIIbred society beauty who de-
plores every night the weakness she has shown
6u-srg the day-and viz. versa Cecie is the
good nstUred, but Efficient whlPTer IN Of this
eTervescent foio. ard her friends throng TO her
for advice in their love troubles.
A. q O'Clock tea AZ the Gerbiers' we find Bar
ge.in, the accomplished sportsman. intrepid
Juan Al array q widows. married women
and even young have been entangled in his
ueshes. The energetic s.rrone Chevriere falls in
love with him. and swears that she VIII become.
no- his playmate. like his victims, but his wife.
II cont marry him I shall die D.. or not 90
this sumner 70 the seaside" she exclaiuls- Bar
Eein is. however devoti1g his attention 10 Cecue
Gerber. Re explains 70 az intimate friend the
theory q E-s success With women Re has three
lIfaIlib-e uethods-1-St, by means Of veEatiOl,
by ex10iling and expatilting upon his rival con-
guests; second. ty Imagination, and especially
10y exciting 11e1etricioGs curiosity. and, third. by
sent-neIlaIlty. applicable 10 women or girls Of
romantic. poeticaI tempersments. Bargelin has
tried his three systems or Cecile Gerber. but
absolutely without success. He continues 20
press his suit SO vigorously that he at last re-
ceives from Cacile a ringing box on the ear. The
too ardent adrnirer nevertheless retains his pres
euce q mind for when Cecile's husband al that
very Inome1t enters the room BargeIin, with
exquisite Civliity cougTGtulates him on pos
seEsing such a virtuCUs wife" Bargelin thus re-
mains a friend Of the family. much 10 the de-
light q sinone CEevrere, who becomes more
and more infatu sted with him IN 4 cleverly
arranged scene the naive but pure little simone
makes a clean breast confession 70 the irresist-
ftle BargeIin that she loves him. The really
good cuaItits hidden beneath Bargelins glitter
ing exterior now appear. Bargelin treats the
ir-pulsive young girl with wei bred deIicacy,
rnodesry and respect. He also conceals from her
that he OF his side is equally sunitten. and that
he really loves her. Bargelin IS TOO fond Of
S.rrone u firt with her. He takes leave OF her
rs Il she were "a mere child" and leaves her
alone in the room
Chauuette the ex-rrinister and highly accom-
plished friend OF CeciIe Gerber, enters just as
s.uone exclainls TO herself referring 10 Bargelir;
"A rere girl: merely a mere child Oh, The
jackass." Simone runs 70 the looking glass and
asks. WHY an I not a real grown W woman2
] an tail. I have a nice. WilloEy ngure and
waist What nonsense-to call me mere child. -
Thea siuone. catches sight Of Chaumette and
naIVely exercises upon him all her personal al
fractions solely with the object Of finding out
whether he, in his turn. viii consider her "A
mere child" The experiment is somewhat real
ls-c Chaurlette finally becomes confused and
embarrassed as sInone ellcits from him the ad-
mission that her charms are those Of a woman
capable Of loving and O. being loved he at
last apologies for his outbUrst OF frankness. and
sinlone. overlooking with pride and Joy. replies.
'Oh. my good friend. not only pardon you, but
! thank you from the bottom Of my heart"
why 50? 7 don't understand"
1T Is impossible for you 10 understand; just