New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-13
Mr.. Skinner at the Hudson in Lace-
dams Drama, TIE Duel"

79uei" and impressvely. though somewhat Iabori-
opslv iuapersonated a vlrtuous man, engaged IN a
oommendahle work The play is. called THE
-,uel" because IT exhibits contest between TWO
men for the control of woman. one Of these
men lures the woman toward evil: the other urges
be- toward good The contestants are brothers.
The woman IS the young wife q prematureIy old
husband. whose vices have made him wretched.
5,erlstng hopeless invalid. Neither OF those per-
ons Is intrnscaIly interesting nor does the story
:, their proceedings contain any incident of novel
,heracter dramatic or otherwise. any urart-
-eut ~ value. II Is understood, however that the
s-a-na darkIy euvraps a subtle, mystical symbol
al exposition Of the contemporary conflict between
-,ateialisn truculent I'm the movement Of aguostic
.boueht and spirituality nanoplied with the armor
., the Church. That is a sad and solemn theme
snd one 10 be approached in list slippers; but. IN
the theatre. plays are more appropriate IMAM
,rs--i~s AS a play. The Duel is trite, tedious
-avkish and singularly unpleasant AS DISCUS
or Of sexuality, il is animated. volube, vehement
sn6 racy and 10 doubt it viii crafty The appeO'e
sor strong meat"
NJ Norey. banker and a freethinker (this Tor
he sake of heredity. dear TO the modern play
wright dying left fortune and two sons Daniel
and Henri In youth Daniel was profGatei pHt NC
,.,ts7 and became a Roman Catholic priest IN
,outh. Henri was pious; but he also repented ana
became AN atheist. likewise he became a doctor.
Y manhood those brothers, always sntagonisuc
;, each other were casually implicated in the AZ
certain DuclfSs &c Nidii4tSs q. fN~-9
woman who in her girlhood. had made an I'M
fo-rr,nsts rnarriage-uoved thereto by the mys-
,ery q the unknown" and because, furthermore
Tie Duke de Chailles. handsome man. had kissed
her on her trembling shoulder" much TO the cih-
rurhaace q her circulation. That lady. after her
husband became mental and physical wreck,
from taking morphine employed DIT. Morey 10
attend the noble patient and, incontinently, the
Duchess and the Doctor fell IN love" Henri
Norey. the rnaterialst. had no scruples. bu- the
.-ouUg wife was temporarily embarrassed. She soon
resolved though. 10 give herself 10 the tascinat-
sne physician and. heavily veled.'' out toward
lis dwelling. for that purpose: but, happening 10
pause. Ia the sacred cause OF charity she strayed
int0 a church. entered q confessional and, as
chance would have il. impaired her tale Of woe 10
brother Daniel who. Of course. wisely admonished
her 10 behave herself a stormy interview ensued
between the Doctor and the Priest. in which bias
phemy and piety elimination and recriuinaton.
were literally supplied, and there was lively dis
cussi0n Of the rights and wrongs Of love" be-
tween the Doctor and the Duchess. Finally. the
Duke de Chailles loaded himself with more nor
Thine than lie could conveniently carry. jumped
Our = his bedroom window, and broke his neck;
EuL the widow married the Doctor II incidentally
became apparent that the Priest. Notwithstanding
n sacerdotal panopy. had become somewhat
periIously enamoUred OF the fair Duchess. The
!mputation OF a human weakness 20 q sacred char
Hcrer affords much comfort TO some orders Of
Iund This play, substantially, is exposition OF
me rti-Luc- OF woman VINO delneTdteS whether
a. roc she VIII commit adultery. takes ghostly
co1uss. hovers douhtfuIIy for some time. on the
border q sin and shame, and al last IS saved by
accident. u orcer that the subject may lee fully
exposed the piece shall have minute and specific
8UalvFis Il uuhealtfl@UI PLAY and II ought 70
faI: b1rs probably. because OF its amorous senti-
mentality and its highly Deppered sensualisrn It
viii succeed and have a long run. and stimulating
thought and discussion ar 10 a gross subject DO q
liberal amount Of mischief.
First. Dr. Mercy declares that The sick Duke
must be given certain amount Of freedom being
IN measure. restored TO reason; but he warns the
Duchess tHat the Duke viii, sooner or later prob
ably sooner. resume the q morphine. Bishop
BoleHe Is shown inte the Doctors Office where the
Duchess and Dr- Aorey talking. This old
clergyman mas been tortured in China Before he
Er-tves the Duchess mas told Dr. Morey that she is
''an llbe-.eyrr.+ but she has heard Of the Bishop
and sae wants o. meet him The Bishop has come
70 the Doctors sanatoriun. for treatment Of ner-
voUs disease. consequent his suffering while be-
ing tortured The Duchess wishes TO hear about
Tire torture Or. N0rey. displaying a preposterous
lack z professional wisdom, forces The converse
ton Oh -ae Bishop ga spite Of his nervous disease
presses -he subject, and mentions details. The
g-snop tries 10 make Eight Of the experience. The
luchess Is greatly touched by the gentle patience
with which The Bishop speaks ~ his sUfferiugs
Aueuca-- enters and tells Duchess that the Duke
Is ready Cd De taken home The Duchess SEXES the
Bishop hand and kisses it.-much 10 the annoy
HHoe Of the Doctor. The Bishop observes this and
Treseurly.-suce they both affect 20 like plain
speaking inquiries why II is. since he processes
'e greatest respect for the Duchess that the Doc
lot should wish 10 become her lover. card
brought iH. for the Bishop. DR.. Morey tells him
- receive she visitor. and goes out. The Able
g'aIle enters Able explains that he wants 70 see
!s brother but he knows his brothers dislike Of
priests, and feared he would NOT have been I'D
f-ttel had ls card been taken directly 10 the
Doctor, saws that. hearing the name Of the Bishop
r"a.r lac rf c-r. nd
aat- itenCe bE slbterf3ge. The Bishop presently
zoe out. leaving The Able wait for the Doc
Tor soon they meet and talk. Daniel says
IT, mas started p home and dspensary for
poor children. and asks Hernia specialist IN
diseases Of children. before ne became a great
aafH-st.-to give one or two hours u week 10 the
-.'me. The Doctor declines. on the ground that ne
Goes not care 10 associate himself with tnstitu-
'ln founded and conducted boy the Roman Catholic
PRIESTHOOD and DE says he does not want 20 hear
cures than have been wrought by his skill attrih-
".-c 10 God Daniel remarks that God Is a col
.'asHe Of whom Doctor Henri may well be jealous
lie then asks for letter % introduction 10 the
Duchess de- ChaiIes. with request that she will
contribute money 10 The home-she being very
14eh- That also the Doctor declines 10 give-say-
ing that the Duchess might De embarrassed, On
leee.Flhs slch letter from him. and feel
l@'lleo 10 give whether she wanted 10 not. In
l'i- MoTeys words and manner il seems 10 DE ID
' %'.a' i'' Is ashamed Of his brother. Decauso
.. IS a priest also The Doctor reveals a foalolis
-- a- 10 u" influence that HE Able might
acquire over th' Duchess. Dr Henri is willing
.-L ne -Ap'e sAall apply 20 the Duchess as long
as she IS not informed Of their relationship. While
Daniel and Henri are dlerlu+irg a. =, a. i,,,,.,r
III "a ''' NIttA they, respectively. carry
oa.-one for life Against death the orbar Tor eaI,-s
'on against sir'-the Aboe tells the Doctor about
one - his pentenIs. who comes 70 min, ,-fla4 ma
Taom he does not know. either by name or sight.
and asks him for assistance In bar ,-r,,, H.
tween her duty 20 one nan. and her Ir,. . -.
other. VINO loves her TIE Able here seems r., 1o
telling something that lie has iae,-,-5 .-5 ~