The Detroit times., 1909-03-05
PARIS POkES F lin
At N. ROSTAND'
ROOSTER PLAY
CURIOUS SPECULATION AS TO
THE MYSTERIOUS DRAMA
GROWS INTO NATIONAL AZ
FARE"

PARIS, March 5.-France must
always have an affaire'' OF one kind
or another, and at the present moment
the Affaire Chantlcleer mas driven
aside the Steinheil case and interna
tioEal questions. too
or course. ever since Rostant com
menced talking about his mysterious
play, people began TO be interested
and TO wonder what the author OF
i"Cyrano' and "L'Aiglon would do
Il next. But it was Coquelin's death
which reused excitement TO its present
pitch. For what was 10 become oil
Rostand's masterpiece?
But glance into the history OF
l"Chanticleer" now causes the queS-
ton Is il indeed a masterpiece?
/ Why has the poet taken SO long 60
bring forth what was supposed to be
ready four years ago?
He gave the reasons in rather
complicated explanation 10 friend.
First, he expected TO be operated On
in six months, and could not worn;
then the operation was postponed ana
he expected 10 take up the pen again
and then his wife fell III. and six
months more were lost.
Then his mother-in-law died, and,
OF course. he could do nothing for
some months until he had recovered
from that grief
Still evil fortune continued 10 pur'
sue him. and his son Maurice fell III.
Then his own operation was once
more talked Of and finally came on.
Several years having passed away
I in such continual SORROWS and pre-
occupations, how could ne be expected
/ 10 work?
At last his play was really said TO
I be ready and Coquelin learned the
Cocks part, trie OF two thousand
rhymed lines Wnereupon Coquelin
died by most unfortunate coinci.
dence
And then another postponemen.
came for proper successor for
+ France greatest actor could not b.
found Everybody n France was sug
gested. from Kostand himself ana
Sarah Bernhard, down through the
whole STAFF OF the Coincide Franchise
10 young actors whose very names
were unknown 10 the public.
Now IL Is stated that LeBargy has
definitely consented 10 break his con
tract with the Coincide Franchise and
become henceforth the authorized in
terpreter OF Rostand 5 leading part
. bat there is some doubt whether this
is legally possible
Certain IL is ha' the solution must
soon be- found and the play produced.
or else Rostand must refund to the
theater OF the Porte ~ Martin the
heavy sums which he received as al.
yances. and which may have had
something 20 do with the loyalty" 10
that theater which he proclaimed so
loudly when he was urged 10 take h.s
manuscript elsewhere after Coquelln's
f death,
And 81 must be said that liscour-
aaement mas begun 10 creep into the
theater where the manuscript has not
been seen In entirety since Rostau =
would only trust the precious papers
one act an a time. so afraid was be- OF
having something stolen.
Now understand hat few init
mates OF The poet. who clairl 10 know
the play pretend thai y is more apt To
provoke merrlmcut Than TO be- taken
'-t-ttott-+ hss.l A.4t+.-+l A.
Z how whether people will laugh il they
ever du get the chance Of seeing RO.
stand s Gallo Cock strutting ABOUT IN
all the glory OF barnyard feathers
Paris is beginning te- laugh whenever
i. Rostand's ChantieiesI IL nentione1