The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-11-30

dramatist is justified in doing the thing that he thinks will help his country. even though it does not helr his country, even though it does moi help his art. monsieur"
 We have never had any of your plays in America" said Winthrop. For him the deeper and subtler side of Vavin's answer had no meaning.
 America" said Nj. vavin. with 2 smile. Ifs a wonderful nation. won derful in that she is growing mor, wonderful every day. She wants things that pertain absolutely to her jeff. and there she is absolutely right The great art is never produced by any nation unless if pertains absolute ly to that nation. My plays pertain to France. Your American dramatists than we of the older nation. You will pardon me if say that sometimes your dramatisfs are. from our point Of view. rather crude. but that Is not the question The plays of your best dram atists would not succeed in France and the best plays of my confreres in France do not succeed in America for the same reason"
 1t was all a trffe too technical for Winthrop. but before they had fin ished their walk the consideration and the great courtesy that he had been shown in this conversation, the defer ence that had been paid to his far from acute understanding. had fasci- mated him. and for the rest of the vOy- age he and M. Vavin were walking companions.
 When they sat down to the captains dinner on the last night out he had begun to feel that there was in him inevitable and sometimes unfortunate result of association with intellectual men. In addition, he had in the course of his conversation during the voyage referred to the fact that he knew and had been engaged to Dora Fullerton. and Vavin. with surprise well conceal ed. had after that hunted him up on every favorable opportunity to get his opinion of the young woman, her sur roundings, her friends and her incli- nations.
 "I met Mile. Fullerton" he told Win throp. ''some years ago in Paris. when her father, Professor Fullerton. was lecturing there. She was very sweet girl. and every year have taken the liberty of sending her token of my respect" rsts
 It may have been the champagne. 1t may have been the ground on which they met-talks about Dora-but when the captains dinner was nearing its close Winthrop. who was known in college as the great introducer." stood on his feet and declared he thought That it was about time they had some remarks from M. vavin. the great in- tellectual light of France"
 There was ripple of laughter, some half hearted applause. but the idea had gained momentum. and finally Vavin was obliged to stand and bow his acknowledgements.
 "Speechr' insisted Winthrop. a cry that was laughingly taken up by the rest of the diners.
 ~Mesdames ct messieurs. it is a gReaf honor that you do me-" began NJ Vavin in French. and then. fixing his beetle eye on Winthrop. he con- tinued in English. 'T should hesitate to respond to this f1attering idea of having me talk my way into this won- derful country of America if did not understand that perhaps it is the na- floral custom" And along this line he spoke for several minutes pleasant iy and satirically. paying his attention to the rest of the guests and issuing them the compliments that only a Frenchman of his ability can issue.
 Gro oe continued.)