The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-23
ROSTAND'S BOOK
CONTAINED PLAY
MASTER AND PUPIL ARE NOW
FAMOUS IN FRENCH THE
ATRICAL LIFE.

In q public school In Marseilles
about thirty years ago there WAS an
exceptionally brilliant pupil, a boy
whose parents destined him for the
law. The teacher had singled him out
! for special observation because OF the
unusual qualities he had observed in
him. But one day the teacher was as
tonished to notice that this star pupil
was paying no attention to the lesson
he was striving TO drive home.
Boy" he called. what are you
doing?"
Nothing, sir came the usual re-
ply.
] Then come here. boy, and bring
with you that copy book IN which /
see you writing"
The boy rose and carried the copy
book, somewhat reluctantly. to the
masters desk. The teacher put on
his glasses and read what the pupil
had been writing when he ought to
have been attending to the lesson.
Indeed" commented the teacher.
Writing play, are you? So this Is
the way You are wasting your parents
money. This Is how you are pursuing
Your studies. If you want to write
plays you must write them in your
spare time and not In school hours.
Go back to your seat and write me
200 lines OF Vergil. This book Ia con-
flscated."
But, sir-please, sir" protested
the boy.
Don't stand there arguing. boy. Do
as / tell you at once"
The boy went back to hts seat crest
fallen and smarting under the loss OF
his brainchild.
This boy left school and went to the
University Of Paris, there to complete
his studies OF the law. He continued to
write plays, but in his spare time and
not in study hours While studying for
his degree he wrote an essay on SEN
timental and naturalistic fiction in
competition for a prise offered by the
Academy OF MarseilleA It won the
prise. The master also left the school.
He, too. was drawn by the drama, not
as writer OF It, however. but as a
critic. While still a school teacher
he wrote under an assumed name.
and made this name famous
Pupil and master are to-day at the
head Of their respective branches OF
literature in Europe. The boys name
was Edmond Rostand, the teach err q
name, Rene Doumic. Soon after Ro-
stand left school one of the theatres
accepted from him little play called
/ TO Cant Rouge" II had a short run
ciful to 1t. But there was one who
wrote friendly lines about II and sign
ed them Rene Doriac. To this critic
the young Rostand wrote a letter TO
thanks for his announcement. And
the critic answered him in a personal
letter. signing himself no Rene Do
rtac, but Rene Doumic. In the let
ter he said:
/ II was interested 10 recognize In
LIE Cant Rouge a piece which was
already familiar to me, though whet,
! first read tin a class room at the
Lyce Stanisias-it was entitled Les
Pettts Traits"
Thus did the play which he had
oonfscated IN school--and undoubt-
eddy returned when Rostand had nm
fshed writing those 900 lines OF Vergil
come again to his notice. and thus
did Doumtc hold ont helping hand
to debutant youth In whom he saw
signs of promise while all the other
critics condemned his frs, effort.
Rosfand's career from that date on
ward has justified the faith of his old
school teacher. He has not written
| "L'Aigiou." "Chaticier," Ia prIn-
cess I,ontaine," Les Romanesaues.
are sufficient to give him a very high
place In literature. And the teacher
Rene Doumtc, has won no less emf
nent position, for there are many who
would call him the greatest dramatic
critic of the day.
Rostand became an Immortal" q
member of the Academic Franchise
A Few years later Rene Doumic was
elected TO that august body, and 4,
Tell TO the lot OF Rostand to welcome
his former school teacher when he
TOOK his chair under the cupola OF tn.
| institute.--Denyer Times