The Press., 1911-02-15
CHAPTER XII.

N" IIRST we will have a bit of
 salad that I have ordered and a glass of wine," went
 " on Vav1n. And then you, Dora, and and this author of yours will talk of the drama"
 Papa has never given me wine, '' said Dora as he offered her a glass.
 '"Then never let us begin" replied Vavin impressively.
 And now to the play, my children, p he said. Let me have the manu- script. This scene here" he said, turning to the first act-"you play 1t in a white light"
 Naturally" said Holcomb. ''It is daytime
 "Yet all the sentiment is night,' ex- plained Vavin. You have not studied the effect of color on the emotions. You have doubtless heard of Charcot- Dr. CharcOt He was my friend. We made many experiments together of the effect of color upon many persons under hypnotic influence. Invariably under yellow the subject laughs, un- der green he Is content, under red he is content also, but slightly stimulated. If 1t Is brown he is in fear; if violet he weeps; under blue there is a-what you call it manner-distrait, perplexed. Now, my boy, don't you see that the color for this scene should be red?"
 Do you really think, sir," said Hol- comb, "that this Is so important-that the individual is so sensitive?"
 Sensitive to colorT' repeated Vavin From your awful elevated road look into the apartment windows. It is marvellous how generous you Ameri- can people are. For sous one gets an intimate view of the entire Ameri- can life. Inside the walls, brown or a dark blue, depressing. I wonder the poor people live For myself, when work or have something to construct in a strange hotel I have the room f1t- ted so that can get the color I need. Let me show you"
 He called to his servant, who was in the outer room.
 "Henri, le rougep' And as the man pulled the red curtain across the bay windows: Don't you see that the color for the scene should be red? These curtains-see what they do. Now, sup pose that in addition to them I give you this red light" and he turned on a red lamp on the mantelpiece, "and If you want it warmer I turn out these white lights" and the energetic dram atist walked briskly around the room, turning out the electric lights. we are at once domestic, yes-cozy cor ner, the armchair, the old man with a pipe. In your play there is no old man with pipe, so we will place this lady so," and he led Dora to the fire place and seated her in a chair in front of it. Isn't this the happy home? Isn't she the young wife2 And can't you almost believe that I am the father? Don't you feel that way, my dearT'
 'It really is wonderful" said the girl. ''for I do."
 "But have a red light in my play" said Holcomb.
 "Ah, yes," replied Vavin, ''but in the wrong place. A scene of gayety; 1t should have been yellow. Let me see 1t in your manuscript and will show you. NoW' see! Agdln ne walked briskly around the room, turning out the red light and turning up the light on the table, which had large yellow shade on 1t.
 'sHenri, the yellow curtainsl' he call ed, and the well trained servant came silently in and pulled over the red curtains a pair of heavy brocaded vel low ones.
 "Now, my dear, the lining of your eoat-it is yellow. We will reverse it. And now we will take this scene where the man follows the woman Into her own apartment before he is such good friends with her husband. I will hold the book and you will play 1t. You know the hnesP' he said to Holeomb.