The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-12
WILL AROUSE
STORM Of PROTEST
D'Annunzio Pays No Heed to
. Criticisms Hurled at Latest
Production.
ny CAMiLLO CIASFARNt.
SPECIAL Cable TO The Lines. uisnnirh

Especial Cable TO Tho Times Dispatch
Rome, February ll.-Of ali Gubric'
< DAnnunzio's novels and plays which
#he conservative and decent element
Of Italy have considered as highly
blasphcinous and dangerous to the
Young generations morals. The Sain,
sebastian that Will be shortly pre-
.hentcd to the French public Is the one
that, more than any other. has nrouseJ
opposition in all quarters. As q mat
ter Of fact. the poet had never gone az
far as to have the role OF snln;
unprecedented By a woman. who above
a.. is ballet dancer. Thus the news
that the new play will be given in
Rome some time In juno Is already
prompting strong protest ana the ta .e
cf 1t Is considered az settled.
Tho religious press has advised the
poet 10 drop the subject OF Saint Sc
lhastan, and turn his mind to some
thing more in harmony with his line
Of thoughts and moral character and.
NJ the same time, more betting the
kactress VINO Is TO appear In the tue
role, AS usual, the poet has paid no
lced whatever to the protests
This time there is also another rca-
son why D'Annunzio will do his "
most 70 have his new play staged II
seeing that between the poet anu .nt
russian actress and ballet duncer. Ida
j3ubins'cin, there is a secret compact
which both have sworn TO respect or
Inc EOet would never have written the
play AS Is we'll known, tho charac-
ters OF D'Annunzio's novels are ali
living pcrEoQlagcs.
Author His Own Hero
The hero in his novels is gcneraiiy
himself in the different aspects Of iliE
moral and Intellectual personality. but
lis plays were mostly written 10 III
iae cxccptionnl gifts o. this and that
#nctress ana exploit them for his cx-
Eclus!ve benefit.
ia Gioconda" vas wri,,on ~.
Eleanor Duse. whose soft. beautiful
lands the poet often sung. both II,
verse and in prose in his novel. I,
I'uocc."
This time. It is said. the Italian poe,
wants Mile. Kubinste,n 10 lend color
and fame 70 his now play II sccnis
that he saw her In n serics OF .ab-
1eauH wants in a French theatre. and
was particularly impressed by one of
the iablcau%. representing a Christian
martyr, drawing his last breath. lied
70 marble column. This struck him
ms highly realistic and artistically per.
feet. and he began to search the re-
cord of the Christian martyrs for the
necessary material.
Saints Role Best for Her
The legend or Saint Sebastian. the
UuIiH itOHlEH OiNSSr OF the Imperial
Guards. who suffered martyrdom I'm !.
der Emperor Domitian. and whose
physical beauty caused him to be call
"a the Christian Apollo Impressed
tho poe. as the best fitted 10 Mile
Nnhinstcin's personality In order TO
g!vc her prominent part In the new
play, D'Annunzio has divided it into
four separate episodes. with little or
ne plot, and each OF them ending in n
grand tab!cau to the accompanies
OF Dcbussy's music.
For the last fourteen months Dan
nnnIio has been residing In France,
where he went the same day after his
last novel, "Forse che 81 forse che
no" was put on sale, In order, 1t il,
said by many, TO avoid listening to
The chorus Of adverse criticism with
which 1t WAS greeted. Soon there
came from Paris news that D..nntlnZio
was gathering the material for Il now
novel OF Partisan life. and that the
heroine Of which would be dress