New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-22
MA FILE DU CIEl"
A Chinese Drama by Pierre Lott
and Judith Gautier.

La t1lo Qu Clel Is tH0 tstlo Oh d
grand heroic Chinese drama In three
acts, inspired by Mime. Sarah Bernhard,
written by Nine. Judith Gautier and M.
Pierre Lott. and Just published by Cal
mann-Levy. Lyric compositions to ac-
company this thrilling and sentimental
tragedy have been composed by M.
Benedictus, who has collected series
Of ancient Chinese songs. melodies and
dance music, that in the opinion of Nine.
Sarah Bernhardt will greatly enhance
the theatrical effect Of the work, which
she thinks capable Of being transformed
into a magnificently impressive opera.
The attention of Herr Richard Strauss
and NJ. Debussy has been called to the
operate qualities Of the drama, and It
10 not impossible that one or both Of
these composers may undertake its lyric
development.
The action Is placed in the China Of
the present day. The subject is the ter
rife feud that has existed for three
centuries between the native Chinese
dynasty Of the Ming. which was over
thrown by the Monaghan Tartars. and
the Using dynasty OF emperors at
Picking, who even to this day have not
succeeded in exterminating the ancient
Ming pretendera still beloved by the
people In Southern China, especially at
Nankin. The real motive power OF the
rebellions that are almost chronic
throughout the Chinese Empire is this
family feud between the Using emperors
and the dethroned Mings. In the first
act, which passes In the gardens OF the
ancient palace Of Nankin, we are present
at the clandestine coronation Of the in
FAINT Ming Emperor, Son OF the Spring.
whose mother. beautiful widowed prin-
cess, twenty-five years Of age. named
Daughter Of Heaven, is the regent Of the
Mings. Foremost among the grand dig
nitaries who greet the infant Emperor Is
a handsome young price, who comes In
the capacity OF the Viceroy Of the South,
but who In reality is Kouang-Sou. the
Using Emperor, who has arrived in
cognito from his palace at Picking. The
| imperial army Is in fact marching upon
Nankin to quell the Ming rebellion. The
Using Emperor has captured the real
Viceroy Of the South and has assumed
his dress and functions in order to pene-
trate into the palace OF Nankin and see
with his own eyes the Daughter OF
Heaven, with whom he Is in love. The
ambition Of Kouang Sou is to marry the
Daughter of Heaven and adopt her little
son, secretly crowned as the Ming En-
peror, and thereby accomplish. a fusion
OF the two rival dynasties.
The Daughter Of Heaven in fact falls
in love with the stranger. whom she sup
poses 10 be the Niceroy OF the South.
The Emperor Kouang- Sou vaniAhes mys-
teriously, after having won the hearts
Of both the Daughter Of Heaven and OF
the infant Ming Emperor. In the sec
ond act we find that the imperial Picking
army is about to capture Nankin. The
Emperor Kouang-Sou again appears
within the walls of Nankin, as an ennis
sary from the Picking Emperor (him-
SELF, and offers TO spare the lives OF the
Daughter of Heaven and her imperial
infant The Daughter OF Heaven spurns
anv favors from her hereditary foes.
The third act passes at Picking, where the
Daughter of Heaven is prisoner. Her
infant son has been beheaded. The EN-
peror Kouang-Sou renews his offers OF
marriage, and thus hopes not only 70
sntisfv his own love but to inaugurate
lasting peace in his realm. The Daugh-
ter Of Heaven disdains any compromise
and is resolved to die. The executoner s
sword is, however, replaced by poison
which is offered her at her request by
Kouang-Sou Having taken the poison
and being sure Of death, she tells
Kouang-Sou that she really loves him,
but that death becomes her sacred duty
az the Ming Empress. although as
woman she shares Kouang Sous love.
The Using Emperor and the Ming EN-
press. having shared the poison, die IN
each others arms.
OF all the English speaking writer's OF
the nineteenth century none, with the
sole exception Of Walter Scott. ever at
tanned popularity in France approaching
that Of Lord Byron. There are many
French TRANSACTIONS OF "Childe Harold.
"Marino Faliero," Don juan" and other
poems of the hero Of Mlssolonght but
Moore's life, Letters and Journal OF
Byron" strange as it may seem. have
never appeared in French. This de-
fciency is to-day remedied by young
Partisan writer. Jean Delachaume. who
has made an admirable selection OF By
ron's letters from the works OF Moore
Leigh Hunt, Trelawney, Lady Blessington
and the Countess Guiccioli, and these,
with a clear, concise appreciation OF By
ron by Georges Clemenceau, the former
French Premier, are published by CAL
mann-Levy. Tame. according to Gle
menceau and Delachaume, was unfair
toward Byron and in his portrait dwelt
too much on the shadows and neglected
the lights" The present book Is accom-