New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-05
THE FRENCH STAGE
japanese Honor

Paris. April @.
"EHonncur JaronaiS." the fiye-a"i trac.
edy produced with marked success at tho
OdeOn Theatre. is a condensed. cl"yerly a.
| ranged dramatic abrdGemeut Of the ma
| tional japanese romance Of the Chiushin-
eura. ~ the loyal League" narTatinS In"
feuda fidelity OF the forty-soven "ronins,'
or wandering outlawed samutai. who about
the year 1899 rcvonged their chiefs judicial
! suicide upon III" arrogant imperial fayorite.
| Prince Sen1aY who peridiously brought II
! about VI. Paul Anthem has taken the
! original romance. written by Tchkamatsu
in the year 1906. and the dramatization.
! rlade by Tad6ka Tzoumo in l7S. and boiled
/ down into modern theatrical dimensions the
play that is now often given in Japan n
! twelve long acts. and which requires three
days for its performance. "L'ionncur
Japonais." IN its French adaptation. is Al
once powerful. thrilling. magnificent and
austere. The feudal lord Osaka is Suffern-
! from want and poverty amidst his faithful
! samurai commanded by the intrepid va
! goTo. To couciliate and to obtain the good
viii OF the Emperor's favorItc. Prince SEN
dai. osaka sends hIm as present hoau-
! tifui fan painted by the great artist Nori-
nChu. But this fan proves To be- an ingeni-
Gus counterfeit. Osaka has been deceived
D by the INSCRIPTIONS art dealer Klter. The
arrOSan; SendaI. furious with rage, insults
Osaka. who forthwith wounds the prin's
/ with his dagger. But it is high treason 70
attack an imperial functionary. SendaI
, obtains decree from the Mikado condemn
ing Osaka to death. Osaka forthwith com
/ nuts hafa-kri IL the most correct ana
courteous manner possible. Osaka, sitting
On his heels, faces the public His white
silk costume is opened so as to expose the
! flesh. He lifts the short sword horizontally
with both hands and presses II reverenty
To his lips. He wraps the blade I'm 1ounc'
OF his wide sleeve and plunges II into his
belly. lie then makes terrific cut from
left To right. and draws out the blade. He
then falls forward on his face. dead. TINS
ceremony takes place in presence OF IN"
imperial witnesses. Nagoro pronounces IN"
ritual: My master. the Lord Osaka is
dead" is he dead" ask the witnesses
Tile is dead" replied Yagoro. The Mkados
representatives then say; I'VE now pro-
claim that ho died nohly.' lagoro tn'u
salutes with great respect the imperial con-
missioners as they take their departure
YaGoro then turns to the clan of faithtu
samurai OF the dead Osaka and dips MS
hands i'm Osakas blood. All follow his eS-
ample and take a solemn oath to aVense
their feudal lords memory. Eighteen
months Later We lind Nagoro I'm teshouS''
Ito is beyond recognition. He conceals MS
identity i'm order the better To carry out MS
revenge upon Prince Sendai. Apparently
drunk with saki. he seems To have ahaH'
doned his plan and forgotten his oath bu.
this Is a trick TO put the Prince Sendsl Oh
his guard. Finally the other rsa'ns' ~"
guised as boatmen and serving men, appear
They have abandoned their wives ana Gnu
dren and have devoted themselves to ,ne
one great object OF revenge. They MIAMI
after most extraordinary and blood-euiu'
ling adventures. succeed. and permit Prince
SendaI to commit hara-kirl according 10 W.
same punctilious yet Impressive ceremoh'a,
by means OF which their Lord Osaka enue'
his life. This tragedy is beautifully mount
ed and is splondidly played by NJ Joupe :"
the part Of Yagoro and by the exce'le"'
Odeon company. u l. ~