New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-22
PIERRE LOTT COMES TO
PRODUCE CHINESE PLAY
As a Fighter, He Hates War: as
a Writer, He Seems Not Un-
like LafCadiO Hearn.
WON'T DISCUSS POLITICS
Flaubert and Rosny His Favor
lite Authors-Many Plans for
His Entertainment, but His
Sojourn Is Uncertain.

I
Lott, the incompatible, who arrived yes
terday aboard la Savoie and went i'm
mediately to the Hotel Marie Antoinette.
NJ. Lott. or Julian Viaud, to call him by
his real name. although he knows enough
about the English language 10 have
translated King Lear" into French
prose. refuses TO converse in II, II being
one OF tho guiding principles OF his lite,
apparently, to avoid placing himself at
the slightest disadvantage. For the same
reason he refused TO pose for the news
paper photographers as the big French
ship steamed up the harbor He offered.
instead. pictures OF himself I'm carefully
prepared settings.
lie was loath. too, to talk for publica-
ton. except in the afternoon. after he had
rested. and In his own room I'm the hotel.
There he received yesterday deputation
OF newspaper men. who found an erect
little man wearing high heels to add TO
his height: whose brown hair and ample
mustache were only slightly powdered
with gray: whose whole appearance. In
fact, was that OF a man somewhat young
CT than the slxty-two years to which the
famous French author confesses.
| VI. Lott has big, prominent brown eyes,
not so big and prominent as this feature
IN the likenesses Of Lafcadio Hearn with
which the world is familiar, but OF SUI
iicient similarity 10 suggest n connection
between them and the traits these two
literary geniuses possessed In common to
such a striking degree-acute sensitive
ness. a passion FOR the Orient and Orien-
tai atmosphere, corresponding distaste
for things and ways Occidental. and the
wanderlust.
The cause Of NJ. Lofts visit to this alien
civilization Is not, however. his love OF
travel. He has come 10 superintend the
rehearsais Of his new play, The Daugh-
ter OF Heaven" which will open at the
Century Theatre next month. He VIII
himself re said. pay particular attention
/ 10 the scenic details OF the production.
AS to The Daughter Of Heaven
II was about this play that he chose 10
talk at greatest length yesterday. The
setting OF this play. he explained IN
French 20 one OF the group OF interview
ers. who relayed what he said In English
IN the others, WAS Chinese. The plot
dealt with the continuation OF the Manchu
dynasty IN Marking. where the little EN-
peror still reigned in retirement Inc
scenes OF two OF It's four acts, the hrst
and the fourth, were laid In Picking ne
said. while Marking furnished the setung
for the second and the third. In some oe-
tails OF this play Pierre Lou has COPIED
the conventions OF the Chinese stage.
II ,s hard for one to realize that TINS
Fabulous little Ggure OF man. mover
Is, famous for the utter deiicacy OF MS
descriptive writing a playwright noted
for MS perfection OF detail. a confirmed
slave Of tho orient. has fought through
twenty military campaigns staged IN
every ono OF Frances many colonies
FOR forty years he followed tho sea- ana
only two gears ago he retired as
captain In the French navy He is TO"
a member Of his country's naval reserve
10 be called upon for active duty at the
Gre, hint Of war. And this contingency
does not appeal 10 him as SO remote
either. as he indicated yesterday, "hen
ne EXPRESSED his belief that France might
20 10 war at any moment.
81 do not take pleasure In hghting, he
added. but | consider II my duty
Yet no refused absolutely TO discuss
European or other politics. processing not
the romotest interest In such a subject
Somebody asked him II his long naval
career had not interfered with bis liter
airy work. but he answered:
Not at ali. ! have written everything
aboard ship"
And what do you think OF General
Nogrs suicideg' he was asked.
He considered It an astounding thing
he said with something magnificent about
IT,
81 did not think such thing possible
me continued. even In Japan. II simply
means TINT the japanese have remained
entirely japanese. in spite OF the modern
envelope they have assumed"
I, vas explained that Lott was OF HUI
guenot ancestry and his forebears hed 10
Holland when Louis XIV revoked the
Edict Of Nantes 20 return later 10 the
ancestral home on the island OF Oleron
There Pierre Lott passed his childhood
AS he grew UP the letters OF MS elder
brother. who was a naval officer, hred
his heart with a longing 10 travel, ana III
1870 he became midshpman. IL was
about that time that he visited Newport
on the French training ship. Jean Bart
and got leave to spend twenty-four hours
IN New York
His favorite authors. he said. are
first. Flaubert, and OF F'lauberts works
he likes best THE Temptation OF ST.
Anthony" Next comes q. H. Rosny, An
author little known over here, who mas
written prehistoric romances; and mira
on his list Is his late friend and associate,
Alphonse Daudet. for whose short stories
he has "A passion. lola? All, Of lola ne
didn't care TO say much, for twenty-one
years ago, when NJ. Lott received an cleo
ton 10 the French Academy ard beca ne
the youngest OF the immortals, lola
stood for election against him and received
only two votes TO his nineteen. Ii vas
because of this great rivalry many years
ago that he felt tmid about discussing
Zoia. though TIE had great admiration
for him
NJ. Lott will remain In New York fifteen
days to attend the rehearsals OF his play.
lie hopes In the mean time to run over to
Washington to call on NJ. Jusserand, the
French Ambassador whom he has never
met. After the fortnight Of New York Is
nm ba doaa not know what he Will do.