The Washington herald., 1913-11-09
|BRIEUX'S MODESTY
STRIKNGLY SHOWN
Famous Dramatist Writes Richard
Bennett Of Early Struggles Of
sDamased Goods.n

Although he is known through only
three plays produced In America Eugene
Brierx. anthor Of Damaged Goods" "
which Is to be seen at the Columbia The
ater next week, has had produced in
Paris more successful plays than any
other dramatist since the death Of the
maryelously fecund Yictorien Sardou.
And vet Brieux is said to be the most re-
tiring and difident, living playwright II
We except the painfully shy Sir James
Matthew Barrie.
Brieux's modesty Is strikingly shown
In a letter written to Richard Bennett.
the American producer Of Damaged
Goods" He said;
ssOn my return from my long journey
in Asa my eyes fell by accident on the
New York Times where found an ac-
count Of your tribulations and struggles
before the public in America accepted the
presentation Of my play, Damaged
Goods was touched more than can
say TO have inspired such faith and ordor.
and I consider myself greatly honored.
1t is necessary to come 10 the point. 10
say and repeat that the idea expressed In
Damaged Goods was suggested TO me
by the works of our great scholars, the
great French physicians. Diday, Four
nier, and Julien. / was nothing but
their Interpreter and I did nothing but
bring their knowledge to 6 larger sur
face, under a dramatic form-that which
was expressed In these special works
where not every one would look at them
It seemed to me, as It did to you, that
nothing was more simple or honorable
than to tesch to the masses those truths
which would result in making the men
whose faith is most pitiable. most aitrl-
istic, respect their own health and the
health of others. But the social hypoc-
risy in France was long opposed to it,
in Paris, where in certain cafe concerts,
inept, scandalous jokes would make one
blush. in Paris where the liberty In this
respect reaches the extreme limit some
times, It was impossible to get permis-
sion for q presentation Of Damaged
Goods 1t was not until after q great
number of presentations in Belgium, aft
er lecture in q Protestant church In
Switzerland, and in q Catholic seminary
in France, and after many years OF ef-
fort, that presentations were authorized
In Paris and all over France They were
given without scandal to the applause Of
those very people, less well informed,
who had already approved OF the pro-
hibiting of this piece that they did not
know. see that the same thing hap
pened in America, but, thanks TO you,
the piece is now played without protest
II am as happy over your success in
the United States as I am with my sue
cess here. II there is a people who
should understand me, 1t should be those
in the United States, for they are surely
q people abounding in energy, dignity,
and progress
I'VE are learning over here and there
that health Is a form OF virtue, that IL Is
the mother Of virtue, that each one OF as
should be In good health, and that We
have another duty even more impei ative.
that Of not passing poor health to Others.
No more than we have the right to COM
nit suicide have we the right to contract
illness, and no more than we have the
right to wound or kill have we the right
to expose another to contagion. II.
thanks to our common efforts, we have
rendered to the sick the hope Of recov-
cry, II we have taught them their duty
to themselves and to others. II we have
prevented sickness to a single woman or
saved single child. II We have the hap
piness OF having done that, We can pass
haughtily by those who complained OF
what they knew not
II thank <you. monsieur. and shake
you affectionately by the hand.
(Signed) 'BRIEUX."