Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-30

tional and mostly theatrical. No wonder
Rernhardt came of that world. They are
all past masters at acting and are work.
Ing at It every minute To the Ameri-
can reader 1t is impossible not to feel
something almost comic In this unusual
, murder and its sequel the trial AS an
actual fact it is all an appalling tragedy
involving great political considerations
and accomplished and influential men
and women. If anything like 1t had
occurred In England or America the
story would be depressing and dark In
every chapter. But in the Partisan set
ting 1t seems like n play. 1t is impos-
sible for us to make it feel real
| Calmette, the dashing duellist and
writer OF subtle irony, was won't to back
his words with the sword and to point
his sword with those singing words.
Under hts editorial articles for signature
he always put the picture of two crossed
swords, indicating thereby that If any
|
might know what to DO for satisfaction.
He was theatrical In everything he did,
and particularly so in the war of words
he waged on Caillaux. He was theatre
cal in the elaborate politeness with which
he received Madame Caillaux. Madame
Caillaux was dramatic in the way she
a.,
in the account she gave of the whole
incident. It is all as if 1t had been en-
acted only on the stage.
But it is in the trial that the element
Of comldy enters. Everyone dresses for
the hearings There Is the ever-present
Paris crowd ready to drown the testi-
nony In chorus of kissing or exclama-
tons of bravo" There is the judge
who appears to be always calling the
crowd to order always reprimanding
them for their disturbance but never
doing anything about it, There are the
famous counsel, who from time to time
offer to fight each other and the wit
nesses There are the witnesses who tell
their stories in the same rapid breath
less manner now soto voce and again
in high-pitched excited eoquence.
Cailaux uses his arms like windmills
to express the intensity of his emotions.
Everything Is pitched in the superlative.
He beats his breast. He accuses him
self. His voice breaks. He sobs. But
always the sob comes in at precisely
the right moment. He makes little side
orations on politics. love. married life
and the unimpeachable quality of his
character, courage and craftsmanship.
He, the leader in the politest country OF
the world. reiterates that he had said
he would smash Calmette's snout. He
gets into. an argument with his former
wife and then effusively tells her that
bratng with rage and would not for
the life of her admit that there ever was
anything to be forgiven.
They are all very much excited and
full of the Importance of their parts
And judging from the animation with
which it goes off, they are all having the
time of their lives.
In an American trial there would be
awkward pauses and awful silences
There would be brutal tales told heart
lessly in monotones. There would be
very little else And the reason for the
difference would be that the life people
about us live is mostly kept beneath
the surface, whereas in Paris which is
the limc-light center of France and OF
the world, the whole nature of the sur
roundings. the whole temper and ability
of the brilliant people who center there
like gnats about a flame, makes for the
living of life all on the surface for tn,
bringing of all the intensties out II
the open. Perhaps this is unjust. but II
is the impression which that great tra
gives to the reader of the DAYS news