The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-11
BERNHARDT SCORES
AS JEANNE DORE"
As Mother Of Maynard Son She
Evidences Her Great
Powers.
A FIVE ACT MELODRAMA
Tristan Bernard of "Thc Little
Cafe" Fame. Shows He's
Versatile.
A FIVE ACT MELODRAMA
Special correspondencs to TnE srS

special Correspondence to THE ScS
PARIS, Jan. 2.-The play that Tristan
Bernard has written for Sarah Bernhard
Is a new departure for that author.
hitherto known for his comedy and farc..
cal powers. AZ witness THE Little Cafe"
and "Toddles'
Jeanne Dore," as already cabled n
THE Sun, Is In hve acts and seven tab.
leaus, which In itself suyges.s that II isa
melodrama, as II 10 q mixture of the comic
and tragic which 10 given In such portions
that It has somewhat an effect Of NOV.
Ing picture show on the spectator
The scene Is placed in a litte provincial
town. Jeanne tBernhardt) Ia "A widow
who keeps q small shop for the sale OF
newspapers. writing material and such
things Her son Jacques Is 20. He Is
high strung, kindly. affectionate and gen
orally gentle. but subject TO fits OF sudden
anger which change him completely HIS
mother knows too we'll that he inhetlts
this temperament from his father
Jacques Is deeply in love with Fdnny,
the wife OF another shopkeeper, who has
become his mistress. Fanny has squan.
dered a thousand francs Of her husbands
savings and must replace them. Jacques
to prevent her going TO Beauvais. whers
she may get the money. possibly from
some other admirer. beEs his mother to
give II him. His mother refuses: II has
taken her years TO save such a sum and
she knows for whom her son wants it,
jacques then asks his godfather. a chur-
lish old man. for the sum, but he refuses
and taun,s the boy with insults. Seized
by an access Of rage. jacques strikes the
old man and kills him. Then realizing
what he has done. he fees without takns
sou OF his money.
Her Boy the Murderer.
The scene changes to the local provision
shop The townspeopie come to buy the
days food and Tristan Bernard allows HE
comedy pen its turn. Jeanne is there,
troubled because her boy has not been
home that night. Suddenly the news Of
the murder is brought In. the guilty man
is not yet known. hut Jeanne feels
rremonition and denies what she has jus.
said about her hoy not being home. The
report gains ground that the murderer Is
IA soldier whose character is notoriously
bad. and overJoyed Jeanne returns home,
where she finds jacques has returned.
His appearance shows her that her frst
suspicion was true and she hurries him
OF 10 Paris, warning him not TO return,
not even to write to her Jacques is ar
rested. however. for he cannot help steal
ing back to see hts Fanny once more.
The Assize Court supplies the next
two scenes. During the FIRST various
provincial types come to testify In
JacQpess favor and let comedy have the
upper hand until the poor mother appear.
to give evidence.
The curtain next rises as the Jury re-
turns to give Its verdict. guilty without
eXtenuating circumstances. and the sen
tence Of death follows. The boy asks for
death as soon as possible as his mothers
shrek OF despair rings through the court.
The last two scenes contain the real
tragedy OF the play. The first Is n station
yard people come and 10. sit down and
discuss the topics OF the day and wonder
when the execution II to be. In France no
notice Of an execution Ia given in advance.
Deiber takes his guillOtine as secretly as
possible to the scene of execution and the
criminal only learns in the morning tina,
his appeal to the President has been re.
1ected and that at Is to-day" The poor
mother hsunts the station, Rs the arrival
OF the executioner IL the only means she
has Of knowing that her sons last day
has come.
Last Scene in Prison.
Fanny comes to the station too, with
roses In her hat, apparently having en-
tirely forgotten the youth whom abe has
indirectly brought TO such an end. The
mother begs her to go and see the boy
once more and give him a word OF loving
comfort, but the provincial minded sinner
re1useh rneT name mas Deen kept out ~
the case by her lover and his mother and
she Will not risk IL becoming the subject
of scandal now. A man In black leaves
the train after the other passengers m
ordinary. respectable looking man. but fol
lowed by three assistants. and Jeanne rec
ognizes the eXccutioner.
The last scene Is in the prison at 10 IN
the evening The head warden has just
locked up prisoner in his cell when h.s
wife comes to say that Jeanne Dore wants
to see her son. The warden declares II
impossible, against all rules, hut Jeaure
pushes her way In. She knows the war
den the town Is SO small that every or.
knows every one else. and Jeanne moves
him by her pleading to let her boy como
to the little square grating In the door ~
his cell. The warden allows her To thrAs'
her hand through the small Opening
jacques sei1es 1t and cries. THAT is you
Funny" and begs for a last word OF low
He draws the hand toward him and kisses
its owner through the bars In the din
ohscurity Of the prison. The poor mother
let's the boy remain in his error. th!rhnE
II Will soothe his last minute, and on'v
whispers II love you"
Bernhardt was wonderful in a part
which Is OF course easy work for her.
The hoy Is played by the authors run,
Raymond bernard who has wpu great