New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-23
GERMAN FLAG
ON PARIS STAGE
PLAY Shows Wounded
Frenchman Bringing In
Trophy from Trenches.
lbs Cable 10 The Tribune.l

! Paris. Feb. 22.-"Fils d'Alsace" and
ale Poilu," both musical plays were
produced recently in two boulevard the
aires. the former being frankly patri-
otto in theme and treatment In intro
ducing it the author, NJ. Bouteioup'
said: "My aim has been to make the
breath of peace pass over the people
The action takes place IN small 'o""
- tho southwestern corner OF Alsace'
now reconouered by the French
Tho action opens on Christmas Eye
,oi2 in the house Of mill owner VINO
u,as zouaye in the French army j.
the war of 1870 and who is now one o,
tbe principal men in the village ano
the loader of the French party. lie nas
two sons and a daughter. The eider
con is in love with a girl OF German
narentage. living in a neighboring, WI
Iage' The French people of the village
ether at the mill owners house TOT
r. christmas Eve celebration-drinK
20 la France. salute the tricolor, sing
natriotic songs and listen TO oratiohs.
The father warns his son again.
marrying a girl of the enemy race, put
finally gives his consent ana ior ms
engagement present sFs' ~ IL
niece of the French flag which the
father carried in 1870.
The second act shows the same scene
year later. The village has been re-
captured by the French, and the house
battered by shells and occupied by
French soldiers, is the headquarters Oh
| the captain commandant. The MN
owner's son is now married, the Wlie
| being in the next town, which is stlil
held by the Germans. son has Deen
horn 10 her since the war, but her nus
/ hand has not vet seen his child. A
regular system of espionage has been
organized between the two villages
and the French are seeking TO trap the
spies. The soldiers go out TO hunt
spies. and the captain, staying behind
for a few minutes becomes engaged TO
the daughter of the mill owner. Then
the captain goes and the room Is
empty. The son comes in. The cap
tain's telephone rings and the son, an
swering it, learns that an attack Is to
be made in two hours on the village
held by the Germans just at tn, point
where his wife and child are living
He DISCUSSES himself and goes forth
TO save his wife, if possible, but is seen
by soldiers, chased as a spy, caught
disowned by his father and condemned
by the captain.
In the third act the father has again
put or his zouave uniform and ha;
gone into the trenches TO redeem the
, family honor. The captain breaks his
engagement, saying he cannot marry
: into family in which he has been com
PEELED TO bring disgrace. This act takes
place in the public square of the town
showing Christ on the Cross, one arm
OF which has been shot away by Ger.
man shell. The disgraced son staggers
in wounded, carrying the flag Of q Ger
man regiment, which he has seized from
the enemy trenches. He falls in front
Of the cross and is forgiven by The
/ father, while the captain and the
daughter renew their betrothal.
"Le Poilu," a musical comedy, is
built around a girl who assumes the
popular role Of "godmother" to a sol.
der in the trenches. When he gets
, leave he comes TO Paris 10 visit her
r She, on her part. DISCUSSES herself al
| her maid 10 receive him. After his
|, return 20 the trenches she marries him
: by proxy and then. against military or
ders, goes 20 the front TO see him. this
! time Disgusting herself as a vegetable
. dealer. In this character she Is
, oourted by the colonel's orderly and by
the colonel himself.