The Press., 1916-09-28

whom We would now call "fast" if not
 abandoned. Such were the persons
 eating and drinking at the tables on
 the Champs Elysees in sight of the
 machine that was every day ridding
 France of its aristocrats.
 Within this effective scene was d
 more minute one-the group about
 Marat, W ith Charlotte Corday at
 neighboring table. Both the face of
 Marat and that of Charlotte were
 study, the former unconscious that the
 girl he admired was to kill him, the efforts of Mime. Du Four to hold his
 attention, which kept wandering away to Charlotte; the latter aware of her advantage in his admiration, trusting to it to give her access to his presence when ready to strike the fatal blow
 The authop of Charlotte Corday," .hc picture play, introduced one scene
 that rendered all this thrilling. Amid the gayety about the tables, reckless men and braZen women talking loung- ing, drinking, Marat and Charlotte the central figures, there is a commotion about the guillotine. A beautiful wOm-
 an is strapped to it, the ax falls, and
 by one of those quick transitions con-
 mon in moving pictures her head ap- pears to roll into the basket.
 Such is an imperfect word descrip- tion of one of the most notable scenes ever attempted to be placed on tho
 screen. The company chosen to enact 1t before the camera were gathered and taking their positions. Marat was be ing posed; Charlotte was seating her self; men and women were arranging themselves ill groups. Then, when all was ready, the signal was given and the company, consisting of hundreds of persons, was under fire of the camera. The pantomime had continued for some time when the photographic di- rector called q halt. Going to Marat he led him apart from the others and whispered something in his ear. While he was doing so Marat cast fright ene1 glance at Charlotte. The man. ager went back to his position of ob- scrvation, and the photographing re- commenced. The chat, the laugh, the the conviviality went on, each actor or actress intent on his or her part, for in picture play everything counts: there is no deadwOod.
 When the scene of the execution
 came the only attention paid to it, ex- cept on the part of Charlotte, was that q number of persons raised their glasses. and the pantomime indicated that they were drinking to one more l aristocrat put out of the way. As for Charlotte, close observer would have ! seen deep purpose in her eye. As ! the head of the guillotine's victim fell into the basket she rose, ran like ! fash to the table occupied by Marat ! at the same time drawing dagger from underneath the kerchief crossing her breast and plunged it into his heart .An indescribable confusion followed
 The buzzing of the machinery moving lAe film ceased. Every one ran to A-a:at the men standing, the women screaming, for all knew that this was
 not the assassination scene, and it was believed that he had been really struck down. He never spoke again. -'s to Charlotte. she withdrew a lit tie from the group about the man she
 
 for the first time it was noticed that there was a wild look in her eye. She | was led away. and none of the com any ever saw her again.
 The picture play of Charlotte Cor day was never put on the screen for he public. The films wee run through before the management. and | Yf}n o wonder. But there was so much objec- 'ion to it on the part of Miss Stanley's relatives and others that the films :;ere destroyed.
 Nevertheless it has been whispered tliat the films comprising this scene of Hn actual tragedy were not given over 10 destruction. It is claimed that pri- "ate exhibitions of this unintended rG"t of the play have been given for managers and their friends. Whether Dr not this is true, there can be no !oubt that so realistic a scene, en- Dodying a tragedy, has never been put rn the films.
 One queStion-a psychological one has never Teen settled. Was Margue rite Stanley's act the result of an in sanity caused by so long playing So emotional part. or was it caused liy c; lo"sy. or was it a combination If 10th? Este-brooke was the only rc: son that suspected she was in love with him. and had she been would no, she have shown it to others? But its appearing only to him does not prove that it did not exist It seems most likely that the act was the result of
 insanity. caused by the prolonged repe-
 tition of a single act of a highly emo
 .ional nature, but momentarily inten.
 .ified by jealousy.