New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16

true soldier, sir, bringing his sword, to-
gether with tall family of his grsndsons
ali very CALAMITY clad in the blue garb of
Marines-these, my dear Maitre Corbeau,
have expelled the recent poachers from our
wood of Chateau Thierryi
And now, sir though our birthplace has,
as you see, been sadly desecrated, still
good neighbor-we, we both are Frenchmen,
and, being Frenchmen, we know how to
make new fable out of an old story; and
so, in the red roots of these blasted oak
trees, my friend, will right now set
about planting-green acorns. How say
you, Maitre Corbeau?"
THEATRE
All, lie bonhomme La Fontainei-And did
he continue the soliloquy?
THE COMIC MASK
That you must inquire of MaStre Corbeau:
for, just at that moment my brother, here,
touched me on the shoulder. and followed
hlm till we came to the verge of the wood.
There waited while he went on, and looked
between the tangled d&bris-northeast-
ward, where the sun was rising.
THEATRE
(Turning to the Tragic Mask
And you saw there-7
THE TRAGIC MASK
The other one-a tall figure in long cloak.
his gray head bare. He was standing alone.
under an old, SCARED elm tree. Through
the mist around him, half visible in black
dugouts, caught glimpses of the marine
Iva and r1,@1r,
Near him his horse stood, quiet. Far away.
heard faint thunder. He himself stood
quiet-his mouth shut hard. His eyes were
looking observation-disclosures
Presently he stirred little. and his shut
mouth moved in a smile.
Then, with small Ratchet which he held
tight In his hand, he cut a blazing on the
elm bark, and began to carve some letters
there
came nearer and watched from behind
him, and these were the words he was carv
ing IN the old tree: Lafayette, nous
voilal"
THEATRE
All, yes-they do not die, soldier and poet,
washington and La Fontane-maker of
legends, singer of legends-it is fitting Won
two should meet them both in that sunrise
in the same wood
THE TRAGIC MASK
So also, is it not fitting, Master, that vou
should reveal them here-here in the house
! OF our art, sacred to legends?
THEATRE
$rIv. Sc
smile to Comicus) For, after all. nv Conf
Gus, perhaps we are not so far here from
reality as those friends of yours think.
outside there.
THE COMIC MASK
Will you prove it, then, Master. and per-
NIT my grinning mask to be first witness?
THE TRAGIC MASK
Mine shall be second, and follow his.
Please! VIII you not conjure them, Master
those two brave spirits out of the old
world and the new?
THEATRE
Yes, my good boys; it appeals to me, for
here-old and new, are they not one?
France, America, mirth, courage and YOU.
my immortal twins-are you not all my
allies?
Come then; behind the scenes with Won,
Hang up your brave uniforms in your ward
robes. Put on the old masks again. and
when I clap three times-be at my CALI
The good George Washingt6n-he shall
follow second but now, first-the good La
Fontaine!
On either side, the Tragic and
Comic MASKS disappear, aoitI5in.
Mouing to the right wing the
Figure Of the Theatre cJaps has
hands thrice. On the third clan
he disappears as the curtains begin
to droao back, reueaIing "Lo Coupe
Enchunt6e," by La Fontaine
Pierre de Lanux, of the French PlayA
ers, translated the Valley Forge scene from
Mr.. MacKayes play Washington" and it
has been published by Brentanos The
Induction, printed above, was translated by
| M. Copeau.
Copyright, 1919. By Percy Aaoxoys