New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-14
New ariation ]
OF Legend of
Gay Don Juan
Henri BataiIle's Comedy
Furnishes the Philanderer
With the Ashes of Age

VIC title Iole, IS Hol--ds mas Deeh gen.
orally supposed-a modern play; but
deals with the legendary character of
Don Juan. the worlds greatest lover.
and is laid in Spain in the early part
of the seventeenth cent y.
The story of this DASH g and dar-
ing lover, and his amorous escapades
with the hundreds of women who
literally threw themselves at him has
formed the basis of plays and stories
IN the literature Of all countries in
the last three hundred years; and the
story may be said to be gaining in
popularity, judging from the fact that
some of the leading playwrights of to-
day, both in England and IN France.
have written plays based upon the
legend of Don Juan. George Bernard
Shaw, Arnold Bennett and Edmond
Rostand have written plays about the
adventures Of the supreme lover. each
placing his individual Interpretation
upon the motives which led the enter
prising Don to fit from lady to LADY.
Where There's Smoke
There Should Be Fire
Students of folk lore have found
versions Of the Don Juan legend from
the Sagas of Iceland to the stories Of
the fisher folk in the Azores, but It
has been particularly identified with
Spain. The first author of NAV
which stamped the character of Don
Juan, as he is generally known. was
llrso de Molina, alleged to have been
frlar, who wrote play entitled eel
Burlador de Sevilla," which has re-
Gently been translated into English nv
Harry Kemp and will shortly be pub
llshed. Even this story is said to be-
based upon legend current in Spain
before the year 1890, which once servea
Lope dc Vega.
According to the play of Tirso de-
Molina, Don Juan belonged to the
lllustrious Tcnorio family in the time
of Peter the Cruel ano lived . life Of
unbrld1ed RIGHTEOUSNESS. In an at-
tempt to abduct Giralda, daughter of
the Governor of Seville, he was en-
countered by her father, whom he
subsequently killed in duel u;a
sensuality having DESTROYED his he)iof
IN God, he visited the cemetery where
the father was buried, defied a statue
OF hlm over his grave, and mockinglv
invited his ghost to supper. The
statue appeared among the guests and
carried Don Juan down to hell.
According to another story cprrent
in Spain, Don Juan was member Of
the Manara family. but having sold
himself to the devil, passed his lifo
IN debauchery and crime. His mother.
however, had provided that masses
should be said for his salvation. and
being converted through the influence
OF these, he ended his days in mon
astery, where he subjected himself to
the severcst penance.
Don Juan Said
1t With Flowers
A third, and probably the most
authentic, story is that Don Juan Was
assassinatcd by an outraged husband
ana IL IS upon this version, with an
original twist, that Batail]e has based
MS play, which was given in France
under the title "L'Homme 3 IA po.e,
Tins title ("The Man With the Posar>
rad a peculiar medieval sionifc.,ca
since 1t was an old custom in Snain
TOT gallant to present to the woman
VINO was the object Of his ardor rod
rose as sign of his passion. Accord
ing TO the story, Don Juan always
wore such rose in his hat and. iudr-
ing from the fact that he had over 2
Thousand love affairs, it NAV he
assumed that he kept the florists oe
Spain pretty busy throughout bix
career.
The popularity Of this legend and
us a1'Factiveness to the authors If
"'A countries may be ascribed to it's
moral value In nearly all versions
Ion Juan-a thoroughly pagan char
ac'er-ls viewed through puritan spcc-
tacles and is made to expiate his sins
e''her by swift journey TO hell. bv
penance in monastery or brutal ases
ssination.
The legend has been the subject NJ
stories and plays by Zamora. Lorenz,
de forte and Gorilla in Spain; Mol;ere
Dumas, Prosper Merimee and Male
nile IN France; Goldoni and Righiri in
italy; Sadwell, Lord Byron, Arnold
Bennett and George Bernard Shaw in
England; Brounthal Weise and Ievan
IN Germany, and Rzcwuski in Poland.
Also, there is the opera by Mozart and
the ballet by Gluck.
And Now a More
Modern Retribution
In all the versions heretofore writ
ten the author has been satisfied -
punish Don Juan with death. damna-
ton or Incarceration. but il remained
for Bernard Shaw to punish him win
marriage and to Bataille TO punish
him with middle age. Fatalities org
inal twist to the legend. while it does
not violate the old, traditional story.
rcconciles it with the more modern
view, asking its audience to accent 10