The New York herald., 1922-04-02

bdLdlile once 1GEidISO hlldL nc NAS -
precocious child and that his precocity
was due to unhappiness. That precoclty
and that sorrow remained with him and
tinged both his life and his work
To begin with. ne had to suffer the
trials of the young misunderstood &c
MUS. He began as a poet and he was
not success. His first play was a
failure. His first success brought
against him the deadly charge OF pla-
gtarism. He achieved success early as
such things go nowadays but the bitter
ness of his early failure remained with
him, and now his early death has pre-
vented In him the ripeness that comes
from long years OF appreciation. Not.
OF course, that success did not come 10
him and in full measure.
He has written many plays that have
made box office records. several of them
produced in America. where. for in
stance. his "Homme la Rose" last year
created a sensation. At the present time
two OF his works, La Chair Humaine''
and Possession" are being given In
Paris.
Another very strong reminder Of The
old days before the war was the PRO-
duction at the opera. in the course 1s a
concert in aid Of Russian relief. OF the
old ballet La File Nal Gardes," which
made the hit OF the year-nearly q
1ciiAdly deO-ln 1850. u DS precise. 1IS
musical setting by Herod had the honor
OF being everywhere wheezed out on the
hurdy gurdies which in those days took
the place of the modern barrel organ
or restaurant orchestra. The iibretto by
Auberval. himself dancer Of note dated
back still further. to 1856, and the part
OF Lisette was created by the famous
Tagiioni. recreated by Fanny Elisler
"the white cloud OF aerial muslin" and
f,.. - -
the enthusiasm Of Paris at the hands or
feet of Alexandra Balachova and her
vigorous partner, Victor Smolzoff. as
Colin.
The Little Theater movement Is every
whit as vital In Paris as in the West
though It is perhaps OF more reminiscent
mood. At the Theater Femna we are
being carried back yet another century
before even the File Nal Gardee"
There tia Petite Scene" Is reviving the
'Foire Saint-Germain" by Dancourt and
Marivaux's Prince TravestL" The for
mer is a revue--a revue OF 1686-not
fundamentally unlike the modern vari-
ETY.. though with less elaborate effects
and more deliberate humor.
AS an amusing study In contrasts
there Is Paris Sans Gene" just pro-
duced at the "Boite a Fursy," where
one may see the latest Ideas in modern
from the anonymous letter writer's who
have recently been stirring the ancient
town OF Tulle--where the tulle comes or
came from-to the vitriol thrower whose
exploits In running the mantles and over
coats of passers-by Is at the present
moment arousing the best activities OF
the Paris police-so far without success.
Nine. simone in Dramatic Role.
Another notable revival IS taking
place-that of the "Voieur," one of Mr..
Henry Bernstein's best pieces. In this
case however, the interest OF the play
itself Is somewhat subordinated to that
aroused by the return of Nine. Simone.
without doubt one OF the most distin-
guished artists now on the French
boards. who, having left the Comedie
Franchise. has now broken out In this
new direction. with very encouraging
results. What Is more. she Is an en-
tirely unexpected Nine. Simone. Her
dramatic intensity has long been famil-
lar to "yoleur": she touches depths OF
pathos and sensibility and depth OF
restrained emotion which surprises some
OF her most faithful admirers.
But perhaps -he most striking note OF
a reminiscent week Is struck. not in
Paris Itself. but in the provinces, by the
amazing prowess OF the greatest actress
OF them all, Nine Sarah Bernhard.
She is at present on tour, enduring all
the petty tribulatioEs and annoyances.
not to speak OF tho physical fatigue that
comes to the touring company. Yet she
plays TO her twelve houses week as
regularly as might girl OF 90 In
the second week OF February she played
for five days at Nice: from February II
10 February 2s she played Daniel" and
Regime Armand" twelve times at Men
tone. Beausoieil. Cannes, Toulon, ST
Raphael. Mines and Avignon. This
week she IS at Lyons. Thence she goes
70 ST. Etienne. Limoges and Bordeaux,
playing all the time, and on March 20
she comes back TO Paris. II takes an
actor with experience OF ''itups" and
zone night stands" 20 understand what
that means TO an artist already in the
Tos