The New York herald., 1922-03-26
Special Correspondence to THE NEW YoR
HERALD.
BY MAY BIRkIIEAD.


Parisians themselves, but the large
number of Americans and other for
eigners who form such a conspicuous
part of the social life in the French
capital. are still sojourning along the
Riviera and many have gone on to
Italy and Egypt. Paris expects an un-
usually heavy tourist season, but the
influx Of travellers will not begin be-
fore another fortnight
In the meantime La Vile Lumiere Is
principally occupied with anniversa-
ries of illustrous F'renchmen and in
tion of genii who were not born on
French soil but who have made their
contribution to the world stock OF ar
tistic assets. The other night. for
example, the hundredth anniversary
of the birth of Cesar Franck, was cele-
brated by a gala concert at the Opera,
on which occasion Chevillard, Rabaud
Rene-Baton and other leading con-
ductors of Paris gave the principal
works of this great Belgian composer,
who seems almost to belong to France
and who has influenced so powerfully
Vincent d'Indy, Debussy, and all the
modern French school as well as hay-
ing left his mark on all who succeeded
him.
The gathering at the Opera was one
of the most brilliant that Paris has
seen for some time, with the Queen of
the Belgians occupying the loge with
the President and Nine. Millerand and
with representatives of diplomacy. learn
ing, art and society in imposing force
Lovers of Cesar Franck's exquisite
I music. which is usually accorded but
one number on a program, were de-
lighted with this opportunity to hear
during an entire evening the productions
Of this versatile and gifted genius.
ROstand's "Don Juan" Produced.
This week the theatergolng public O!
| Paris has experienced some deep emo.
! tion2. Americans who recall Richard
Mansfield on "Cyrano" and Miss Maude
! Adams in 'Chantecler' will have some
! idea of the anticipation aroused by the
. announcement that Rostand's postum
nous play, TIE Last Night of Oar
I J9an, was to be given at the Porte
I Saint-Martin. This work, completed II
1914 and published several years ago
saw the fooliights on Wednesday night
Its success. which was instantaneous
reaffirns. in striking way. the orig.
| lnality, the wiZardry of language. the
uramaturgic power, the profusion o.
| Ideas and the poetic richness of Ros
tands genius. too early taken from the
world, which stirs the pride OF Franc,
as worthily representing her great ira
ditions of the stage.
The Don Juan theme has hoo, ,ro,.o,
~ many iiteratures, the best known eS
| fhAsa nf faIi
rcn, where philandering Is treated wifi
Indulgence and mild ridicule. Rostan1
-owever, sees the ira gic aspect OF hi
Don Juan, calling him sharply to ac
count as a wastrel. who has dissipate
his life, his soul, his creative energy
as man who. instead of deceiving tn
women he attracted, fooled only him
self
The play begins with fairylike
scene, Where Doa Juan, led by the com
aander OF the. tableau. IS going down
dark stairway toward an abyss O
flames. when suddenly the DevH. wit
his mighty hand. seizes hold OF hf
CLOAK. Don Juan asks for a respite an,
= accorded ten years more OF earthl,
Ike. Wnen the scene changes the te,
years have passed and Don Juan, in
magnificent Venetian palace overIoo;S
lng the Grand Canal. recalls that IL /
his last night. His valet has prepare
puppet show. and among the marion
ettes is an old man. who soon reveal
himself as the Devil
III Don Juan can prove that he ha
created something he will escape hi
punishment in hell: IL he cannot he viii
De condemned 10 the eternal torture @
musing on his own futility, he will &c
that he is like Satan in having q flai
only for destruction. he will curse a,
existence that is powerless to fashio
anything OF use or beauty. Don Jud
tears UP the list OF all the women h
las had and throws the pieces into tn
Grand Canal and each fluttering bi
or paper as 1t touches the water
Transformed into a dark gondola bear
ing the masked shade, in rich Venetiai
! costume, OF one of his amours The
gather round him and Satan cries out
II YOU recognize even one of them yo
will be saved!' He peers into thei
faces with candle. but cannot recall
q single one; he has not possessed
single soul of them all: they rathe
have chosen him and made sport OF him
and not one sincere tear has been she
by them for him. After suffering al
their raillery and ridicule, he is sub
jected by the Deuu to ansendless con
temptation of his own worthlessness
This meager outline can give no ide
OF the verve, the unexpected turns th
imaginative richness, the sheer beaut,
OF idea, phrase and scene which KEEP
all the spectators at the edge OF thei
seats for fear that one word or shad,
or expression would escape them. Thi
performance was great moment an
great experience, to be thus bathed Il
the warmth and genius of the mos
beloved OF modern playwrights. n create
who united a consummate knowledge o
stagecraft to poetic gifts or marvelou
charm and beauty.
Plays of Henry BntaiIlc.
In the sudden and wholly unexpecte,
death OF Henry Bataille. which occurre'
last week. France has lost one or he
most brilliant dramatic writer's. Tw'
of his plays. Possession" and "Huma
Flesh" arc now being given, and II wa
believed that this prolific and movin
artist had many years or creative wor
ahead OF him. Endowed with a dec
poetic instinct which impclled him to
noble pity. he was at the same tim
a remorseless psychologist, tracing wit
uncrring Gnesse the unformulated mo
tives that lie behind our acts.
Most OF his plays were extraordinary
, successful. and he worked his spell eve
upon the hardened critics. enchantin
them by the truth and poignancy OF hi
characters and situations. His ambi
tion was boundless. his energy unspal
ing, and he conceived himself as havin
a great mission to perform so much 9
that he resented adverse comment I
an extraordinary degree, and woul
write. In protest against what he cor