[...] There are two schools. Have you seen Séverin-Mars in Un Honnête Homme at the Mathurins? [...] Have you seen Mlle de Mornand at the same Mathurins? A young person possessed of no little talent and no less charm. - In Au coin de feu? Yes. - Charming, such gaiety, such playfulness, a true actress in whom one senses the precious gift of shedding tears as freely as she spouts laughter. [...]
La Presse, 3 June 1903. Signed Martin Gale in La Vie qui passe, Le carnet des heures, (pseudonym for Albert Flament).
There is nothing definite to suggest that this was written or
instigated by Proust. And Proust even referred to Flament as his enemy.
Yet it is difficult to understand why an unknown actress in a small part
in her first role on the Paris stage would have been singled out for
special praise. It is well known that at this time Proust was making
various efforts to get Louisa's name mentioned in the papers.
Letter to Louisa de Mornand, 2 June 1903: "[...] I call to your
friend's attention an article in this evening's Presse (the Presse
dated Wednesday 3 June, appearing Tuesday evening) which will please
you, I hope, and what makes it all the more 'helpful' is that this
Martin Gale is about the only thing anybody reads in La Presse
(precisely because he is so very gale [nasty]. Not to you, you
must admit. On the other hand you've seen no doubt that my efforts with
Le Soleil have ended in utter fiasco, as Léon Daudet
compliments you in the same breath as Mme Milo de Something-or-other and
Monsieur (the run-of-the-mill actor whom you dislike - in the play -
because he's a cuckold). Which doesn't prevent Léon Daudet from finding
him charming! [...]"
In Le Soleil for 1 June 1903, Léon Daudet
spoke of Le Coin du feu as "a charming little piece in which
M. Bergeret, Mlle Mylo d'Arcylle and Mlle de Mornand act with simplicity
and charm."
Created 23.08.19