the naval officer is described by the Japanese as “a barbarian and a beast,” “Aevery one say: ’yaes, take him--take him beas’--he’s got moaneys,’ so I say for jus’ liddle while, perhaps I can stan’.” _Pinkerton_, however, proves to be a delightful companion who wins the love of the Japanese girl and, with the crass cruelty common among viciously self-indulgent men, he assures that forlorn waif that her marriage to him is not merely a temporary arrangement of convenience, terminable, according to Japanese law, by the mere act of desertion, but is a binding, permanent one, according to American custom and law and that she is, in fact, _Mrs. B. F. Pinkerton_. Having led her to believe this, the amiable _Pinkerton_ presently departs upon his ship, after making _Butterfly_ a present of money, informing her that he has “had a very nice time” and assuring her that he will come back “when the robins nest again.” The girl, confidently awaiting the return of her lover, whom she declares and believes to be her lawful husband, after a little time becomes a mother by him. Two years pass--during which she refuses many suitors--and the money given her by _Pinkerton_ has been all but exhausted: _Butterfly_ is confronted by the alternative of beggary or starvation, yet she contemptuously rejects all proffers of rich alliances, serenely trusting in the faith of _Pinkerton_. Then, at last, he comes back, and she is apprised that though for two weeks after leaving her he was “dotty in love with her” he recovered from his sublime passion and that he has married another woman (who magnanimously offers to take away her child and rear it!)--whereupon _Madame Butterfly_ kills herself. The play is a situation, and, though some of its detail is trivial, it reveals elemental extremes and contrasts of much human experience; in its essential passages it possesses the cardinal merits of simplicity and directness, and in representation its effect is tragic and afflictingly pathetic. One feature of its performance, devised by Belasco, was, in respect to execution, unique,--namely, the intercalation whereby the two scenes of the tragedy are connected. When, at evening, the forlorn _Butterfly_,--after two years “jus’ waitin’--sometimes cry in’--sometimes watchin’--but always waitin’!”--sees the warship to which _Pinkerton_ is attached entering the harbor of Higashi she believes that her “husband” will immediately repair to their abode and she becomes almost delirious with joy. She prepares for his [Illustration: Photograph by Byron. Belasco’s Collection. “Too bad--those robin--never nes’--again!” THE DEATH SCENE, BELASCO’S “MADAME BUTTERFLY” BLANCHE BATES AS _CHO-CHO-SAN_. FRANK WORTHING AS _LIEUTENANT B. F. PINKERTON_]