of deferred matrimony, and her disgruntled parent, practically ejected from his home, goes off to Paris, whining that a waiter will probably close his eyes in death,--a pious kindness which the spectator hopes may be performed at an early date. The play, of course, was devised for the sake of the sudden, blistering outburst by the elderly spinster--which in representation is undeniably effective--and, in the French original, for the sake of emitting some specious special pleading in extenuation and justification of illicit conduct. As to the doctrine which _Odette_ declares in this play and which _Christiane_ and her unhappily married swain exemplify,--the doctrine, namely, that when two persons who love each other are held asunder by cruel chance of social circumstance they are warranted in setting aside convention in order to come together,--its utter fallacy is too obvious for detection. Practical application of it, however, has often provided variously dramatic results: pathetic exposition of some of its possible consequences, to helpless, innocent persons, is made in Collins’ great novel of “No Name.” Belasco, in presenting his modified version of “Le Lys,” sought to evade the ethical issue, but he added one more to his long list of plays perfectly environed and admirably acted. Miss Nance O’Neil, who appeared in it as _Odette_, has been designated as a “tragic actress” (which she is not) and has been extravagantly extolled. She possesses rough natural ability, animal strength, vocal capacity, some sensibility and considerable power of forceful simulation. Most of her performances have been monotonous: in this one, in which, practically, she had only one scene and in which, furthermore, she had the advice and assistance of a consummate stage manager, she was interesting and impressive,--uttering the verbal explosion [Illustration: Photograph by the Misses Selby. Author’s Collection. BELASCO, ABOUT 1911] of voluble vehemence addressed to _de Maigny_ with fine abandon, passionate intensity, and powerful effect.--The cast of “The Lily” is appended: _Comte de Maigny_ Charles Cartwright. _Vicomte Maximilien de Maigny_ Alfred Hickman. _Huzar_ Bruce McRae. _Georges Arnaud_ Wm. J. Kelly. _Bernard_ Leo Ditrichstein. _Emile Plock_ Dodson Mitchell. _Joseph_ Marshall Stuart. _Jean_ Douglas Patterson. _Michel_ Robert Robson. _Odette_ } _De Maigny’s_ daughters { Nance O’Neil. _Christiane_ } { Julia Dean. _Lucie Plock_ Florence Nash. _Suzanne_ Ethel Grey Terry. _Alice_ Aileen Flaven.