CROWNED BY THE FRENCH ACADEMY

Ludovic Halevy was a French dramatist and novelist, the son of Leon Halevy and a nephew of Jacques Francois Fromenthal Halevy. He was educated at the Lycee Louis le Grand in Paris, and after graduating he entered the service of the government. During this period he wrote several comic operas under the nom de plume of "Jules Servieres." His success with these induced him to resign his position, and devote himself entirely to the drama in association with Henri Meilhac. The operas written by Halevy and Meilhac were successfully produced on nearly all the stages of Europe and America. In addition to dramas Halevy produced novels and stories.

"L'Abbe Constantin" is a comedy in three acts, taking place against the background of the Franco-Prussian War. The Abbe is curate of a small church supported by the income of a nearby estate. The estate has passed into the hands of an American owner, whom the Abbe presumes will be Protestant and uninclined to support his church.