The Theatre: New Plays in Manhattan: Dec. 10, 1928

Congai. Civilization wins in this play.

That means that French officers and soldiers will continue suavely to educate Indo-China, using the maxim that the congai is more pleasant than the sword. Congai means something just above a prostitute, one is led to believe, a native "wife" taken by a French colonist for a period of time subject to change without notice. Every bellylaugh in the play is an attempt to explain these meanings; but, of course, grown-up children like to be told all about such things, while off-stage instruments go thumpety-thumpety-thump (atmosphere).

And yet...

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