For France

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

An episode of the war of 1870. A young French soldier has to carry a despatch evading Prussians in a village. He does so by donning the dress of his uncle, a veteran of Napoleon, who, seeing that the Prussians are going to stop him, draws off their attention by going out in his nephew's uniform, and is shot. It is well written and even before the war there would have been no reason why it should not be Recommended for license. G. S. Street

Researcher's Summary:

The Era - Wednesday 09 September 1914 'Mr Lyn Harding will produce next Monday at the Hippodrome, Manchester, a new one-act play entitled, "For France". It is an interesting dramatic episode of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, and it portrays the devotion to "La Patrie" which inspires the typical French fighting man of any age. The author of the sketch is Mr. J.O. Francis, the gifted author of "Change". Manchester Courier - Tuesday 14 September 1914 "Quite one of the most effective things in its own way we have seen for a long time is the episode presented by Mr. Lyn Harding and his company at the Hippodrome. Its subject is one of those tense and dramatic happenings which are an everyday occurrence in war times, which in this case is the Franco-German campaign of 1870. The outstanding figure is that of a veteran of the Napoleonic campaigns, who sacrifices his life in old age for his beloved France. Mr. Lyn Harding in this role acts with a power that never fails to hold the attention. The way in which he imitates the dreamy reminiscent manner of the aged shows wonderful fidelity and evidence of much careful study."