The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-10
THE DRAMA IN PARIS DURING THE
RIEHE

OIHOHs
correspondent of the London Athengun
gives the following highly interesting descrip-
tion of the manner in which the besieged
Psrisians contrived to crafty their tastes for
the drama
The most striking indication of the superb
ority which French actors possess over tnelr
British brethren is observable in their lndlt-
ference to stage paraphernalia. NO nation Is
30 scrupulous in correctness OF detail as our
Gallo neiphbors: and yet when circumstances
arise which preclude pursuit of realistic
truth, there are really no actors but the Pari-
slams who can take stand on the excellence
of their elocution, and charm the spectator
to tears or laughter independent of the
trsmmels of theatrical illusion. This fact
has long since been clearly set before us by
the members of the Oomedie Francaise, who
have been until year ago in the habit of
playing short pieces in private salons with no
adjunct beyond a pair of folding screens
and lately in besieged Paris the excellence of
that admirable company has been put still
more severely to the test.
After the disasters of Sedan the natural
hilarity of the capital met with a sudden
check; Paris sank into such depth of des-
pair as to forget its theatres Madle Desclee
smiled to empty benches, and the bewitching
PieIson shrugged her fascinating shoulders in
vain. Such a state of things was unprece-
dented in the annals of the stage One or two
theatres struggled on, endeavoring bravely to
weather the storm, until one morning there
appeared Government placard on the walls
which settled the question at once. "La
Patrie" was declared to be in such deep
mourning that all signs of gayety were an in
suit to her grief. Every species of popular
entertainment was peremptorily ordered to
cease forthwith; scenery and properties were
TO be carefully slowed away out of
reach of shot or shell, and the precious
lounging- places, crowded to excess but few
short weeks before with throngs of holiday
makers, were to be prepared Immediately for
the reception of the wounded. The pursuit
of pleasure came to an end for the time
being, but after lapse of a month rumors
began to be afoat that bills with the we'll
known names attached were about to be
distributed and that we were no longer to be
condemned to vile away the evening hours
with dominoes or ecaTte. The opening of O
theatre in the face of the Government procla-
nation was dangerous experiment. but the
members of the Comede threw themselves
into the breach, and announced series of
Thursday recitations while the director of
the opera brought up the rear with q promise
of Sunday selections of popular music. There
were many little compromises however,
with the ruffed feelings of sternly patriotic
Belleville. Performances were to take place
in the day time only; the music at the opera
was to be as severely disagreeable as possible
-rectations were to be unaccompanied by
scenery or orchestra, and were to be as dull
as they could be made; add to this an icy-cold
house (for fuel was to be employed in better
cause) and no more light than was absolutely
necessary (gas having been placed on the re-
tired list, with milk and butter and other
luxuries), and it is unnecessary to state that
we were not likely to become uproariously
and aggressively gay, or to shock the feel
ings Of the Brutuses by display of un-
seemly dissipation. But poor Paris hsnkered
after a change of ideas, and longed to
drown, if only for moment, the memory of
ever-present sorrow. The theatre once
opened was besieged: pale rhapsodies of
Corneille or Racine were applauded to the
echo the audience usually so fastidious and
intolerant of trifing defects, sat patiently
through endless ''stage-waits," and buried its
nose in its furs without murmur; it hailed
the bombastic emptiness of the 'Cid' with
acclamatiop, and laughed and wept by turns
over the lugubrious strophes of the 'Chati-
ments.' The theatres chosen for these lenten
entertainments was the lively little Bouffes,
where whilome Ohaumont winked and Schnei-
der sang. What a strange sight it was
heavy odor of petroleum filed the air; in the
lurid light and through the murky atmosphere
scarce anything but uniforms could be
distinguished ed-uniforms and ever uniforms,
and ladies dressed in black. There was
low hum and buzz of voices as each man dis
cussed with his neighbor the price of bread
or the latest reports of Chanzy or Faidherbe
Suddenly there came three taps: Favart en-
tered, dressed in Grape, and incoptinently
began to declaim-'Stella' it was, by Victor
Hugo-first monotonous and slow, with soft
white hands clasped one upon another, and
then warming by degrees with exquisite
modulation until at length she flung her
arms above her head and proclaimed herself
with flashing eyes and dilated nostrils the
Angel of Liberty and Goddess of Truth.
The effect was startling-one serpentine
movement glided into anether-the transition
was so gradual from an absolute repose of
dreamy narrative to a great burst, as she
cried "Awake, awake ye that are sleeping
Arise, sentinels, to your posts Awake
arise !" that one was completely carried away,
and forgot for a moment the windiness of
Hugo's lines. Her consummate art as an
actress concealed the fiimsiness of the author;
her energy and strength gave to the verses a
backbone which they did not otherwise pos
$685. The bright look of fervor faded from
her face as she smilingly bowed and retired:
to be followedby Coquelin, who recited quietly
a string of stanZas suggestive of military
glory, in his ordinary dress of National Guard.
Then came Marie Laurent of Jack Sheppard
notoriety, who related to us an endless story,
alse from Victor Hugo, of isherman's mis-
fortunes-a dreary account that dragged its
length along, and finally left us as Indifferent
as at the commencement, in consequence of
the overpiling of the agony. Yet the people
listened calmly, seemingly indeed with in.
terest, applauded judiciously on the whole,
and were evidently quite prepared to have