New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-06
FRENCH DRAMA.



rpou Az occ.s,o,.I CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUNH.l
PARIS, Nov. 7.-After two or three months
OF adroit pulling Uncle Sam" has Deen gwen al ''e
Vaudeville Tbeater The difIcaltis attending It's rep
resenation have heightened public curiosity ana every
body DESTROYS Of seeing II will be recoiIecha tna'
when it was first submitted TO the censors II was 10, "
lowed TO be played account as 1t was believed OF s
bitter satire on American manners and Institutions iHS
censors however, before giving their final veto, lad the
play before Minister washburne, asking his opinion
thereon. when the American functIonary properly re-
piled that this did not enter into his line OF operations
and he had no opinion TO give Tue censors did ths with
a view Also probably, 10 enlighten themseives-to
learn how aud where the American nation was
hit, and with what foundation Of TRUTH for as a
rule the French mind still gropes 10 the dark with re-
gard to the land OF Columbus. The response Of Mr..
washburne was unsatisfactory, but stu, discreet
and bureaucras the possibly apprehending
international complications therefrom, declined posi-
lively to allow "Uuce Gam" TO be represented. The
public kept advised or these negotiations and the
result. Thus "Uncle Sam" became forbidden fruit
that every ANXIOUS to taste. As your readers
aware. the piece subsequently represented IN
NewYork with indifferent This gave NJ. sardou
! an argument, and he presented himself anew TO the
censors, saying that since his play represented ID
the country which it was alleged TO malign, and was
not considered offensive 10 the public taste there, he
could not see why objection should be made to 1t In
France. On this showing OF the case the bureau
Gratis scratched their heads and then the pcrms-
sion The public was also kept advised of the last nego
tation and the final result in consequence OF which all
the seats Of the theater engaged for the first
three nights in advance. Last night was the premere
or box night when most of the distinguished men Of
Paris in literature aud art were present
Uncle SAM" It is given here. ia reflection Of
the Fdne Ben0itOn, and rather pale one. It. ls much
better played here than in America and the mise
en- scene s perfect The public, which had seen the
magnificent costumes Of the women in the FaaiAe
Bnoiton surprised at the profusiOn Of riches IN THIS
way OF Uncle Sam" The leading actress changes Eef
costume five times and the others three times, anc
the play floats TO the end in silks, saius, laces
and diamonds OF the most beautiful description. We
Americans have naturally made up our minds az
TO the play, and what interests Us in reference to
IL is the impression IL makes the French people
portion OF their scant knowledge OF foreign coun
comes to them across the footlghts, aud
those who take their American history from ~
sardous showing, will hereafter regard the inhsb
tants Of the other side Of the Atlantic rather sory
lot and whenever in the course OF conversation, the
American comes up for Judgment, the tableau-
OF Uncle Sam" Will rise in their memories, and
the will be prejudged. Those who thus take
their American history from the play IL Is hardly
sary to add ardent admirers OF NJ sardou The
majority OF the paygoers Of the orchestra stalls who
have Uncle Sam" think, do not enter into the
question Of whether the local coloring and the study of
character true false but simply judge the play
according the rules of art aud those who do THIS con
dered the poorest OF the authors productions I
these critics the piece is tiresome ana full o. faults
whether there is an absen nee Of modesy shoDa
bic young girls and Of commercial integrity in bust
men, matters which do not interest them, for
Is difficult for French people to get up an interest II
anything beyond the barriers OF France. As for the
bourgeoisie and the middle classes. the pictures OF
American customs exhibited in this play, will he
| rda frup IN zen
who look upon them true, and one OF these IN re
view OF the play said that the Partisan public could not
appreciate the accurate and conscientious study Of
nature which NJ. sardOu displayed in Uncle sam
That NJ sardou has injured Americans in the estinit
ton Of Frenchmen generally. think, may be admitted
but he has probably injured himself still more, aud
should he write such play his prestige Will be
gone damaged to the extent OF inducing managers o
reflect well before accepting any more OF his work The
scene the Hudson River steamer a surprise Ia
the spectators who bad ythng Of the kind
before Changing of bells the continuous going and
coming the band OF in the BACKGROUND, the clcva
ton OF and the drinking of whisky. were ali here
grouped RAPID and brilliant tableaus. Snch scene
was entirely original to the French people and II
applauded This act also furnished the occasion for al
exhibition OF number OF travelling and ouo!-door COS
tunes OF couple Of the best dressmakers Ia Paris. To
many French minds the filtration IN t.e second
act gorgeous in all accessores-furnished remarSa
BILE picture OF social deprayity-lanSushins couples
louuging sofas and dyans; women reclining IN the
arms OF their adorers playing with the resses OF
their charmers and whispering the story OF love n tbe
ears; the head OF the establishment, Uacte sam.
taking this sentimental wOOing matter OF
course; the women absolutely mercenary, never
allowing the heart get the mastery OF the head The
idea given expressed by person who sat next to me
in the words c'est an boyei The third act according 10
sardous old process with the OF violence and h'
little ues elected applause The fourth act OF tho
afafpr of Tho I'm and
sprinng behind doors the while shooting at each other
with revoyers after what the author calls the az" Ia
American struck me ludicrous that could not
help laughing in which, on looking around discovered
was not alone. Miss Blanche Pierson OF the Gy"nase,
who sat behind me, laughed unrestrainedly. Al tho
conclusion OF the play my opinion was that Uncle sam
really belonged to the repertory of the PdtdtS Royd
where ii should be given a burlesque But the author
wishes us to take his piece seriousy-to believe that
all Americans live IN hotels that tue young girls are
brazen and calculating that there is no family tic nor
home purity that there is justice, honor love- pat
riotsm. nor government II is singular, when he was
writing out his ucs and situations. from the books ot
Charles Dickens and Assoan that occurred TO
him that he as the nhabtant Of France weak and de-
moralzed, was playing a singular role IN satirzins
and finding FAULT with powerful nation whose progress
I'm civilization IL unexamped In history IL was Ike re-
yersng the roesthe patient trying To operate on the
surgeon instead Of submitting 10 the operation himself
An American lad OF dozen years would not make such
an exhibition Of Ignorance about France as the author or
Uncle Sam" has shown about the United states FOR
man OF sardous w.t. 10 be deporaby Ignorant 10 TINS
legs.