The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-05-29
French Dramatists on the French
Drama in America.


friend, / was present at a meeting of
the Society of Dramatic Authors and
Composers at the Sale Hertz. The |
doors were closed against outsiders
newspaper reporters were, as usual, IL
gidly excluded-and, if an exception
was made in my case, was indebted
for it to the tact of my friend. The |
latter had assured me that the proceed
ings of the society, on this occasion,
would doubtless be quite interesting,
and perhaps somewhat excited, as the
question of foreign tanti6nles, in which
the playwrights of France are SO inter
ested, would be discussed and he told
me, besides, that most of the eminent
dramatists of his country would be
present. So you may imagine that my
curiosity was excited. But what I saw
and heard in the Sale Hertz was so in
teresting-I might almost say startling
that I honestly believe, during my
long residence in Paris, have never
passed two hours that viii leave upon
my mind so lasting an impression as
those which spent yesterday afternoon
in the midst of tho great and little dra-
matists of France.
1t was two o'clock P. NJ when enter
ed the Sale Hertz. The elegant hall
was but partially filled. The meeting
had already opened. Octave Feuillet,
with his handsome classical face and
elegant form, occupied the chair.
have never seen a more clever and
graceful presiding officer than the au-
thor of "The Romance of a Poor
Young Man." and Sibylle." A fat
man, with gray curly hair, about forty
five years of age, had the floor. He
was n poor speaker, and was not lit
tie astonished when my friend whisper
ed in my ear, ''That is Edmond About"
Could the witty and sparkIin author
of 4" The Roman Question" be so dull
an orator-drawling out long phrases
with a peculiar and offensive nasal
twang? ] must confess 1 was puzzled
NJ About spoke OF a very uninterest-
ing subject, and he was followed by
several young men, whose plays have
had an ephemeral success, but whose
names are not known by anybody but
those who frequent the second and
third-rate theatres of Paris. While
they were speaking, there was hum of
voices in the hall, showing how little
interest the audience took in what they
said.
AIlat once there was profound silence.
A slender man, tall, darl1-complexioned
darl-haired, and darl-eyed, took the
foor. The President said, "M Alex
andre Dumas has the floor" believe
me, was all ear. 1 had never seen
him before.
He said but a few words, but I per
, ceived at once that he wasa natural ora
i tor. And yet the sentiments he uttered
: almost grated on my ears. He said
-" 1 write for France alone. L do MOI
court foreign favor. German money
3 cannot buy my manuscripts-Italia1
Aattery falls upon deaf ears with me
I am Frenchman"
What an applause there was as h,
proudly looked around-he who .hqt
: asked for the permission of playing hi
Femme de Claude" of the manage
of the Inperial German theatresl
A queer-lool1ing little fellow, with n
exceedingly Frenchy face, a binocle o.
his nose, and dressed like court huis
= sier, rose next. Everybody listene
almost as attentively to him as to Iii
famous predecessor. Who could it be
I was surprised to hear that it wa
= Theodore Barriere, perhaps the vii
" test of tho living dramatists of France
y He, too, spoke we'll only he gestieU
- lated too much. But what French or,
- tor does not? NJ. Bmriere was indit
- nant. He denounced Alexandra Dum'
y for what he called his dramatic cha,
u uinism. "Why," exclaimed the lit
ie man, 81, too, am a French author an
u write for my countrymen. If they al
eI plaud me, am proud; but, if foreig
u nations also applaud me, 1 am sti
" prouder. WIN you consider me, N
d friends, an egotist, when tell you TIN
i" the happiest moment of my life W
. when NJ NIichaelis, my excellent Amer
nc can friend, told me that my play, I
u Comtesse de Somerive had been play,
NC with extraordinary success, under Il
~ name Alike at prominent theatre
es New York! Let me add that, somethil
ne wonderful, but decidedly honorable
40 America, I derive a large ta1tien1e fro
de the performances of my play in {
ng American theatre in question, and til
p now have in my pocket check (
70 the first thirty performances, with t
IL assurance that other checks viii folio
lP- That is American enterprise, and,
les might almost say, American generosit
m for the Now York manager might la
s2- appropriated my play without Payi
eir me sou for it. +"
no NJ. Barriere was applauded. I
'pt next speaker was a young giant. Ia
OF gaunt, with a cadaverous face, and e
m IDENTIFY not yet forty. His was a sep
ois chrai voice. But he was listened
asst respectfully; for he had had at lie
1es one great success, and French drar
ost lists worship success. Why should Il
ay notg With them success means ia
It. and fortune.
"n The speaker WIS NJ Edouard FL
''o- vier, the author Of the charming p
l"'- s'Le Centenaire. lie, too, praised
az Americans. Another New York ma
ger had bought the manuscript, .
am. paid him larger sum for it than
ova had received anywhere in Europe exc
-ib- in Paris. NJ. Plouvier said: II b
ron witness to the highly honorable man
Of in which 1 have been treated by
rms people OF the Great Transatlantic
,llv public. shall never forget it. q
18th republican like them.
are There we're some murmurs IN the
in dienee. for n. Sardou was present.
the this declaration Of repabhcanism
rvn- looked upon by his numerous friends