New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-07
THE DRAMA.
UNION SQUARE THEATER.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD-nARK SMITH Az
JACQUES RAUVEL.

JACQUES FAUyEL.
When Peter Ounce saw Bottom with tho
head OF the upon hs shoulders cried out Biess
thee. Bottom thou art translated" There temptation
TO give the same greeting for the reason to most
adaptations OF French dramas that find publicity on tho
American stage. The translation OF lie Centenaire"
lately brought forward at the Union Square Theater
though oredtable piece OF ordinary workmanship, Ia
marred by such grave and quite needless defects
make lt trial critical patience IL lacks a serupuous
fidelity tho Of the original in tho epgrammalo
passages: it misses delicate shades Of meaning
and fine turns OF phrase; It frequently preserves
the French diom-which, in English. sifects-
ton; Omts the part Of Dupraz which Ia q mis-
take and 1t treats the fate OF Jiieb with unnecessary
gagueness. On the whole, thereOre-tbOugh ia text
fairly accurate, aud though certain Of ts omissions
judoious-it cannot be regarded exceptionally able.
or as warranng particular praise Of its maker Work
OF translation. indeed is such trivial incident IN tho
experience Of literary that to parade names OF
those who perform 1t 49, at almost all times, 10 give them
exravagant and ridiculous prominence There has been
too much bitchng OF local hobs kites Of France
ale Centenaire,' by Messrs. D'Ennery and Pouyier.
"a produced under the title Of One Hundred Years Old"
II Is bea utful drama It is pure In design, lovely in
feeling, chaste in STYLE strong In contrasts OF character
interesting in story and effective in incident. PLAY
enriched by these attributes ought, it would soem 70
exercise unusually potent influence over the theatr
cal public. II has defects however aud these 1t spOs
sible may defeat its IL somewhat lacks mag
netic power: IL is occasionally ted0us-beoause OF
what American TASTE Is yerbage In some OF it, col
oques: And there is much lmprobabiity at tho basis
OF its fplot The latter fact would not DE fault In
comedy but this pcoe aims 20 depict actual hfe. By
plain straightforward unexaggerated means and does
not shelter itself under the wing Of tho Ideal It's a.
symptoms, accordingly seem violent IL assumes thata
live TO the age Of one hundred years. and sun
retain sufficient physical vigor, mental cearness ana
emotional warmth TO admit Of his taking an active in
erest the affairs of fe and being, TO his friends.
a companion, and not merely singular and ven
Grated relic. It assumes that young lady, Of prom
inent and welknOwn family in tho city OF Paris.
leave her fathers house. and, for fifteen days. remain
I'm a cOncealment that no ingenuity can penetrate. II
assumes in tue extraordinary expedent whereby ths
centenaran enabled to save the imperlled credit of
his mercantile house, perfectly romantic devotion
the part Of debtor which only the lucklest and least
likely OF accidents saves, at last from absolute waste
And finally assumes in the respective characters and
OF Maugars and Juiietethe villain and the victim
OF its story-the existence OF qualities and actions
which do violence alike TO human nature and To reason
Raugdrs in particular. Is absurdityand not merely
because his schemes transparent aud his SUCCESS Ia
impossible but because be hath the iron will. the gesm
ing eye the fateu presence and represented by Mr.
Parkes the marvellous pantaloOns, before which tho
ladies' down like many nine-pins Jndeae, who
hates him. nevertheless, ruined by him-tse pro
pOsterous incident And. for the rest this girls charso
ter mainly used foil TO set of her sisters herolsn.
the dramatic treatment, distorted out of nature,
and rendered almost monstrosity of weakness and
sefshness These objections, it seems likely, might not
appear valid to French spectators bat there is differ
ence in races there corresponding differences in
ideas. taste. and methods OF thought.
Apart from all defect though there il solid dramatic
merit IN One Hundred Years Old" which entities 1t TO
high rank among domestic plays IL does not teach. In
deed but it stlrs-and this Is prominent excellence
No work of art should be expected TO ncucate morals
Enough II it do incucato vice and extenuate wicked
ness There obvious distinction betwixt the prov
ince OF the precepor and the province OF the artist
This play presents its pictures or possible human expert
ence able and vivid manner, 80 IA 10 touch the
heart and elevate the mental mood Of sensitive
behoder. The element of sexual sin. which il used ~
one motive of its action very delcatey used. and IN
perfectly right spirit There is appeal to prurient
taste there exhibition of nastness; there 10 no
celebration Of wrOngdong Questions. indeed, are sug
gesed by the plays they by the drama OF Alike"
and by others of kindred charaoter-which OF deli
cate description which most persons are under no no
cessty OF considering and which it would be wise and
keep out of theaters But this is incidental
The main purpose OF the drama is 70 call attention. I'M
der picturesque circumstances TO noble type OF man
hood and TO a lovely action Of feminine heroism-to
moral grandeur made pathetic by affection and 70 wo
mans dsiDerested love- in it's high aspect Of sefsscr
this purpose has been pursued; but no Judgment
fail to perceive that it is of the highest purposes by
which writer be animated aud one OF the best that
the stage serve.
Jae9ues Pduuei aged one hundred years, and Camille
FduCe his greatgrand daughter are the persons upon
whom attention centers. Tho old man. nativey good.
has lived so long good ways. that he has become tbs
absolute personifcaton of virtue. II may be said OF hm
that the theory the dramatst he has lived through
his second childhood and entered upon his second youth
sympathy with him is aroused, at the outset by his
sweety benignant aspect, by his venerable aud BY
his fiery resentment Of presumptuOus impertinence.
Thereafter sympathy deepens, when he is found 70 DO
the open aud defiant foe Of vany the protector Of tho
weak and the sanch asserter Of the sanctty Of nno-
cence. Two bolts or ruin launched 9upOn the head
OF this stately old man One Is dshonor to his family
the other is disaster to his fortunes. He detes BOTH
Equally grand If equally picturesque, Odne the
heroine persOndes the largest magnanmity and self
abnegatiOn The one is great SOUL steadflst aud
strong beneath the double burden Of age and acton:
the other is true and tender heart, whichChrstke
takes upon itself the and anguish Of another and
faithful to duty through the worst OF evil report In
these statements the story Of the drama 50 cienay
told.
stage which already possesses such characters n
Jesse Rural Grandfather Whitehead and JEANNE Deans
gains nothing strikngly original in the acquisition OF
Jacques FauUel and Camille Pau5sI in One Hundred
Years Old" Yet it gains IN the right dreetIon-for
these gems Of human nObeness Mr.. Mark smith
hes himself great honor by has persOnaon of the
centenarian. He does not indeed, succeed in imparC
ing entirely adequate OF the physical phenom
His FaureI is old. but not older than bis Adan.
Perhaps however the subteties OF abnormal longevity
the reach OF smuative should We for
get that the text gives warrant for extraordinary vgos
in this parsonage Into the mental and emotional con
diton Of the old man. though, Mr. Mark Smith enters
wholly and most heartily. He has the sweet serenity
Of snontane0us goodness: he has the calm and simple