, 1874-11-07
A GREAT FRENCH ACTOR.
Frederick Lomnttrc as Robcrt Nln-
CkaarGs

~ 0AtA1AA. II kAcAOAka
Frederick Lomnttro as Robert Nan-
ckairGs
Ffotn Ms Ntr Yerk TiNes.
It waR In 1e40, precisely during n revolutionary
epoch, whan Franco was auaksnE, that / aaw tho
that as we grow old, no ono will over dauce for
us as Tngli0ni did In our YOUTH nor any ono slug
for us like Malibrnl. Youthful experiences n,ny
10 more impressive, but st, think to-day ~
absolute dramatic pctfsctlon mas Frederick Lo-
matre. "L'Autergc 1es Adrcts waa nolo-
dramn allowed In tho revolutionary tlole,
aud in Y was that many,ssded n! chnrae-
ten during tue Eeign Of Louis plnllppe,
had few dramatic positions, little real intrinsic
merit, bofng simply frame IN which robberias
and asaassnhtions wero set. II occupies but
that ii contained tho germ Of Robert !laeaire,
and accold pecc wap made. enibodying tho
adventures Of tue principal character, which waa
entitled Robert Macalro." Th'n pcrsonilioa-
france, and oil over tho world. as the type Of
the modern scap:p. Tho hero, Robert Ndcaire,
Is tho Erent priuco OF scouudreisln, tho epitomo
Of all That Ii wicked md base. and his foil IL
Jacques Sl,op, nere putty nlchor OF ha'idker-
ch,els, q. FtoacA Jeremy Dithler, whose puny
poeket-picking IL 80 small. go ludicrous by .con-
trnst, that QUO ptties hss tliIng carcor il vice.
Lenaitro I had ecen heforo and after this
special performance OF IL 'Auborge den Adrots",
Ii. "Don Clesar Do Bazan," III "lsuy Dau,' and
in "paillasae;" With wonderful versatility,
tender pathos, and dclicate touch lie had gwen
to each OF theSo characters thoir distinctive
cdchet, but compared with Robert 3Iacaire, they
sllrnn9 into Bigni1cancc.
Whon saw Leluaitro IN tho "Anbcrge les
Adrots, he nust havo been almost co. and was
past his prime. Hs voice was somewhat broson,
and though his mouth was tlIled with false toasG.
tilis very defect aeenicd to givo linn thopo
4..r~ hr1rS
Roder. 1facatrc. Roberi itacaire IL tlon u
barefaood scoundrel, iull vi wics, tricks, and
cunrlug. no Ia NJ crafty az g fox. as cruel
"a tiger, aud has love of thoft only oqua!cd
logue Of vices. ho haa tho curious QUO, periapa
somewhat antithesica!, Of being Dobndil and
clustering boaster. A. Lumaitsa conceived It,
Robert Aacaiye had q certain elIIotesceuce Of
education, and was gi7on to tloril words. and
olucidatoa new eystenls Of morals, which ho
elossed over with elaborate phrnses und spccous
rcnsouiuga. He endowed tho character with o
certain amount Of vorlal pomp, which Jared
il contrast with tho ragged closheB Of woc-
begone wretch. Dalzae'S Fautruin waH mug
niGc,nt kcouno;re1, with occasional good ini-
pulses. Lemaitro's Nacaire was aremoraeless
vagnboud. without pity or compassion Eote,I
Macdite woro long-tailea cont, torn to tattcra,
held fast round lis chest by aingo broken
button-hole- HlR head Naa Burmonutol by q
towering hat all mnshcd aud battered. His
tiock vas swntled In q sotled aud trayol cravat,
IN which tho 2etor's head could bo Withdrawn,
Like o y1lture. and 1facaire'a rubicund. bcak-
like hose ln1mod out from under tho eye covered
with hltious bluclt patch whilo to tho other
eye alone was left all tie task Of Keeping up tie
many subtle ehznges Of the fnce.
Nc human boiug over made up as did Fredcr-
ick Lemaitre. It WAS not tie clothes which
dreAsed the nun, but the art Of the actor, who,
clad ia his u1ot!oy, imbned his garments With
the character. II Robcrt 3facuire Us Lamnitso
dressed it. showed tie form, tho lincamcnts Of q
baaotted, brutal, yet philosophic n1etci, the
cynicism, French Mephistophiles d tho 6a9ne,
in his bon Cesar Ue Basdn. simply As an affair
Of cloth and tiuse1, tho nlotunorpLose Has II
esriliug one. II bon CGsar's pourpoint lad
elashos in 1t. all faded out Of shape and ta,n-
llled it the acanty mantle showed great gaps.
md the embroidery was worn to the cord, tho
gallant mien with Thich the actor eported them
mada the aorry atago irsppory Anprcmely ele-
CANT. Tho plume Of hlH hat, paacock feathor
but the poor grandee OF Spain d.d not wear hls
fcatherH Ut tho 1nagpio lis borrowed fnery.
That tawdry feather stuck out definitely. aud
became al egtess plume, and II the rnpicr
showed its blado through the gaping acabbsrl
would leap forth brightly sud naah when called
into play Dy it, Hearer. Lemait1o WAS faultlcBs
In his own decorations, aud LIS art Us to his osa
| porAnn WIS supreme. 1nko one OF MeasoasnrH
! Iainutcst works, put 1t under lnagnitying glass
ness, to wrinkle in sha hose, or fold in the
doublot, would give YOU Lemaitra dressed In this
| role,
This actor bad holpod to write Robert !lfacasre,
no that, uas tho Venetian players Mccohoni tolls
| about, hs wau capable Of carrying out bis DOR
sonldcatian Of tha character to itR utmost limits.
| / have been told by an ablo Frnuch critic tint
| Lcmaiho rnrely played Maeairc tAiee ahke.
| Chose inane gags 60 familiar to aatnis, Will
wLich they lard the piece they have played a
1 ffr1ao f1n+if IL hhrnu1cH lint
| auently 1awartAed dish, lie WIS incapable Of,
The same typical idea of 1toeoire OF courao re-
| n,a,ued. When snw him in tho revolutionary
period, waa iuforsaed that he had tmbucd tue
t1aits BETTING the tilnss Indifferent to the TIDE
which was aetting in. apparently untouubet by
tho contagion Of ideas. Koteas .Nact5ye laughed
| ns the world "a the french conceived 1t to ba,
ecotfetl at it, and planned his robberies and az
aAspina!ions MI on ha1ia Of tho prrest nocial.
| istlo doctrine.
Wo havo both in England and America hoh:s
! ri honest, paiustsking, impressive, aud ain5u'
larry heavy actors. Wo'are ponaarous III our Gu
ueavo1B to stump mimic oiecsa upon our henr.
toughest metal, md bring iuto p!ay heavy mcetr
] auism which crunches through it. Actors strase
| often too hard Bo larl, in 1aes, TINT tho atdl
once aud the crltics at tlmea cannot hut TAIL Il
soe tito recoil !; the recovery, ns 1t were, on thf
part OF tho actor Oh himself. OF course VIC arr
| Of y different rnce, Gud our aYmpEthies, II no
exactly th,ller, appsrontly lo loeper, and retuse
to riso to the surface ag quickly as with French
men nnd Italians. Lenaslsres o3ects,, ospeclulis
Of Robert 3iaca:,r, were made In ap airy. gobha.
! ucs ray, An arm wau barely 0utBtrotched, arc
tho twir! os a finger or tho t'utter OF rag mad.
the point Of the speech. Such was the wondorf.i
ut II the n,nn, that Homo yoara aftorward, il
1851 yrhon Lenlaltro's voice was aanost gone
and o few indistinct, painfuDy-guslural tone'
Nore NIL hs could utteE. 10 eHecsigo was his past
ton,,ne In Ills old pieces TINT tie abaence of h
| voice was hardly thought Of.
"Itoboxt liacaive" e2sts no longer on the
Engl.sh or American stage. aud perhaps 1t IL tos
tla besl for, as 1t was Interpreted by Anglo
sn1on worda or sentiment, It was = more bnf
foouery, played mostly extrayagantlT snd ovol
qule.nesa aild noisolcssnesa, With the taintos
possible touch or cyulcsam. WAxs struck mo 81
most wonderful in the pottraiturs woa that slnat
toring Of universal acquAintauceHhip With .!
thiuss In general, which Robert Alacalre, rs th
xreat eut.eprets,.enr OF tho degtiMies Of France
was supposed to poasoss At his fingers ends
| Irhe rubber waa as ready 10 entor Young ladies'
boarding. -scllool as a piano-teachcr, 80 thas IL
might ateal the spoons, NJ he wns anxious, II
tuEe the position Of clark with banker
m Tint lie could rifle atronE-box. Il