The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-11

Gle DEvIN DU vILLAGE.n BY JEAN JACQUES RoUs-
sEAU,.
and two operas of Click were given under these
circumstances; and then on the 9th OCTOBER 1881,
q theatre on the Boulevard st. Martin, con-
structed by Lenoir in eighty-six days, was ready
to receive them, workmen having been employed
day and night upon 1t till finished. 1t cost $25o,OoO
ana contained 1900 spectators. 1t was subse-
quently enlarged. and the opera renamed there.
till 1894 Lenoir had only guaranteed its solidity
for thirty years, but 1t lasted for ninety years, TIL
1t was burned down in the last days Of the Com.
mune. In 1898
CITIZEN BRUNET-MoNTENsIER, LADY,
built National Theatre in the Rue de la Loi, now
called Rue Richeleu. 1t was considered the finest
then existing IN Paris and the opera took possess
sion Oft Here, Tor the first time al any French
opera house, the spectators in the pit were pro-
vided with means OF sitting down, and those snug
little boxes for two people. where one can see
without being seen, were first introduced to the
Parlslans, among whom they soon became an In
stitutlon 1t was here, on the 18th February, 1920
that the Due de Berry was assassinated by Louve.
The last sacrament was administered TO this
Prince by the Archbishop OF Paris, ON express
condition that the building should be pulled down,
and that the site OF 1t should never again be ap-
propriated to theatrical purposes.
AN ExPIAToRY MONUMENT,
even, was common led on the spot; buC new re
volution prevented It's completion. The fountain
which now stands in the midst OF the square Lou
vols alone marks the scene Of this momentous
episode in French history.
The opera company performed subsequently till
the 18th OF May, 1921, at the Sale Favart. which
was vacant at the time OF the Duke's murder, and
then removed to the Sale LOuvols till o new build
ing was erected for them on the
SITE OF THE HOTEL CHOIsEUL RUE LEPELETIER,
which had formerly been occupied py the Ministry
OF War; 1t cost about 5000, 900 and was opened on
the 10th OF August 1921. 1t was here that gas was
first used in French opera house, and the place
was OF course burnt down IN que time.
AN IMPERIAL DECREE OF NAPOLEON ILL.,,
dated the 29th OF september, 1860, declared the
building OF new opera house TO be work of pub
lie utility, and after innumerable competitive
examinations M. Charles GARNER was finally
selected as the architect intrus.ed with what was
understood to be grand national undertaking.
CONDITIONS IMPOSED ON THE ARCHITECT.
1t was required that the new opera house should
be OF easy access, with an entry where 800 car
riages could set down their occupants under cover
from the cold within quarter OF an hour; that
covered galleries should be provided also LOT
pedestrians, and the distribution OF places; q
guardroom for twenty-five infantry men and an
other with stables, for cavalry soldiers; quar-
principal staircases and sufficient number OF
back stairs to facilitate ingress and egress; walt
ing rooms properly heated Q large saloon, place
tor the flower girl and for the bookstalls attached
to the theatre; dressing rooms, convenience for
medical attendants In case Of accident. and water
closets at every stages place Tor the uphOsterer OF
The theatre; space for 1000 spectators. These
were the primary conditions; the grave questions
OF heating ana lighting were reserved.
The requirements for the Emperor and his suite
were also the subject Of specific stipulations. A
box was demanded for his Majesty on the side
scene at the left OF the house, and 1t was ordered
that the staircase leading to it should be easy Of
ascent and have but few steps. There was to be
an antechamber for the imperial guard, saloon
for the aides de-camp grand saloon for the En-
peror; boudoir for the Empress, with dressing
rooms and water closets. The imperial box and
apartments were to be entirely separated from
the rest OF the theatre The vestibule preceding
the imperial staircase to be large, OF easy &C.
cess, and opening on porch large enough to ad-
NIT the imperial carriage, with TWO carriages Of
the Emperor's suite and His Majesty's escort. In
immediate proximity to this porch was to be q
Coach house large enough to nold three carriages
with the horses harnessed to them. and stabling
for the horses OF the grooms; sunicient conven.
fence and stablng for twenty cavalry soldiers ana
the officer OF the imperial escort; Q guardroom
for picket OF infantry, composed OF thirty men
and an officer; guardrOom for ten horsemen Of
the CentGardes and stabilng for their horses; a
servants hail for twenty lackeys. In short, the
imperial party required accommodation for about
one hundred persons, fifty horses and several car
riages. The pavilion, which is entered by the Rue
Scribe, Is the result OF tins necessity and Is said
to have done something to spoil the harmony Of
the building.
Vorv ffIo Iofff md f0Aa tate 4
in every respect. 1t was decided by the govern
ment OF the Second Empire that every part OF the
interior decoration OF the building should presenS
an appearance OF extraordinary luxury and rich
ness OF enumeration. Sculpture painting, mar
BILE and bronze were to appear all over 1t. and
there was such q prodgaltty Of decoration IN.
sisted on that the space OF the stage was re.
strIcted to leave room 1t. because the decora-
tors were unable to find works Of art suflclent
TOR larger one. 1t may be said, therefore, that
NJ. Garner has done well under the restrictions
imposed upon him. but that he might have done
better II left alone. Those restrictions were so
minute and vexatious that he was required to
leave SUFFICIENT height for the drop scene to be
raised III one piece. without folding, IN the same
manner as the theatre at Dresden and the conse.
quence Is tnat the stage, seen from the upper
boxes; presents
THE APPEARANCE OF A YORKSHIRE PIE,
and is on the whole, ''squatty." Moreover, the
accommodations supposed to be necessary Tor the
service OF the theatre have an exorbitant guam
tity OF room. There Is not only an apartment for
the upholsterer, but also one for the water man
and his hydraulic apparatus; a depot Tor the gas
machinery another for the gas mans materials,
and a laboratory for him; laboratory for the ply
stefan in charge Of the electric lght an apart.
ment for the chief mechanic and his subordinates;
another for the chief lighter man, and a common
room for sixty-three scene shllters with another
room for the lamplighters.
The department OF the stage. manager is provi-
ded with an anteroom for the call boys, a recep.
ton room for the stage manager. an ONCE for the
director Of singing, an Office for the master OF the
ballet and common room for the superinuendents
OF the theatre.
The private boxes oil the artists are each pro.
vided with private entry, separating 1t from the
common corridor. ana have wardrobes attached