The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-26

NJ. Michaelis' Tribute TO America.
Mr.. Theodore Michnelis is o theatrical
agent in Paris who has always shown very
lively interest in America. 1t was to his kind
offices that we were indebted for a long series
of dramatic surprises from "Frou-Frou" TO
"Uncle Sam" We all know that in theat-
rical affairs the agent is greater than the
author, and NJ. Sardou might in vain have
created heroines whose only virtue was their
trailty had not M. Michaelis stepped in to
draw streaming tears from our eyes and ex-
tract golden dollars from our pockets. M.
Michaeis even consented to visit u.s. and he
carried back with him to Paris, in the same
wallet with the money we had given him,
such good opinions of us that NJ. Victorien
Sardou was induced to embody his impress
sions in play by which means all the world
was TO be induced to laugh at us. The only
trouble was that the play was SO stupid peo-
pie would not go to see it, nor consent to be
bored with inanities drawn from "Chuzzle-
wit and NJ. Michaelis' note books, and SO it
happened that both Michaelis and Sardou lost
some Of the money we had given them for
ssFrou-Frou" and Fernando" and the other
frail fairies of the impure drama.
"Uncle Sam was not wicked it was only
dull and foolish; but it injured the business
of the French dramatic agent in America to an
extent which suggested some atonement on
the part of NJ. Michaelis whereby he may re-
cover the ground he has lost, and once more
find a market for his wares in this gullible
country To this end NJ. Michaels has de-
vised grand scheme which is nothing less
than ITO afford France another opportunity of
testifying its sentiments of esteem and respect
for America, to strengthen the prestige of
French dramatic art abroad, and TO lay the
solid foundations of an international league
for the protection of theatrical, musical and
literary works" In q word M. Michaelis
wants some great Frcnchman to write great
American play embodyIng Washington and
Lafayette in the drama, but only incidentally
to the main purpose of the work There must
be young and sympathetic hero and heroine,
both Of them of unexceptionable morals, and
though dealing with an epoch of revolution
nobody's susceptibilties are to be wounded.
NJ Michaelis, who sells his wares in both
countries, would have the world know that
the English and the Americans understand
each other and love one another, and so
no would have his French dramatist,
who cannot by any possibility know much
about either nationality, paint our Revolu-
tionary epoch exactly as 1T was not. In
this NJ. Michaelis shows his wisdom. lie
thoroughly appreciates his countrymen. and
be is aware they have a remarkable genius for
depicting that which they know nothing
about. Even NJ. Sardou, in "Uncle Sam,
drew his characters with as bold hand as If
they had been liar Yanks, which he evil
IDENTIFY believed they we're. But if Miss Sa-
rah Tapplebot was a genuine American girl 1t
il a. impossible to conceive of NJ. AIchaelis'
sympathetic heroine as TO imagine a Frou-
Frou with all the virtues. As this is to be
serious drama we may anticipate that it will
be very funny, and SO We hope NJ. Michaelis
will hurry up his dramatists SO that the work
may be the sooner produced, and we trust NJ.
Victor Hugo and his jury will select the most
serious drama that is offered for their judg-
ment as the one that haply win create the
/. most fun for both Englishmen and Americans.
France can make the rest Of the world laugh
over this centennial play if VI. Michaeis'
dramatist will only give us a drama that shall
be purely French.