The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-28

The world-renowned actor, Frederic Lee
mai.re. died Yesterday, at the age OF seventy
eignt. OF late years he played rarely, and then
only IN the old pieces whi;h rendered him so
famous His career in France was very much
like that OF rechter in England and America
and their talents had considerable similarity
The only difference between the two actors was
that Lemaitre was on the stage Tor nfty years,
and had nfty times "a much talent as Fechter.
Lemai.re was born al Hayre, In 1923, and, after
having completed his education IN the local col
loge. entered the Consoryatore, at Paris. and
became the pupil Of Lafon. Inc great Talma
OWNED the natural AGILITY OF the young man,
and tried to push him. Notwithstanding that.
Lemaitre was unable to obtain an engagement
IN any Of the lrst-class theatres, and had to re-
sort to the lowcr-class playhouses. like the
Varieties Amusantes, the Funambules and
even the Circus. He made his debut
In the first of these houses, persona
flying lion, so that he made his debut
on al fours. Passing then from one house TO
another, he at last reached the Odeon when he
was already twenty-elgttJ aars OF age. and made
his dtpu, there In the role - NIrcbse. lie had
a very fair success, and soon obtained AL en-
gagement at the Porte II. Martin, where the IA
nous piece of Thirty Years, or the Life OF
Gambler" rendered him at once celebrated In
$50 he PLAYED 1t the Amhigu witn Nine. Doryal,
and In the following year reappeired at the
Od6on in " l., Mar6chal d'Ancre." PASSING then
TO the s-Dranatiques he created there the
role Of Robtr M1cdhc In the play Of the same
name. which he composed in conjunction with
"AutttT' and "Saint-Amaud." lie was now
Sufficiently famous To have Alexandra Dumas
write for him the part OF RI hIrd arlington, uud
| Victor Hugo that OF GenidrO III Lucrezia Bor-
gii." After some travel abroad aud d. DEBUT in
| London. Iemaltre entered the Nare es IN the
| role of h,.q bV AlcXandrr Dumas, which was
another immense hit Of his and when the
| Theatre de ia Renal slnce was opened the nrst
| piece PLAYED init WIS " Ruy BIAS which ut once
| secured the theatre a fortune.
| In 1872 the Theatre Francti opened its doors
! 90 Lcmaitrc hut he m dc a failure there. 1t
| became evident thdt hi talent made hlm NJ
| only for melodranas and romantic dramas. lie
| bad accordingly soon To retire TO tbs Boulevard
| theatres again, where new tuumphs awaited
! him ia Don CTslr de Balln,' in the " Mys-
] ner'' Of f6iN Pyat In the way Of classical
! pieces. the only one IN which Lem itre had sue
cess WAS q ucthe's Faust prod Iced at the
! Porte ~. Martin. tut even there people went to
only those portions Of Il where there Wa most
doyil'ry - Toe oxhinited and most inlcilal
snserins laughter t. De- beard.
Bctw, "a 80 and 1850 lemai.r- was passing
| from one b ucvlrd the ire 90 another vita
| constantly increislug success, and mad another
| az az in ndon. In l,'i.. however. when he
/ w. quite AN oid man, he attempted 20 appear
al the lalus hoyal m the "slltIm Banquc-, %
! and made deplurable fam re-. Since then H.,
| n Yer uit 'iulfld L. play uiy part hut the old
| parts whi % had len iered min so celebrated.
Daring inc last years Of ne empire he was
! grant q ME pension ot Sit q year from the
| Government, a., uotNitn- t.ndIlg his l.bouous
car en- he did not seem to haze accumulated
! any fortune.
H. leaves a son bearing the same name of
| Trtirrtc leuli'rt, aui tulp5in,: some rcputa.
| ttOu as dt"u."tic winter.