New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-24

THAT. gentlemen. is the significance, that Is the
sense that is the object Of this gathering tins feast
Of bfotherly love- in which there is no hidden mean
ing. no misunderstanding; nothing but what Is
great, good. noble.
'Al Of us who are here, poets philosophers writ
ers, artsts-we all have two countries one France
the other, Art"
Yes Art is a country; it is a city whose citizens
IRE those sons flight, Homer, Eschyus, Sophocie''
Arstophanes, Theocrltus Plautus. Lucretius virgil
Horace, Jnyenal, Dante, Shakespeare RabeIais'
Moli6re. Cornele, Voltaire and all the guests
broke in with the cry-Yictor Hugo. And there "a
another city, too less vast but equally great when
we call our National History, and which counts
these men not less great: Charemagne, Roland
Duguesclin. Bayard, Turenne Condo, Villars, Van
ban. Hoche, Mcrceau, Kl6Jer Mirabeau.'
well. dear comrades dear guests, we belong to
these two cities. Let be proud Of It, and let me
say to you in drinking your health that drink to
tue health Of our two countries-to the health OF
Ia grande Frame, and to the health da grant iriF
have translated this speech because 10 IS rare IN
these days that one hears or reads any speech OF
Victor Hugo except politics, and because TINS
keeping quite outside Of politics shows mm I'D a
tr1er light than do those discourscs which deal with
the affairs OF the day. II the truth must Oe toiu,
Victor Hugo is no politician. IN the common sense
of tine word HIS speeches are often CNtreme
and what is called impraCtIc1blc; elOqueht
ALWAYS no doubt: sincere 10 the last word
luminous with ideas that NAV pear lrul
in the future; filled with faith m human nature :
but belonging % the region OF poetry; the poetry ol
politics, If you Ike. which seems 10 consist H
ing the impossible because 10 may be, or ght 10 nt
possible at some future time. SO much say WIN
every Difference due % the great genius an -it',
buInau heart of tho greatest of living FIR nch
writers, and must ask my readers, n they ma tu'
forl going translation rough and uucouth 2" I'illul
Der that Victor Hugo belongs IN the category oI ul
translatable authorsthe proof being that he Is tne
most and the worst translated among All H. couu-
trymen.
To understand how much Hngo's praise Of Sarah
Bernhardt means g) back 10 what he said IN $50
OF Mile Mars. for whom ne declared the role Of Dora
Sol to De what Charles VI had been for Iaima-her
triumph and her masterpiece, adding: II IL inn
possible. without having seen Nile Mars, 20 FORM
any idea. Of the effect which tine ETcat actress pro
ducpe in this character. Throughout the nI-t .olE
act, sine Is the young Caia,alc-9hp.es eiii1l' Pd'
s.ouatc, concentrated. But Do the MN MIC. Nai'
gives an immense development 20 tile part. She
finds scope Iu 10, lasting though 10 does bu. IT,"
minutes for the whole range Of her talent; from tie
graceful 90 the Sublime, and from the sublime 10 TIE
most exquisite patlos.'
Nothing less than that was the talent OF Nile.
Mars as Hugo Witnessed 10 and bore witness
to it in $50 and that il is which he now says bile.
Bernhardt has not only equalled but surpassed.
Mile. Mars was the first actress Of her day. Victor
Hugu'- cU.ogy with the applause ol MS guests dhu
Of an par, 90 support IT, d, more than enough 70 r'
tabIsh Nile. Bcu-hardt as the INST 'ciea7 oil QUIZ
time.
II could belong to nobody but W. Emile Perrin, the
head of the Theatre Fraucais. 20 reply; nor WI NJ
Perrin be thought rash predicting that q LITTLE
more than fifty years hence, as tho great anniYer-
saries come round. Hermann viii be played rs the
cid" and " Les Horaccs" are played: They belong
all three, said be- TO the same family; aNn all oi
tIan in thrr manly pride Of Thought and thnlr HI
comparahle .pieudor Of dicti0n. And the guests
draik-I think We shall all like 20 Join n the toast
to Victor Hugo, the author Oh " Hermann ana 10
the immortal youth of genius. c. W. p