, 1877-08-26


US will henrefortl, no doubt, do their
oest to forget Madame Ia A1arYrise, and only
remember that Adelina Patti is still the great
singer and the inspired actress.
It is again announced in the most positive
way that u. Frauche, acting under the instruc-
ttons Of Nine. Patti, has paid over to NJ. Leon
Escuuicr 1OO, 600 francs-thc forfeit agreed on in
tho event OF the dim wishing to Withdraw from
Aer autumn-cnGagcuaent At the Theatre ltalicn
This is uuwe1colnc news to US, but we still trust
when the Decaux property comes to BE- divided.
as the law requires after tho Judgment, the
Marquis and his wife will each have apo 1t
10000 or 900, GOO francs.
Talking, Of things operate, We have just had q
rnE s'nrnE DE cHrrnE"
a. the Grand Opera, with Kos'na Bloch-stouter
than cver---in the role Of -Calar,na
Cornaro. Lassallc sings the music
Of L'tsianan, to which bis fine baritone; gives
from the scene If his ancient, very ancient,
tr1umphs-makes his rentrec in the tenor
part OF Gerard. need not add that the scenery
and costumes illustrating Halcvy's work are
everything possible to atone for the poorncss Of
his casts 6y Iayisal expenditure on spectacular
ELECTS. The banquct-sccne and the inevitable
procession arc marrelous examples Of what
inc Grand Opcra-House can do in the
way OF spectacle.
Besides this revival, there has been an in
tercsting one at the Nheatrc-Fraucais. II An
dromaque," Racine's tragedy, has been re-
mounted with decided success, Sarah Bern
hardt PLAYING the heroine, Mile. Dualay, Ht'-
and too-powertul voice, sustaining the trying
part Of 0rtstes. Several theatres, lately closed
Tor the summer vacation, have taken
courage and rcopcned. The Theatre
HistoriQue continues the uninterrupted per
lormances Of the ''Drame an Fond dc ila Mcr';
while the Chateiet> over the way, announces the
temperance Of the amusing }eerte. Les Sept
Chateau1 du Diablo;''' aud the Folies-Dramat-
ieues returns to that lively little operetta, lies
open altogether next week Towards the middle
OF September there will be a general
theatrical resurrection, and the season
OF novelties will commence. Till then VIC
must take The good tue managerial gods choose
to send us, and continue to be grateful Tor
small mrrcies.
In default OF dramatic events, we have the
academic, and it would be rash to decide
whether tho greatest success OF tie week has
been Sarah Bernhardt's in 4dHdru'na4ue, or
ALEXANDER DUMAS
in the to him novel character Of lecturer on
private virtue. N. Dumas, although quite re-
cent addition to the party wlic, with
more or less reason. till .o,d the chairs
preside at the annual dtstribution OF Montyon
o-izes last week, at the Institute OF France )
Perhaps Al. Mnntyon may not be SO familiar to
you as to us,-so word in explanation before
proceeding. n. Atontyon, then, bc it known to
years ago, pequcathed o certain sum for the re-
ward and succnr OF persons, whose special
virtue or charity may have been Thought
sufficient, by committee appointed
od 74oc to make thcm fitting recipients. There
are various prizes awarded. according to the de-
gree OF merit or self-sccrihec to be acknowl-
edged. Some Of tho laureate get as much as
a,0Oo or 3,ovo francs. The ceremony o: distriou-
tin. the prizes is usually adorned by the utter
ance OF few remark appropriate to the ocea-
sion. KS soon as it was bruited abroad
that A3cxau1rc Dumas fils-tnc spark
ling, the witty, the virtuons Alex
andre Dumas Ills-woutd lrcside, thc
musty seats at the Institute were the objects Of
set how tue author Of such standard handbooks
Of morality as s'La Dame aux Cau,elias: ~ and
OF all the scries Ct moral aquibs beginning with
s'L'Hommc Fesnne' aud ending win the
his unactslstomcd task. Whatever else he
mas ms' no Or doubt nsefE q bis 0' being arusss @
(Sot the least of the secrets Of success IN the
world is learnt when one can be aHuslng) IL.
Dumas fils, talented as he is, always suggests
the au.t:k to INC. Hi. father was genius,-not
OF high order, admit. but certainly genius.
His son is only extremely clever and re7nudhf,
vet be has passed numbers Of better men in the
ra:e Why! Because he is never dull. Be as
faise and paradoxiral as you will. Paris loves
paradox and pardous 1alschooa- But at your
uc,1l be tedious. The French, ltnlent in many
things, are nercless to bore
Should dearly like TO give you the whole OF
II. Dumas speech. That might not suit the
editor, however: SO let
L SHORT RESUME
suffice OF course 1t would not have done for
the speaker to fake the usual yicsy OF his Sub
ject. So, after Z lengthy dlsqQ's'1lon on
the rich and poor,-in which he proved
to his cxn complete satisfaction tnat poverty
was happiness because the poor we're not bowed
down with the care Of a large fortunc) ard that
wealth and misery were evidently synonymous
the possession Of riches far outwciened
tue advantages brought with them. A.
Dumas, by a number OF tclictons transa-
tiUrs, gradually arrived at this conclusion:
haven't it, dors not give happiness to those who
have it, because thosc who have it do not make
use of it enough FOR the happiness OF those who
haven't it.'' Q. E. D.-a sentiment which am
sure Ill must approve. .....
Then came witty, serio-comic eulogy Of
Charity, particularly the charity that be-
gius viii, onr,s self; and at last, having
relieved himself OF the regulation quantity Of
paradoxcs, the speaker consented 20 approach
matters more gcr7nane to the I'Tiz -hontyon,
and drew plentiful Tears from the eyes Of the
ycry listeners who had just applaudcd his lively
eali;es, by pathetic narration Of all the virtues
of ali The winners of all the prizes distributed;
but into this part OF the ceremony must not
enter.
THE CHIEF POLITICAL Event
OF recent occurrence is the split ln the Bona
partist camp. u. Cassagnac and n. Rouhc:,
who represent tue Young anu o4u sectlons OF tne
party, are at war. High words and bitter launts
have been freely banded, to the peculiar delight
Of 1ne Republicans, whose SUCCESS at the COM
fn,r r1ctti6ns nov seems moro than ever assured.
'17 HARRY ST. MICHEL.