Mexico weekly ledger., 1878-11-14
oUR PARIS LETTER.
PARTISAN THEATERs DURING THE ExHI-
BrTIoN-A PASSENGER o PAID FOR.
A BIRTHI IN THE CAPTIVE BALLOON
GAMBErTA's sPEEcH-ADvIcE TO
PRIzE-TAKERe.
fFrom i Regular oorrcspondsnt.)

A universal exhibition does not
promote the best interests OF the
drama. Managers know perfectly
well that strangers to Paris must go
somewhere in the evening, and that it
matters very little what piece is play
ed before them. The object OF for
eigners is to kill time ; Of the French,
to be able to say that they have visi-
ted a particular artist. 1t must be
remembered that thousands of pro-
vincials have been brought to Paris
by this years show who have proba-
bly, never been there before; persons
of strange dress and uncouth speech,
who have been saving money ever
SINCE the exhibition was first projec-
ted and are now prepared to spend it
lavishly. "What is the use of mount
ing a new piece for them?" say the
managers, ''tLe Parisians are all away
let US do as one of our fraternity
did in About's Madelon, who desired
his authors to produce him a piece
with le moins de dialogue possible, Ell
surtrut, mes amis, point desdrtt9" l
myself heard the following converse
ton at the box-office of the Theatre
Francois: They were going to play
LIE Chandelier, by Alfred de Musset
a French gentleman came in and adj
dressing the dame de la location, said,
"Madame, what is this Chandelier.
is it comedy?" eyes, sir" "By
whom?" "By Alfred dc Musset. y
SIS it a good play?" Eyes, sir.''
Fortified by these various assurances.
the provincial took a stall. Let us
hope he did not regret the use t.
which he put his money.
The powerful but repulsive drama
Joseph Balsamo, did not long keel
the stage aof the Odeon; the goot
taste of Paris revolted against its bru
tality, which the excellence of tn,
acting and the general truthfulness o
the piece as All historical picture
could not redeem. 1t is said that "
Duquesuel, the manager, was so sur
of success with it that he had declined
more than one piece which nigh
possibly have served his purpose
Anyhow he, like others of his cloth
has not produced any novelty, Blu
fallen back upon Les Danichef, whicl
he brought out originally in 1876
He can have no cause to regret hi
choice; it has been played for fou
months to crowded houses. 1t mus
be admitted that the strangers who G,
10 e it now are far more apprecia
tive than the Parisians used to be
They admired, it is true, but they ais
sneered, and the wisdom of introdu
cling the sarcastic attache, Rour d
Talde, to mock at certain situation
from the stage, and so anticipate mer
riment beyond the footlights tina
might have been dangerous, was al
most painfully evident.
Births and deaths sometimes occu
in strange situations. The Roppt
relates a story which in 8 less seriou
paper would pass for an invention
In the captive balloon on Sunday
young lady was taken ill; a docto
from Tarbes, who happened to be i
the car, saw her safely delivered of
boy before the balloon reached tn
ground, when a cab took the mothe
and child TO a hotel; the husband
: son of one of the leading Mancheste
> manufacturers, presented the docto
with 500f for his services; and tn
Rdppel commends balloon ascents t
doctors in want of patients, while.
remarks that a child who has starte
SO high in the world promises to al
tain eminepce. On the other hand
an Italian from London, aged sixty
eight, returning to his country on &C
count of ill-health, died in the trai
between Paris and Marseilles in til
= arms of his young companion, Josep
> Bertonelli, on his way to join tn
army. There is no doubt as to
natural death, for the deceased ha
shown great exhaustion and had cor
{ sequently been allowed a separat
. compartment with B%ertonelli but th
u latter is in custody on suspicion
D robbing the corpse. He handed I'll
4 police 100 francs as the deceased
: only property, but on being searche
sixty francs we're found In his wais'
a coat lining, which he then said d.
ceased had given him to pay for h
journey, the balance to go to his fan
lily for masses for his soul. Bertol
ELI is still detained at Tounerre.
M. Gambetta reached Paris ear
= on Sunday morning. He was enth'
y s;astically cheered on leaving Gren'
n BILE and at various stations on h
way back. At Vairon a little gi
J. dressed in white presented him vii
l. a tricolour bouquet, and III. Gambet
thanked her with a kiss. AT Gran,
J. Lemps the old flag of 1889 W.
brought out, and NJ. Gambetta halle
r, it as the flag of the first commu
r. freed by the revolution. At Tour {
st Pin cannon were fred as the ira
stopped. AT B%ourgoin n crowd co
ir lected at night and loudly cheert
m him. The full text of NJ. Gambetta