, 1879-06-01
Coppee's Gle Passant "---Sarah as {
London Correspondent---The
Mayer Incident.
Emile on Victor Hngo--Ed. Pai1leron's
New Comedy "L'Etinalle -
Georgina Weldon.


reading the inflated effus1ons of Emile Zola
| but 1t applies to several persons who have beer
very much before the public lately There |:
Mile. Rousseif, now. Fancy to what a pitch o1
vanity woman must have come when she
takes to advertising her own poetry BY reading
| 1t IN public 1ecture-rooms, as Mile Roussei
lately did here. Take Sarah Bernhardt, aguin.
II any one could do without self-laudation and
putting, it is that most gifted and fascinating o1
French actresses; and yet she never lets
week go by without startling as by
some new piece Of audacitJ. Either
she goes ballooning, or she takes tc
ewspaper-scribbling, or to moldine heads oi
celebrities for the Salon, or something equally
unexpected, always, Of course hoping that the
world will hear Of each particular freak, and
! admire it.
| THE LATEST AND MOST pIT1ABLE VICTIM
OF the inordinate self-conscousness that afIiicts
SO many otherwise rcspect-worthy and admfra-
bic members Of the literary aud artistic contra
ternitT Is Francois Loppee. His il very bad
case. Fatal indeed, 1 fear. unless the patient
has strong sense OF humor. On the 'tclaw
| me- and I'll claw thee" principle, I suppose,
| Emile Zola lately fred of few 1audatory
| squlos in Coppec's honor in the Voltaire The
pAoAo@ 400 AISE4FNAJ OQt tlsal AlA uOL lQAke
Coppee's behavior any the less ridiculous or dis
tressing, when he, too, proceeded to air his per-
sonal affairs. and his verses on the platform OF
the Lecture-Hall Four long lectures did the
modest young man devote to himself. On the
announcement Of the fourth, even the Figaro,
OF all prints most egotistical aud French, was
moved to. sneers. One could understand such
vanity in stupid or even q very successful
h,,+ ic o3f H.
ever, In fair way to lasting fame it he will
only have patience. With the exceptions of
Victor Hugo, Leconte de Lislc, Theodore dc
Banville, and perhaps Augustc Vacquerie, he
is certainly the most distinguished of living
French poets.
went to hear his "Passant," at matinee
last Saturday. As / listened to the melodious
lines and graceful fancies with which that ex-
Qutsite little play is filled, the thought occurred
or rather recurred-to me, that Coppee
Is NOT VERY. MUCH INFERIOR
as poet to Alfred de Musset. He has his
faults as veil as his good qualities. In each
there is the game delicate and original fancy,
the same sentimental charm, the same beauty
Of 1ortn; in each there is a want OF reality,
disregard for theatrical exigencies: ssLe Pas
sant,'' like son ne Badinc pas ayec rAmour,"
ot ta''1u:'o' s"ou'o no. W Spont ps contaet
with tne gar1sn "anso! theatfe. IL should pe
read ~ of tH 1do 0 Sney % roqm or the
business casts its shadow. On the stage the
best and most delicate SAVIOR of the play tit play
it can be called) is lost. The "Comedies and
Proverbs " have peach-like bloom about them
that bears no contact with the stage. So With
lie Passnnt."
It was in this work that Sarah Bernhardt,
then freshly arrived from the Odeou, first made
her mark ct the Francois ten years ago:
She had not, believe, reappeared
iu it since till last Sunday; why, l know not.
Yet the part OF ZaHetto lie Passant) fits her to
perfectlon' one mas never had oetteT role, nor
has - sue ever p.aysu 4.a u tug 10 "ell'
"1s ~ wv eu
LIE PAssANf-
SyEuia and Zanetto Sy!o:a is an italian courte
san, living IN oon,ent 2, fetirement III the neigh
bornood OF fair FLORENCE. She counts her lov:.
ers BY hundreds; her fortune is immense, and
her beauty marvellous. But pleasure has with
her given place to safety, and she pines aud
or at a9ns Of pure asEh5
getfulness. "Ab," she siehs, in the soft, clear
moonlight, ''could but hear the voice Of some
1ighl-hearted, innocent student singing tile
praises OF Sylvia! HOW gladly would give
him the reward OF bis deFotlon!" As If in
moment the tuneful notes OF Il sentimental
ballad sung by romantic young poet, passing
by on his way to Florence. She withdraws
to watch him, and Zanetto advances,
clad in picturesque troubadour's
attire. He unrastens his guitar, and, wrapping
himself in his cloak.-poor protection against
the cold night-air,-nc lies down to sleep the
sleep OF purity. Syiuia aWakcs him, and offers
him hospitality. The sight of his Young grace
and beauty fires her with lore she had thought
dead forever. But Zanetto for long time is
shy md timid- Her charms fascinatc him, but
he still res;sts. ~ have no ueed OF SHELTER
lady," he replies; and bytvia, touched By bis
youthful innocence, would have spared him.
Then it Is Zanefto's turn to know passion he
pleads and pleads Tor the hospitality he had
just rejected; out
VIRTUE FOE ONCE sTEELs TIE FRA1L BOSOM
of the courtesan. "Hc IS but child" she
,y1,;sncrs to her heart. II will leave him
chd !, And ont; Of the struggle between the
@onj and Evil nrincnles in Smyia's soul there is
ieveloncd one OF the most charming scenes
im,ninabje. Verv sadly Za,,etto bows to her
1on;s;on TIN tncn hn had known no love but
tha 1--we of noets for Nature. Liberty, Art,
sonr the iirht of Hrayen. md the
nv1, ,n,,17;,,,r of fim. wind in the creen |
rro'e. and now that he hns learned what
80 : ha = fnrced tn turn aside nnsatisted. /
4 a. 1.ast !, ne s;phs. INT least lady. If YOU
,,;i1 ~ she1+ar M rive mr. n wond of rounset.
~ ~. ~, one S,,,G woman nf marvellous
haavt 9ou ,ud strnn~r fascinating It is to her
fsas' m,s ',rnwa,rr when rou stayed me bv the |
= ,vov Wa Vonl3 + he wcli + met her!n Then the |