The New York herald., 1879-10-07


that he surprised his contemporaries by singular
stroke of policy. Not having succeeded in obtain
brayey took the smallest and least popular-le
Theatre des Bouffes Parisiens. 1t was at first sup
posed that he would try aud get up an opposition
to the Opera and play the works of Massenet, Gou-
nod and Verdi there. But nothing of the kind.
10 ipaugurate his little satte NJ Cantin SIM
ply coniented himself with presenting the
public with an operetta entitled "Panurge,"
the. music of which is by NJ. Herve. This
composer had formerly some talent. His partition
of the "Petit Faust" justly popular. But.
alas there no longer remains trace OF this talent.
His compositions are now painfully worked out.
and utterly devoid of meodious ideas. There
mains nothing OF his former verve--not even his
eccentricity. tor Herve was the most OF
musicians He was even surnamed by himself ''ie
c0nD0sifear foque the cracked composer). He had
marked taste tor the follies. the anachronisms and
the monstrosities of the ntise scene. l remember
that in one OF his pieces-"Le Hussard Persecute"-
one of the personages o. the piece came upon the
Being somewhat in a hurry and not wishing to go
out OF his way. he simply lifted the
the owner OF the bicoqae arrived upon the scene.
What has become Of my house?" he asked % and
''Oh, see, they have removed it,
COUPLE CLOWNS.
In another OF his extravagant pieces all the actors
were to be suspended by wires in the air, but he
never could get interpreters for this piece OF buf
foonery. What pity it was that he did not know
the Hanlon-Lees, those marvellous clowns who have
just successfully created the Varieties piece
half vaudeville half pantomime, written expressly
for them to u framework their
traordinary performances During the exhibition
the HanlOns were among the principal attractions
of the vast Ahambra of the Rue richer known un-
der the name OF the Folies Bergere. They are of
Irish origin. They wore. it seems predestined for
the peril0us profession which has rendered them so
famous, for they manifested irresistible pre-
dilection for it from the earliest infancy. They
entered the world by cutting somersaults.
A celebrated professor of gymnastics-John Lee
attracted by their precocous strength and agility
took charge OF their education and induced their
ton OF this eminent dsoque they travelled over the
Old and New Worlds at an age when ordinary chill
dren have scarcely learned to blow their noses.
They were everywhere enthusiastically welcomed
AS children they had successes that but few men
ever attain. They began to grow when Lee. their
professor and their guide. died at Havana He be-
queathed to his young pupils. whom he regarded in
the light of partners. the whole of his fortune
which amounted to more than $4,000. But the
legatees, knowing that the deceased had lett poor
relations, generously abandoned to the latter the
as a to afrm that in order wit to np posssss GOOD
sentiments man must know how to walk
on his hands but it is certain that there are not
many people in this selfish world of ours who would
to initiate them. Abandoned to themselves. the
Hanons continued their peregrnations after adding
to their name that OF their regretted professor thus
associating his memory with their future
One evening. without attracting more importance to
it than that of sort of accidental pastime, they
conceived the idea of varying their programme by
adding to it q short pantomime, which was almost
success, which kept on the increase during the
ceeding performances. And then they reasoned to
themselves thus logically
"Why should we continue to risk our lives in the
acrobatic feats which We have been long perform
ing. when chance has traced out for us q new and
successful career?"
And from acrobats they became pantomimists.
opening to their art fresh horizons, owing to
their ingenuity. their thirst for novelty. the sim
gularity OF their conceptions and their wonderful
powers OF execution. Proting Of their popularity,
the director of the Varieties fortunately conceived
the idea Of having piece written in which he could
utilize their talents. The authors Of the Voyage
Suisse" felt that they peed not give themselves
much trouble to amuse the public in connection
with such attractions SO they banished from their
piece everything which resembed imagination or
wit, depending the Hanlons to fill up the empti
of their plot and to replace by funny sonler-
sault gayety which was otherwise totally wanting.
The of the piece nevertheless very great
and tine most amusing feature of it that the
authors ended by believing that 1t was entirely due
to them. Thus at the first representation the pan
tonime in which the two cowns endeavor to escape
from the pursuit of couple OF gendarmes, was
ceved with triple round ofapplause upon which the
two authors fell into each others exclaiming:-
"How good it is to hear ones self applauded like
that!"
BELors "IA VENUS NoIRE."
am not among those who surprised in
dgnant on seeing clowns who are clever pantonim-
lists making an irruption into the theatrical domain
large place in dramatic art that IL care be not
takon it will end by absorbing it. The epoch is in
favor OF exhibitions. There is exhibitions very
complete one-of exotic animals in the geo.
graphical drama OF NJ. Adolphe Belot ''La Venus
Chateet. This piece belongs to tho class of dramas
inaugurated by the Tour du Monde Ell 80 Jours.
The venus Noire'' takes excursion to
Central Africa, and has the merit of opportune-
just at q time when tho general interest is
concentrated that still mysterious portion Of
globe. The scenery, the costumes, the access
sores of the most rigorous exactness. having
been executed from authentic drawings and models.
The is especially remarkable for its
realism. All the domestic animals OF Africa figure
in it, But in these soisdnt instructive pieces there
is always fantastic portion devo ed to imaginary
region In the "venus Noire" this portion is allo-
Gated to the country of the Amazons invented by
the author The management gave itself world
trouble recruit the inhabitants of this hitherto
unexpored country and for which it required about
thirty pretty women skilled as equestrans. NJ.
them. Whenever he heard OF q woman uniting the
necessary physical and equestrian qualities he at
..would you like to go the stage? was the first
question which he put to her.
"In what way?"
"On horseback in q superb costume, and in o
blaze of electric light!
or course she yielded to the temptation. for she
i'll this extraordinary exhibition an opportunity
of displaying her personal gifts 1t is useless to add
that application was only made to women belonging
to class of the denli-rnode. AS they
arrived at the theatre they given superb horse
which suited them WELL then an admirable costume
which suited them still better But one fine day
they told that they would have to blacken their
faces to give the local color. Half the impro
vised Amazons Indignantly rejected the pot of black.
ing which was offered them. 1t was at first intended
to have thirty of them, have just stated. but it
was found impossible to obtain more than fifteen.
GEOGRAPHY AT THE THKATRE.
1t was "La Venus Noirs" which furnished the OPP
portunity for al innovation worthy OF being en-
couraged NJ. Beot has installed in the foyer of the
Theatre du Chateet quite African museum, to
which the geographical societies. several celebrated
explorers and curiosity dealers have lent their rich
collections. The portrait of Henry NJ Stanley is
of the features which attract most attention. On be-
holding all these things feels ones self suddenly
seized with taste for travel, like the intrepid
Brasseur, who without seeking to penetrate to the
centre OF Africa has just made long and success
full tour before returning to open the thea
tire which he directs in Paris. The actor
manager OF the Nouveautes has taken to
initiate the habits of the ant. for he
works in the summer In order to live in the winter.
His pretty little theatre is situated in the centre of
Paris and has only been opened about year. 1t is
establishment destined to prosperous future.
but it has not had time yet to acquire patrons
Therefore Brasseur during the fine weather makes
tours in the provinces which bring him large sums.
which he spends in the winter. His tours usually
last three months. 1t requires small amount of
intelligence and activity to manage these theatrical
expeditions successfully. Actors when travelling
pass from one town to another with incredible
tivity. They play at night and travel all day. The
existence of the troupe is passed. 1t i'll rail-
road cars. They sleep in car they eat in car.
they rehearse in car. Brassour personally super