The New York herald., 1879-11-23
PARIS At THE THEATRE.
Establishing Popular Opera Under
Princely Patronage.
HUSSON AND MARTINEZ.
Jules Claretie's Drama of Revo-
lutionary Days.
PARIS. Nov. 8. 1879.

lar Opera a musical theatre which aspires to the
character of a great democratic institution. For
wears past thero has been much discussion. so
much declam alton. the necessity Of an opors for
the people, apart from that of the aristocracy that
many we'll mentioned persons have become sim
cercly persuaded that it is want that has made it.
self seriously felt. The idea has obtained all the
more parisans from the fact that 1t seemed all the
more opportune and that it became the special duty
Of the Republic to realize it. But in truth, the hui
manitarian theorists and philosophers who desire to
refine popular by diffusing taste for music
among the masses exhibit solicitude that is per-
fectly useless From the TOP to the bottom of the
social scale tho French in general and Parisans in
particular, are by means muscally inclined.
The majority of the people who go to the opera go
only for fashions sake. and bore themselves there
half the time The musical preferences of the
masses not of very elevated character. LA
File de Nine. Angot." LA Marseillsise. Lies
Cloches do Corneville." and 'LAmant dam anda"
seem to them, each in its style, OF melodious
merit far superior to that of the chefs dourrc Of
Rossini, Mozart or Meyerbeer.
1t would. therefore. be much simpler to acknowl-
EDGE after the unfortunate experiences of the past
that third musical theatre would have chance OF
success and that next TO the Grand Opera and tho
Opera Comique. the public care only for the music
of the operetta. which pleases and amuses them.
Unforunately no to proclaim this fact from
the OF being treated profane It is that il
there continues to be a question Of the popular
opera and of theatre lyrique in official circles.
great epresscea is exhibited to reestablish the old
subvention without which those theatres cannot
lst The government postpones action until the
Chambers and to keep the candidate directors
patient it is prodiga of encouraging assurances; on
the other hand the Deputies and Senator'S assailed
with similar demands. declare themselves ready to
vote the subvention soon as the government pro-
poses it.
PATRIOTIC MINISTER TURQUET.
This state Of things may last indefinitely. tho
reflection having occurred to two ingenious specua-
tors they determined force the Minister to action
and with this view hired . theatre-the Gazette
where lyrical enterprise of the character had
already failed. They adopted for tho new establish
ment tho title of the Opera Populaire. "In this
way" they said to themselves. "having secured
possession the title shall compel the govern
ment to give the subvention."
Since then there has appeared in the newspapers
. succession Of skilfully written articles appealing
TO the government in favor of the two clever specu-
lstors, MN. Huason and Martinez But the intervep-
tion Of the press has proved absolutely useless
Tho government has persisted in its abstention.
And when the two directors impatient. finding that
cided to wait upon the Minister. NJ. Turquet foel-
ingly squeezed their hands and said to them in
tone full OF emotiOn:-
..Cest bten. You have undertaken q noble and
generous enterprise. 1t remained for patriots to
prove that there need Of the denters Of the
taxpayers for the foundation OF popular opera.
Your initiative alone will sufhcc.
Despite all this these gentlemen do not despair Of
obtaining official aid. They hope to get it by
induyins in prodgalities which is s the more easy
for them nasmuch az they have capitalist at their
back who il rich generous and devoted to them.the
moreover. predilection for difficult enterprises.
and would not be easy to enumerste the theatres
that he has already sustained with his money. The
two partners have not been individually fortunate
in the business which they have hitherto under
besides it is worthy of romsrk that In France it Is
generally people who have never succeeded in any
thing to whom capitalists arc most ready to accord
their confidence.
SKETCH OF THE DIRECTORS.
Notwithstanding their managerial misfortunes. it
cannot be contested that the two proeges of NJ. de
Rouvilis possess certain artistic and administers
tive capacity. M. Husson Is an old provincial man
agsr He was long At the head of one one Of our arst
settles. where he produced the most celebrated
artists of the day Ambitious to carry things the
highest point of perfection and grandeur he endei.
notwithstanding his large receipts. by falling vic
tim TO the insufiiciency of the municipal subventon
and his exaggerated expenditure. He came to Paris
to accomplish the OF the dearest object Of
his ambition. What he aims at what he hopes to at
tain. is tine direction OF the Grand Opera.
''why should 1 not obtain it-he csme from the
provinces like mysefr'
And yet NJ. Husson would be ready to make conces-
sions In regard to the amount of the subvention-
always. of course. In keeping M. do Rouville as
conmandttdire.
The second director OF the Opera Populaire. M.
Martinez. is better known to the Parisians He was
then of the Theatre Lyrque-a theatre lyrique
without Subvention, which he installed in subter-
ranesn salle-a sort of dramatic cave, which has
n horO n ut-
fractions prurent little vaudevilles and
of the year, Athenee Comique. Previous 10 that
he had already been engaged in different entcrprises
the souvenirs Of which have been lost to memory.
and in which he uniformly unsuccessful. But
net are the crcu instances which enabled him to get
capital to back him the first time.
A DRAMA IN REAL LIFE,
II Was the 24th OF February, 154S. Louis Philippe
tion. Tho Chamber of Deputies was invaded. as is
generally the case on such occasions. The fallen
power was defended by no one. II was abandoned
even by the Deputies. the majority OF whom had 80
This historical moment. in the miast Of . popular
drama. that occurred the of maternal heroism
tho memory of which has become legendary. Every
one knows that the Duchcssc dOrleans. accompanied
by two or three faithful servants, and holding the
little Cone de Paris by the hand fearessly traversed
penetrate into the Corps Legislatif and get her
recognized by the representatives of the nation
sne successor OF his grandfather, Louis Philippe:
Equally we'll known is the reply made to her appeal
from the tribune by Lamartine-"H est trop tdrd."
was not without effort. in fact, that the courag-
oous princess succeeded in reaching the hemic vcIc
Of the Assembly. She found there such a peie inss
Of mon, women and National Guards that she Was
near fanting In the midst OF them. Notwithstanding
the energy which still sustained her For fow mo-
ments the surging OF the crowd separated her from
the Comte do Paris; the child whom she had Just
presented to the people and to the Corps Lgsiatif
had disappeared. One can conceive the anguish Of
che mother and Of those who had accompanied her
Everything was to be apprehopdcd at such q mo-
mont and in such n mob. Suddenly oficor Of
tho National Guard made his way into tho thickest
OF the crowd setxing the child. replaced him
the arms of tho Duchess, who exclamed:--
Your name. monsieur wish to learn the name
Of the man who has saved my child.
''Aitesse.' respectfully replied the ofhcer. my
name 10 Martinez"
From that time the name Of Martinez" became
dear TO the Orleans family.
whenever M. Martinez opened . new theatre he
could count tho substantial support OF tho
Princes. when exilcd from the soil Of France their
money could all the same penetrate there, and II
failed TO do In his favor. NJ Martinez never
having been able to count . successful engagement