Evening star., 1880-02-14
THE COMEDIE FRANCAISE.
Management and Profits of the Sub.
AidiZeG Iheafar.
[Paris Correspondent of the London Timesl

IParis Correspondent of the London Timesl
The Minister OF Fine Arts has just approved
the balance-sheet OF the Theatre Franchise for
1879. and this institution being not only subsi-
died by the state, but considered a national
one, it may be OF interest TO the English public
who extended to the acto.s for six weeks a re-
ception, not only cordial, bat more lucrative
than was hitherto supposed, to know for once
the amount and distribution OF the profits. The
years receipts were 2,4I6 6Os francs; the exPen-
diture 2,0O6, ,462 fraGcs; the profit being thus
about 20 per cent. The London visits Included
receipts N3,6s5 francs, and expenses 12I.7Ss
Iancs taus or nsarT showing e surplus Of 5ss
ceipts. The London visit, moreover, enabled the
building to be restored, so that it was great
success, sue S. ever even from a peeuniary standpoint.
But, In fact, for the state subsidy of 27O,0O0
francs, the London profit of 10000 francs, and
the exemption from rent equal to at least 100 900
francs, the Coincide Franchise would have had
denc1t OF 10000 or 10000 francs. AS to the dis
trlbu11on OF the profits, it must be remembered
that there are two classes Of actors-the socie-
tGaeS and the pensionltGiTes. The former, who
alone divide the profits, are elected by COM
mittee, and receive a fixed proportion, calcu-
lated on what Is called a GOazienla Thus
tWelve-twelfths signify whole share, and so on.
was like many others, under the impression
that 1t was possible to possess more than
full share, but l see no instance of this In
the balance-sheet. OF the share in the profits
which accrues to the societdires, only a half
accrues to them at once. The other half.
with wise foresight, is lent to Mont de Plete.
where 1t remains TO the s0cietdire's credit till
LILO VI IcJiItIuBut LII dQulllDn 10
each societdire has salary corresponding to
the dOuzieDeeS at the rate OF 1000 francs pei
twelfth part. Thus a sociotdGa who has twelve
twelfthS gets 12, 900 francs salary, one who has
Seyen-tWelfthS gets 1000 francs, and so on.
There must also be added what are called les
.ft1Lr-that Is to say, 10 francs, | believe, for
every time soctetdn.e plays, and the profits of
representations outside, which are not easily
estimated. out of what remains after the dis
tribut1on Of the profits, the pensio,aaaires re-
ceive. not q fixed part, but bonus decided
cal figures can be given for the sOcietaheS
only. Here are those of 1s7s:-MM. Got.
Belaunay Mambant Goquen Ma1 PeSvre Thi
vart, Jouassatn, Croizette, and Sara Bern
hardt have each 10000 francs salary, and a
full share in the profits, which for 1879 is
deposited at the Mont de PiGtG. This forms an
immediate income of "a 900 francs for each, and
deferred capital of 10000 francs. To this
must be added kind of bonus, taken from what
is called "the Ministerial reserve" given to the
Oldest societa6es, ana which varies between
1000 francs and 5000 francs for some OF the
exhibition.yielded $4,000 francs per full share,
and the total profits of the society exceeded
10000 francs. NJ. Mounet-Sully gets ten
francs Of the profits. still W divided I Into into
two parts. NJ. La Roche, seven-twelfths
and half, or 1900 francs salary, and
and Reiehemberg receive nine-twelfths Nine.
Ediie Riquer. eight-twelfths; NJ. Barre and Mlle
Baretta, seven-twelfths; Nine. Broisat, six
twelIths; Nine. Dinah-Felix, six-twelfths and
half; NJ. Coquelin, jr., and Mile. Samary, the
youngest members, four-tWelfths and half
that Is to say, 450O francs salary and 900 francs
OF the profits. The 90 SECRETARIES thus receive
100000 francs as the profits Of last year, and
21SO06 francs as salary-that is to say total
OF 654.0G0 francs of which 21S,0OO francs is de-
posted as a reserve tor their retirement. The
receipts OF the Socetdries it will have been seen
do not quite amount to a third of the general
expenses, and from this 1t may be concluded
that their profits are not in excess of their de-
serts or OF the exacttng business to which they
devote their every effort.