New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-26
THE FRENCH ACADEMY.
RECEPTION OF EUGENE LABICHE.

WITH THE UILANs-THE ACADEMY INVADED BY
TIDE OF MODERN LIFF.
JIroM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNE.l
PARIS. Now 26.-That luckicst of lucky men,
Eugene Labiche, was received yesterday at the
Academic Franchise and to crown his luck he
read there a set speech about which the serious and
frivolous, the literary and superficial members of
les dRciean0 o0uches sOcldies have ever since been
raving Labiche composed his harangue just as
the spirit moved him to write it, In every para
graph ii is felicitous, and throughout varied and
natural. Sarccy was lecturing about IT before the
newspapers had caught IT up in the afternoon, and
pronounced il the most charming masterpiece OF its
kind that he eyer listened to in the Academy.
Labiche writes drolI plays Tor the Palas Royal.
1Io is Paul de Kock less the Dutch coarseness of
that novelist. Irish Catholic priests used to teach
their fair penitents that so long as they kept
laughing their guardian angel never deserted them.
play which was from beginning ~ end hilarious
might, therefore, be witnessed without injury to the
soul Judged by this criterion, Labiche is per
fectly harmless. No writer has ever been a cause
Of more side splitting ninth: aud no Academician
ever spoke with more penetrating JUNCTION the
power of religion to keep human nature sweet.
lenetcent, and digniticd than he dld yesterday in
prasing his Jansenst predecessor, and describing
his hearth home. and family lite.
Labichc, as was anticipated, read his speech more
than Enthusiastically. Those who listened for
got il was a monoogue. AS q successful dramatic
author he has had great experience in the quality
81 an clocutlonist. Since 1872 he has constantly
written amusing dramas for the Palais Royal, and
before each PLAY accepted he read it 10 a com
mIttec of management. There is great relief in
ms style; there no forced anIthescS; still CON
tIaSting passages and ideas abound which come as
though OF themselves without beng fetched by
the author Of tire harancue. Wit sparkes every
find ir IN. ll.HNV
ecuiaty. The fdbulis- La F0ntaine, called
" Zee Bonhomme" and 50 ought TO be the successor
at the Academy OF the late " de Sacy.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF IABICHF.
Iabiche has a good supple voice for reading.
The tone is a medium one. and there is sustaining
power in the throat and chest. His cnunclation
is clear little slow. buj varied in It's effects. and
always natural Nature and good-naturc have full
sway in Labchc. lie Is absolutely free from stagi-
Joss. | could imagine greater treat than TO
hear Labche often read the letters he Is IN the
habit Of receiving from hi. old and intimate friend,
Emile Angler. and the answers that ne returns
The new Acadcmcian. though he has been writ
ing since 1SI2 for The Ialai> Royal Theatre has
not grown oll-faslioncd. lie is a Qujct-lookng
elderly gcHtleman comfortably stout, and looking
younger than his years. Ills face is heavy, and if
thin might be sQuaIely angular. The mouth Is
beautifully formed, and, IS French mouths gcncr-
ally are which made 10 inter witty sayings. is
wide. His laughing spirit is lodged in the eyes
which me expressive of C0micality and good
humor The line, Of the face not remarkable in
any way In IFS general tenor, Labchc'> life has
been tranquil and well regulated. He has been
rich enough from youth upward to lire ont his own
life. Joe-trot domestic happiness has constantly
been his lot. and he has succeeded in every work he
has undertaken. In his friendships he has been
peculiarly fortunate Labiche leads the healthy
existence Of a country gentleman in the Chateau
dc L&ndai>. in the SoOgue. lie has reclaimed
about 5000 acres of what used to be Improbable
moor ana has converted IL into rich farm on
which swiss village of which he is the Mayor
has sprung up since he went to live there. The
farm is his serious ,ogcupation. Surplus energy
alone goes into the Palas Royal channel. 1t
amuscs him in the long evenings to write funny
plays III which the butt Tor his ninth IS the urban |
bourgeois. lie is on his estate jack of all trades
and professions. and consulted by the villagers
about their own naladcs and those of their cattle
about their law affairs also; and 1t not unire-
ouently happens that the old folks come and ask
hl to write their letters They all call him
Msieu le Maire" and he calls himself lc Marie a
tout Faire" or the Cheap Jack Of the Commune.
WIT IN WARFARE.
He was at his civic post in the SoOgne when the
German invasion was sweeping over France, and
he played some tricks the invaders, inspired by
his tarccal Palais Royal muse. One day the Mayor
OF ncIghb0ring village came driving up the
avenue at Landais to consult the Chatelain on an
affair of major Importance. He was pale from APP
pIehensiOn. What is the natter quoth
Iahiche "Ilave the Prussians taken your wife as
q hostage Y' No. But tire Grand Duke of
Srbne;lendord 1.-THE real name of his Hghness the |
witty author can never IecOllcct has come with |
re.nue Of officers and Chans ana they swear they
will pllagc the house if do not send them today
in time for dinner 200 bottles OF Chateau Laitte
Two hundred bottles" repeated the frightened |
NavOr Where am / ever 10 lind them IN TINS |
Solopne wilderness? Unless" Unless what y |
said Labchc "Oh, ! hardly dare say it" Say |
ont. man. and don't be afraid "Unless You ccde |
them to me. | will pay you ten twelve, fourteen, |
sixteen twenty francs bottle if YOU choose to ask
that price ana set il down TO the charge Of the |
Commune" And You think" replied Lablchc, |
that am going 10 let those PTussians swirl them.
selves with my choice wines! IN not such TOOL
But, good NJ Labiche,D snpphcated the Mayor.
lust think moment OF ali the brlc-a-blac theY |
would have pretext 1oI l0othR; o. o. "4 liot
mean at all that you are 10 be looted But nave
an idea What is II :" You have some eX- |
ccrablc yin ordinaire. Well. just 20 home. III |
give YOU 200 empty bottles with f9ulllac marx;
EiU them with your OrdinaiTc, seal The corkS: and
send them to his Highness the Grand Duke As
I ahirhe a1 vised him. so the frightened Mayor did.
ILc Grand Duke and his officers never suspected
the trick that PLAYED npon them, ana the pre-
Cons brc-a-brac was not looted. .,,o ..o,oo
avenue brandishing swords and III apparent fury. |
Franc -tireurs had been annoying tao invaders and
I obiche knew it. The moment he saw them he
took his wife by the shoulders and pushed her over
fo the piauo and said "Quick! quck stllhe up
y ort;ncntal waltz" She. more dead than alive, |
"hcved. The husband then throw open the win
dows and running into the hall stood wth ms PACK
10 the entrance door, at which a uhlali Knocked.
When a servant girl ran to open it, the master
6erkoncd 10 her to return TO the kitchen. lie
opened when the waltz had time TO produce Its
etfcrt ON the Germans, whose anger rs he judged III
,yonid be. was softened by the music. They were
hing toward the window not to lose note:
= I;nIe fonnd them in a mood TO negotiate and
before they left summoned young ladies' on visit
10 In lg-rn