New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-14

iron girders, filed in with mortar and masonry
Passing some new buildings just going up ON the
Avenue de POpera the other day, was startled
by fearful clatter, as of whole machine shop
going to pieces, and saw group of work
men unloading dray load of just such immen
Orders, which / might have thought meant for :
man-of:war or sea-going steamer save for this pre-
yous hint. AS American dentists are said to be the
best in the world, because the Americans have tho
worst teeth perhaps the law of evolution may de-
rive the exceptional excellence of the Fire
Department. from the wretched shinge and card
board construction of the houses.
A day or two ago allowed myself francs worth
front parquet seat for the great success of the sea-
son, Paieron's !" lie Monde on Pom Sennuie," at the
Theatre Francois. At the risk of repeating what
your readers may have heard before, should like
"A Tedious Set of People" hints at the neral scope
satrize the prggishness of the French bureaucraoy
with a side slap at the blue-stocking SEN
Of ts appeT cSs he fSS
Matilda-lke way of defying clever men of letters,
which are as old as the Hotel Rambouillet and
Mollere Indeed, there is one scene where the pOpu
lar professor, Bel lac. discourses to- group of admir-
ing female disciples the abstract nature of Love,
the " Femmes Sayantes," The real plot turns the
conversion of the hero, Roger, from budding savant
ana a scenthc pTlg to good warm hearty every day
signed letter and the misunderstanding and jealous
les therefrom arising. The piece seems to me,
hasty hearing, admirable throughout, and that the
Parsians think so is clear from the fact that it has
run fifty sixty nights already, is the bill three
times a week. and draws full houses in midsummer
The character drawing is strong and yivacous, the
action close and consequent, and the dialogue brill
an occasional breadth of phrase, the action siiua
ton and language are almost absolutely free from
faint.
AS for the interpretation how is one to say any
thing new about such oft-painted lilies as the come
dians OF the Rue kchelieuY Yet it is subject
over with atfectionate delight. Some one once said
OF Brlgnoli that the sight of hiInor the sound of
n d S the awful pemanence of the Pyra-
over me when l caught sight, the other night. of
Madeline Brohan ana Delaunay, whom used to
worship at long range far far back in the old days
when the Fifth Avenue Hotel as yet was not and
Union Square was far uptown. Yet here they were
again bright with the freshness of perennial Youth
rs II they drank OF some 50atdne de la jOurence I'M
kncwn to nleaner mortals, as charming as ever and
seemingly, only the mellower for the years which
sure has dropped her roles of grane coquete or lead
ing Lady, ,o and taken take the part of d.egne,
As the Duchesse, with her slvery (stage locks,
dazzling teeth and sparkling smile her shrewd
mochina of French high comedy-she is the most
perfect picture of the traditional grande dame that
could well be IMAGINED, such an one About and
feulllet delight to draw and Musset and Augier to
set upon the stage. Whether the actual parsonage
eXlsti-or will ever eXist-n American society
whether we should be the better OIL tor her if we had
her, may remain open question but certainly
Tor dramatic purposes she forms the most service
able, interesting, and altogether delightful alton
on the modern stage.
Delaunay is called sixty-fve years old and looks
thirty 1--WE to forty little less prompt and grace
fu IN gesture and movement, perhaps put the same
exquisite purity of diction the same treInulous RIM
OF the voice III emotional passages the same subtle
sweetness OF lntonatlon, which make him. even now
the only man who can really till the sort of char
acter-the best style OF walking gentleman
winch he has made SO completely his own. His
declaration i'll the conservatory the most perfect
piece OF love-makng have ever seen; and it was
easy to fancy that II might, from the lips OF a scxa-
genaran, have subjugated Il schoolgirl of seven
teen 1t would be I o long to tell in detail of The
rest OF the cast, but do remember ever seeing
inner nigh comedy effect than the second act with
say dozen people or more the stage at once and
each excellent IN his peculiar walk. Was il the
Carthagnian Ambassador who said that the Roman
senate seemed To him assemblage OF kings I
Fancy an entire theatrical troupe, and large one
made up entirely of stars '