New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-22
&" NINETY THREE"
VICTOR HUGOS WORK PRESENTED IN
DRAMATIC FORM
LrnoM rnE R-eULAn coRREsrosDEN- or rnE TnInrxE.l

Victor Hugo's "Ninetv-I hrcc or Civil War"
was brought out on Christmas Eve nj the Gazette in
q tiled form by NJ. Paul Meurce, editor of the
Eappc and the afectionate and generating disciple
of the lustrious poet. II is prodigiously sensa-
tonal but not in the bad sense Of the word.
Shakespeare's plays abound IN sensations, but the
English master III the dramatic art IN eiectrfying the
nerves gives nurIment to the mind and broadens the
affections bv noble appeaIs to them. OF Victor
Hugo this may also be said Indeed think he
manifests greater tenderness than Shakespeare for
the suffering small ones Of humanity. on whom the
vices Of social and political constitutions press most
heavily "Ninetv-Three' IL essentially human
itarian and epic. VI Paul Meurce has reiigiously
adhered to the spirit of Victor IIugOs work in
adapting it for the stage. II was easy task to
bring down the colossal episodes Of he romance to
stage dimensions. The difficulties were turned by
separating the play into tabeaus or scenes, instead
of dividing II INTO acts. and then subdivldlng IT,
This plan was followed in the "Miscribles.' One
tableau follows upon the other So rapidly that the
interest never flags. From beginning 10 end the
spectator is interested and excited. The finest emo
lions of the heart worked upon As to the scenic
effects. they arranged with astonishing art and
are in perfect harmony with the subject of the play.
Victor Hugos father Blue and s0dier
of the Revolution. His mother was on the Vendean
adhered with Celtic tenacty to the political gospel
of her childhood and brought her three up in
it. They required a wider belief when they
grew mp But the lessons received at their mothers
knee and the legends which they heard from her
lips made deep impression on the poet IL quitting
bis Vrndeau creed he was disrespetlul renegade.
Whenever he had occasion in after life 10 write
about the Whites" he did the fullest justice to
their heroic qualities. One feels that they deserved
TO be- Republicans. The hero Of "Niuety-three is
the Marquis de Lanteuac. a Legitimst.
AlthouLh the drama, after the romance, is called
Ouatre- agt trei-e the scene in the first tatnau Is
laid M l792, IN the wood Of La Saadra The tanglc
Of brilrs backthorn and copse Is extremely pc
turcsque. Thirty greuadrrs Of the volunteers of
Sautcrne have been detached ~ e"jairears. and
beating Che underwood. Sergeant Rddoub heads
them IiraHdiGc in iauntv military costume is
with them. suddenly one Of the Crenadicr> pulls
up in the attnde of setter dog tie hears something
str in the bushes. j. it animal; is it a" White
The other soldiers, obcying q sign he makes,
surround the SPOT VII re the vegetation Is IN motion
and ain their blHnderbusses at It. Their fingers
are On the triggers. Ready Present they eve
the leader, Rad1uJ, TO watch for his signal to FIRE
AS the word is ON hl, lip. the TiraHdiere cries
" Hold, Don't fire, brave lads" She PUSHES into
ne bIuAuNV tl IutI lOlloWs II WIZ ltoA NlilbAl
. cause that the grass and br1mbles moved. In the
thckest part of the copse there is one of those
round spaces which are produced Icy the burning of
small branches to make charcoal II l. shaded with
overarchng trees, and forms a natural arbor.
woman Is seated on the messy border of
the black round space with a baby
at her breast and two fair-haIred children
asleep against her knees The Trandiers is yirago,
but a good-hearted creature. She flies into pas
-lou At the upid woman for coming to be shot
ike hare or rabbit in forest which soldiers ara
beating. Are You crazy" she asks. Who ever
heard Of such a mad woman The poor mother is
van. famished and in rags. She tells her story with
pathetic simplicity and yet an air of tragic
grandeur for it is Mime. Marie Laurent who plays
his part. Her native village has been burned,
and she ran from it with her babes in haste, as
her naked feet and theirs show. Her name
is Michele F,ecbarde. All her family are dead
her husband was killed a week back behind a
hedge. By whom" asks the TiraHdiere BY the
Blues"
Marie Laurent IL very grand actress. The
tragic sentiment is the dominant one in her. She
expresses it with ease, dignity, and beautiful sim
1liity. The soldiers aud the TirGpdere continue
heir nterrogatons They learn that old FlechGrde
her father was beaten almost 10 death with crab
rec stick for killing q rabbit in the warren Of
nobaman One Of her grandparents |
lad been sent to the galleys as a |
Iuguenot on the priests denunciatOn, and |
another hanged by the King formanufacturng salt !
or ms porri O. ont Of sea Her husband had |
lied fighting for priest, king and mobiles. May |
Did Scratch take them all. the Internal tyrlnnical
,rrtesw cries Granadier Sergeant Rad0ub gives |
lis ration of bread to the mother, who gives it to
he paintings that cling to her skirts. The baby |
miles at him and stretches out its little arms \
ear is brushed hastily from the rough cheek of the
older. Comrades he SAYS, d" conclude from
III this that the battalion l. going /
o become a father What do you al |
hinkf You agree, don't vou' We therefore adopt
hese three children " gire Ia Repujique!H is
ne answer. aud the baby is handed around to be
mbraced by its collective father. Aud so, Rene
-ap. Gros-Alain and GeorJette, the tinv bantlIng
re the epfqpts du battalion In Bonnet Roule. This
Gene is u delicious one Nt.bclie Fiel5Gr5e heayes
sigh Of relief when the soldiers have kissed and
andled her babe, and she and they 60 of.
I'm the next tableau. the village VII re Rqiogb and
us greuaIicrs are quar;ered surrounded and
rel. Most of the soldiers perish m the flames
nd in fighting The survivors are wounded
nd prisoners "What are We 10 do with
hem - asks y Vend-an Of his chief tine Mar
nj, de Ldpteaac. Shoot them" " And the two
-omen?" NO doubt they are rs dangerous vernin
S the men. Give them also their quietus." And
he three chldrenT Rrug them here. We shall
eclde when we see them" The two women are the
'irqndere and Michele Nechdr3e -Four balls sent
trough the head Of the former; the latter i only
rounded. When the Whites" retire a beggar picks
or up, takes her TO hls hat and cures her. When
le has regained consciousness and some strength
he calls for her children, and Will not be COM
,rted because the mrndicant ignores their fate.
Where are they' What has become of them ?
We're they too shot down like Wild animals
ficbeiie quits the hut and goes wandering through
Il VenGre in search Of her babes. BY day and
i.lt i'm stnrrn min wind miro ON she gnes hanc-