The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-03

something that will suit me
and the taste OF the American
public at the same time. would like
TO bave it sparkle with bright dialogue
and funny situations, and then / would
Introduce popular songs and dances
and banjo playing, an instrument
which / am learning TO play" and
Mademoiselle pointed to a splendid
silvermounted banjo lying near by.
DO you like banjo muster
well, l can't saY that / find il mel
odious, but still there is something
original and piquant about it that is
strangely Attractive"
Talk ng about opera bouffe, can't
help thinking that il has seen its ba ct
days. The reign OF opera bouffe en-
ded when 0fsnbsch died. Where
will you find COMPOSER now who can
produce such operas az Grand Duchess,
Belle Helene aud Pericholef They don't
exist. The opera boutfe by French
companies is a thing OF the past.
Even II 0Genbaeh we're living
and could write more of his
brilliant operas, / doubt if
any French company playing them
could compete successfully with the
magnificent costuming, mise-en scene
and perfection of detail that character
ICES the comic operas row in New
York, such as the Mikado, NanOn and
others / could mention"
How does the American stage COM
pare with the French ?"
Taking New York az the standard
the difference is scarcely perceptible.
The improvement made In this respect
since | first came TO America lie simply
marvellous. You Americans advance
30 rapidly II takes ones breath away.
There is a theatre in New York,
Days, where plays are mounted with
fidelity to detail that is unrivalled
even in Paris. l have never seen a
play put upon the stage in France
30 perfect in every feature as
are the plays at Days Theatre.
He is a good mansger, and
the most perfect master of detail l
know OF anywhere. AS for actors,
America boasts OF a number of ad-
mirable artists. There's Mary Ander-
son. She's a great artistic and a lovely
woman, with voice that is simply
magnificent. II she has a faul. it is
that she is a trife cold. She lacks
passion and fire. Then you have
Clara Morris. Her Camille is superb.
Rose Coghlan is also a very fiue
artistic, and the charming lttle Lott /,
whom l am in love with, and Booth
aud Barrett and Jefferson, all great
actors."
"How do you rank Booth and Bar
rett ?"
81 consider B oh the greater actor,
though Barrett ia not to be despised.
In some things Booth is unapproach-
able. There is no one living who can
touch him 10 "Richelieu." His
"Richeheu" is great, great.
"The late Mccullough was also a
fine actor in classic roles, but not, in
my opinion, equal to either Barrett or
Booth. But it would be idle to at
tempt to name all the good actors you
have in America"
"How do you like the country as
compared with France?"
"Well, you see, ell my attachments
are in France because my mother lives
there and al my relatives. In many
things America is far ahead of France,
10 her railroads, for instance, and her
hotels. We can't travel near as COM
foitably there as you do here. The
comforts that surround one in hotels
here, the baths, the hot and cold wa
ter, the electric bells and all those
little adjuncts to luxury and ease,
you won't find them there, while in
railroads you are century ahead Of
them. l can't see why we don't adopt
these improvements, but somehow we
don't. The fact that they owe theii
origin to another country ought not to
make any difference" and Mademoi
selle looked puzzled Having exhausted
every available topic, the reporter took
his leave, after thanking Mademoiselle
for her complaisanCe.
Don't mention il" shereplied, with
characteristic French politsness; at ID
/ who am honored."