New-York tribune., 1886-01-10
SAPHO.
THE LATEST FRENCH PLAY.


The.tre mtimated that Alphonse Daudet had not
shown his usual talent in his last book Sapho."
Could it be that his literary powers we're already
in a declinef M. koning replied in the polite
terms for which the subtitle French language is so
admirably adapted, that it was my Ignorance
which prevented me from approaching "Sapho"
that in tho estimation of all serious critics. Daudet
in this last work had won the rank among authors
which ne had not attained before. and which they
never thought him capable of reaching. But to my
remark that probably mt representing more
than tho usual amount of ignorance displayed by
the world Mt large aud that the drama must be
Judged by that ignorant public, he replied tDat
much of the matter of the book would be changed in
the play "Sapho" would unrol itself like" La Dame
aux Camoas" or" Manon Lescaat." lie then told mo
that ON first reading the book be thought no play
could be drawn from it. He consulted his friends.
some of whom are experts at dramatzine novels:
they all agreed that it was finely Written book, but
no piece could he made ont of it.
Ono morning. about eight months ago, NJ. Daudet
and NJ. AdOlphs I5elot came to NJ. konings once
and asked to Oc invited to luncheon; they had
surprise for him by way of dessert-the reading OF
Saphor dramatiLod Then growing bold. they
EXPRESSED the wish to have Jane Hading Tor the
title role. What, Hadng play Sdpao " eXclalmcd
n. Kou,np She would be dead failure You
authors. undaunted. read the piece. The manager
of the Gymnase Immediately became enthusiastic
over It, saw great in it, and it was at once
agreed that Jane Iladiug would test her dramatic
talent in Transforming herself into personliicatlOn
| of the demi-mondc. Poor Hadlng to identify her
self completely with the part, was obliged to learn
To smoke cigarettes. Several times she made her
| self very il IN the attompt but the transformation
must he complete aud without smoking Hapho Is
! not SdPho.
Tho book from which the play Is taken is
| intended to be a moral lesson to young men, and
| the writer dedicated it to his sons, to be read by
| tGcIu when they have attained the aye OF twenty
| I am afraid that the morality gathered from the
story will never atone for its instruction IN per-
! nicious knowledge which its readers mi 5ht other
wise never have acquired. The morality which the
| French anlhors OF to-day nculcate IN the growing
! generation has no analogy with that taught IN tho
| Eibl. | once overheard part of u conversation on
| this matter between IA gentleman who has several
| da,ightrrs and Arsono liOussaye. our last book
/ Les Milo ct uno Viergos. is certainly not the
| most moral book in the world. | should not allow
! my daughter, to road it," SAID tie old gentleman.
| WHY not 7" asked lloussaye: consider 1t very
| moral book vice is punished III 1t throughout
Yes. bat pretend to educate my dalsntrrs 50
! that th.y viii never know that snch vice oAlsts.
: Ihcn YOU educate them tor Angels IN Heaven. and
! not tor sensible women on Garth
! SAphu" the play ~ a series OF amnNing tableauH
,,itLout any relation TO plot or solution ut plot IL
aim, IT nothIug and attains u nothing In tue hrSI
! ,rt J1nDv ictrdHt or .dphO. who has made the
| ucnuniuttnte OF j. az GdaSSln At IN artists masked
L,iI m I'nr.- comes INTO Ddasoia's study where hc
| i, at work. Jane lladng plays TINS act WIN
! rnu,um,nato arr she opens the door So quietly
that Gaussln does not perceive her as sne enio
she il very simply dressed IN street costume ot he
/ hutropn velvet and cashmere; her c9aIuiing Iar Iare
hat shaded by the broad brlm oil ier hat Win
! a I,ror ycll thrown over II, her pnrasoi IN hani.
| Inn mad not told her that he had moved. but she
/ l,d fnuud him ont. After tho trst greeting. which
ia NOT very cuthusaNtlc on the part ot tue studcut
| Iapuy $, at. herself at the piano and sings an
! o\uu,,Ito Provcucal song IuIi Oh burning "ofus
/ and ni the warm -uusuluc OF tho south bdfrnR Is
! nrttv, of Provence ami he listens with rapture.
| Wulie she bcss him to remain at bis work she ~ Ill
cuuro-sr, as attention with questions about his new
aparlu,,nt and she concludes. alter looking aOout
| nrr that lie viii stay with him ana pay the part
of The necessary housekeeper, giving weight 10 her
| wish by telling .jeln GGHssn how chcapiy she eau
i'v cui mar, utensils aud how nicely sbo eau sew
buttuns on shirts. Jane hadlng puts on III thiS at
tuc stud eel art Vi woman VINO hI' eOiiectcu V.c
low manners of ner early tralhlng III contact WIN
! ,,,t,iIi,ont and weli-hrcd mon. Now and then sue
betrny, her low extraction by crossing her handS
over her elevated knee. by indulgnG IN a dahchH
s,rp Which recalls tho pCblc balls. or by allowing
a word 10 escape her lips which strongly suggests
| tho ubiectionhbie vocabulary OF her former
n,.ori,teS. But this ronghness is generally con
tro.d nv her wish to please lean. who inspires her
With freak of genuine oyo which soitens her into
a auict. wcll-behaVcd girl ,
:
scnu,s ot separations and reCouc llht!ons. III tie
nth and last act SaDko decides TO go BACK u hvi
first love. a prisoner VINO mas Just oeeh teledoo".
What constitutes the attraction OF the play Is not
tho subiect-nattcr: 1t IS the gay ana interesting
misc IN scene, the accessories the witty savings ana
rrnnrt.es IN which it abUunds, the insight INTO me
i'm Provence when the discOnsolate Jedh goes oacH
10 IN. aunt. the living frame IN when these Two
disagrreable people move ana nave tner oelhB
and ever, ono uttsrs sigh OF rei'ei "neh odPno
- i,st ronclu,es 60 wind up tho series of recOnci
i1tinnS. and act part that the tired audepce IL
not Obliged to witness III; !,
macmillan in its arrangements. Fow seats are SOLD
and hve times the usual price OF seat or OoA j.
often given with the feeling that more tnan lul
crmnensation has been obtained for the money
Thr seats and boxes are all reserved Tor the press
for the cream of the artistic world, te nlSn Omcial
nf Government and the sOVeIegnS ol society. Inc
onnlr1t;1us luT tickets often exceed uYo ana Sly
times the capacity OF sitting ana standing room III
tho theatre. Hence the audience AT q nrst repre-
srntntlOn is ~ Interesting as tho novelty given Oh
the stage In tue pirterre ono generally sees .
curious medley OI noted critics. OF gayIy nrcssed
actresses renowned artists md authors. and enter
,ri.iuy theatrical managers. The actresses during
the nance arc all Try ing 10 eaten gesture oi
on exnrnssi,n which may be applied tn their Owr
NO Al tins first performances OF Sapho" there
were many nOtabities In the hrst row OF Tue
portelre was VI. BOwitz, OF Ihe London ines wht
during the entire acts busted himself IN talking it
the fascinating Nine. Samary. ot the COmc'Ii'
FraIcaIse doubtless cOnplimentlng her on mel
successful creation OF tho traditional vixen
XnoGvue i'm 4" La Femme do Socrate." Behind was
tho dark severe looking Jules Clarctie. who ha
inst been nominated director of the most pertec
theatre in the world. the COmedie Francalse. III
was engaged in conversation with the irowzy
healed Alexandra Dumas very likely trying Il
obtain new play from the author for his house; IL
the snme row of seats stood tho caustic AlOer
Woln of the Paris FigarO who with tranclsqu'
Snrcey is SAID to have the power to make the repn
tatou of an artist with II stroke OF his pen. III
.sidon, sne1ks 10 any one even between the acts
his thou yhts are lett for print Further back
recognized the king of journalistic sarcasm. Alber
Millnud lie sat next to the handsome Jeann
Cranier ths most celebrated aud admired oper!
LomIIe singer aud actress in Paris, after Nine
.Judic NJ Albert Mllaud has just arrived iron
| Nrw.York where he no doubt has found some new
subects for hbretos of opera b0u1es, work u
, which he has no competitor. Not TAR from him wa
} the handsome painter. Carolus Duran; graceiuIil
nosiup as usual Above, in ono OF the boxes CT th
nrst tiers one perceived the witty Arsene Houssay