The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-12
ZOLA'S LIZ REEVE"
SET TO Music.
One Of the Latest Attractions Presented
to PariSianS.
Synopsis Of the 0pera-A Monument to Cham
pionnet-War on the Maybugs-An
Army With Wooden Guns.
Special Paris Letter to THE CALL.

PARIS, June %, 1S91-At last one Of
Emile Zola's novels has been set to music
and presented at the Opera Comique
LIE Reeve" 0he DREAM, the only pure
work ever produced by this great writer. is
the subject of a libretto by Louis Gallet
Monsieur Bruneau, who has written the
music. evidently considers music as a
means, not an end. He does not believe
that music should be written to show to adj
vantage the qualities of singer because he
has excluded from his work airs, romances,
cantilenes and choruses. This opera is
certainly work of sincerity, and, al
though the "Reve," unsteady speaking,
cannot be called success, Monsieur
Bruneau is the boldest, most advanced
| among young French composers, and some
day his name will be famous. Louis Gallet
has preserved the slightest details OF the
novel: In the first act we are in the shop of
Hubert, the maker of sacerdotal vestments.
Angelique, the young girl, who. as a babe,
was found on tie steps of the cathedral by
the artisan and his wife, is working on a
stole for the Bishop. Alone, in this little
room, painted gray and white. with lowered
paper, chintZ-coyered furniture, here and
there an unfinished stole-alone, in the
midst Of these golden ornaments, these
lives OF saints, Angelique thinks no more
of her daily life, but gives herself up to
dreams.
When the revery disappears the young
girl bursts out laughing. Now she wishes
to love and be loved; she knows that the
Prince Charming" is not far away, and she
will marry no one but him.
Hubertine, the stepmOther, speaks of Fe-
licien. the hero, who passes at that moment.
The second scene represents AngeliQue
washing clothes in brook, and Felcien
makes known his love.
The third scene is the Fete Dieu. The
bell rings, the procession leaves the Bishops
house. Angeque is at her window, holding
basket of roses. Suddenly she becomes
pale; she recognizes that Felcen is son of
the Bishop. She mad dreamed this, and she
was not deceived. Fellcien's mother died
in giving him birth. and only afterward did
Monsieur 'Hauteceur become priest.
In the next act Feicien asks the hand of
Angeligue, but the Bishop refuses his con-
sent. because his son is dedicated to the
church. Angelque implores the Bishop and
he sends her away; she knows that her hap
piness is ended and believes that even Fell
Glen loves her no more. Angelique dreams
constantly and sorrow is fast undermining
her health. One day in her room appears
Felicen, who informs her that lie has heard
OF her sufferingS and that he loves her still.
He proposes flight, but she answers, mo!
no! | cannot! Then she relates her viz
ions aud tells of the voices to which she
constantly listens. Death is preferable to
dishonor and Felicien goes out in despair.
The next scene is the finest of all, an ex-
PLANTATION between Fe.icen and his father.
The son says that Angeique is dying, that
she has refused to flee with him and begS his
fathers consent. In burst of anger he
says, You never loved my mother"
Then the Bishop tells his son TO lead the
way, and says, Gods will is my will"
They reach Augelique's bedside, aud the
Bishop besses the dying GIRL "Asperges
me Domino Nyssopo, Ell munclabOr, lavabis
me ct super niveur deal labor"
The Bishop recalls the miracles of his
race, invokes Saint Agnes, prays and en-
braces Angelique The dying girl opens her
eyes, her dream is fulfilled, and she restored
to her lover.
Great impression was produced by the re-
cital of Angellque in the second act, the
meeting between Angelique and Felicien,
with the pealing organ heard in the distance,
| the scene of the procession, that between
father-ands san, and Last The miracle
Never has Mile. Simonuet shown greater
| talent than i'll the role Of Angeique. and
| the role OF Bishop is one of NJ. BOuvet's best
| creations The other artists are mediocre
but the mise en- scene Is superb in all its de-
| tails.
The French have a mania for erecting
statues to their heroes; for the moment
we are giving monuments to BalZac, Hon.
den and Victor Hugo. Yesterday it was
decided that ChamDiUnnet also should have
his statue Champonnet was q hero a
cOmrade of Hoche and Marceau. who, al
though he had not the glory of dying on the
field OF battle, really accomplished wonders,
Championnet fought at Fleurus; after the
death of HCche he commanded the Vendean
army. but Jourdan soon called him TO Italy
In order TO command the Roman ARMY. 1t
was a miserable army, without shoes, with
out clothing, without bread and without
ammunition, eight thousand men against
$4,000 NeapOltans. but he conquered.
San Gennalo was the patron saint of the
Neapolitans, and his statue is between
Naples and Vesuvius; the arms of the saint
are outstretched as if protecting Naples and
whenever San Gennaio is satisfied blood
flows from his, wounds. The lazzaron were
implacable enemies of the French army,
but Championnet thought of trick by
which he might conquer them. He an
nounced publicly that he would consult San
GennaiO. One version says that he placed
in the hands of the faithful operator 800
louis, and another, that he whispered in his
ear. IF San Gennaio does not bleed imme-
diately you will be shot"
San GennaiO bled, proof that he was
satisfied and the Neapolitans were con-
Quered.
Championnet died in 1900, at Autibes,
while he commanded an army that was
without aid, without hope. He made super
human efforts to save his troops, but too
great was the distress and the unfortunate
commander died from fever.
Those who have resolved to erect statue
to Championnet are the Felibres, society
of litterateurs from Provence, of which
Mistral, the poet, is President. 1t is not
often that poets subscribe money to erect
statues in honor of generals, but now they
seem determined to add patriotism to talent
The May-bugs are the enemies of Guilt
vators in France and Belgium. In France
there is a society formed for the purpose of
destroying these insects, and the society
began operations in 1887 Work has begun
in the Department of the Majenne, and the
insects are bought at the rate of cent per
pound. The eXterminators earn about 81 n
day each, and already sumo $4,000. 600 of
these insects have been destroyed. The
number is easily known, as there are about
1900 insects in a pound.
This is a very necessary war, because the
damage done by the May-bugs is enormous:
one year they devastated TO the value of
S5,000,000 The French do not use so much
ceremony as the Belgians in their war with
the insects. Every year the Belgian May
bug hunters meet at the Hal and together
march to Saint Job. locality especially fire.
quented by the annoying insects. These
hunters have costume composed of linen
trousers. blue blouse, leather boots and hel.
met, with white plume. They carry game
bags, gourds. hunting knives and wooden
guns. The chiefs carry swords and are
named Majors, Lieutenants, etc.
When, a few days ago, this valorous array
began its march, the Queen passed In her
phaeton, the Major ordered "halt," the men
presented arms and her Majesty felt that
she had one more troop of heroes ready to
do her bidding.