The morning call., 1891-03-29
The BGt0lialS Present a Varied
Programme This Week.
EUSIE'S FIRST CONCERT TONIGHT.
Great Success Of "A Texas Steer Another
S88l-Iiglt Of The Two Sisters "-EaS-
ter week PoTi0lei Out at the TiTOli.
The EIil5S Confined at The AlClglT.
MT. William Beach Recovering Music
Events in Prospect Albert DGIDit'S New
PLAY at the Paris Oda0l.


The Baroness Althea Salvador, special
correspondent Of THE CALL, writing from
Paris under date March 9th. gives the follow
ing particulars of Delpit's last stage-work,
&" Passiannement" "a dramatization of the
late Ad0Iph Belots noveD, just produced at
the Od-ou Theater. and also some interesting
facts concerning the author himself. The
play, according to the correspondent, is half
tragedy ard half comedy, and would have
been much more successful at the Naude-
vile titan at one Of the classical halls Of
Paris. The plot is not very interesting, and
the author has been much more inspired in
previous plays be has written. Delpit had
much diff Guilty with 'PasSionnement" lie
wrote and TewrOte it twice, if not three
times. because he feared that the play was
too dramatic in action. Here the author
had recourse 10 the advice of Alexandra
d umas. who told him that only the fourth
act OF a play should be really dramatic.
PREVIOUS WORK.
O My few years ago did Albert Delpit
make his debut in the dramatic world; how
ever, he wrote many comedies in verse,
comedies that never were heard by any one
hut Dumas. Looking back now Monsieur
Delpit laughs when he thinks of Dumas
patience in listening TO these dry, unlnter-
esjing comedies for they were poured into
his friendly ears with not line, not word,
omitted Delpit's first comedy, think, was
represented at the Odeon Theater, and his
second, the Fills de Coralie,' at the Gym
nase TheGter. After these came "Pere de
Martial" "Maucrove" and "MademOiselle
de BreSsier" at the Coincide FraucalSe-
When Delpit writes novel lie always ar
ranges it with reference to the play that IS
10 be drawn from II IN the future; he writes
one novel each year and only works four
DIV frft a II fr hS
he meditates on the preparation OF his work
and only SIX months are devoted to placing
il on paper.
Albert Delpit prefers noyel-writing to the
position Of dramatic author. In the first
place he knows In advance how many cop
les If lis novel Will be sold and how much
money he viii receive for his work As to
fame he affirms at the present time that
troubles him not in the least After he has
finished two comedies that he is now writ
mg with Henri AIeilhac and Lavedan, NJ.
Delpit Will consider his work as dramatic
author ended
PERSONAL HISTORY.
Although Albert Delpit was born in New
Orleans he considers himself in no sense an
American. To some one who spoke of his
birthplace he said: 1T is an insult to call
me aught but French. My father and
mother were French, my grandfather and
grandmother were French, and because my
father had tobacco plantations IN Louisiana
that is no reasen why l should be called
American"
But Delpits father hoped that he would
be willing to cultivate tobacco in America
and succeed him as proprietor. More than
that, when the young Albert was placed IN
a Paris school lie expressed so firmly his de-
termination not to carry out his fathers
wishes that the father refused him any
money. Obliged to earn his own living he
became secretary OF Alexandra Dumas
pere. When the elder Dumas died lie rec
Ummended to his son the talented secre-
tary, and to-day Albert Delpit owes much to
the friendship of Alexandra Dumas lls.
N. Uelpit has most agreeable souvenirs
Of Dumas pere; he says that the great
writer was goodness itself, and although he
only paid his secretary $40 a month, the lat
ter, spendthrift, as he calls himself, was
never allowed to suffer for lack OF money.
One day the secretary wished to go to an
opera bail, but alas, he had no money!
With great fTankness he explained his de-
sire and his pecunlary situation to Dumas.
Il was bushiBg like a schooI-bOy, but
had courage to ask the maitre for loan of
two dollars.
1.-Two dollarsP exclaimed the great man.
What Will you do with ten francs, my
boy! Ten fr mes will not pay your supper
and the other necessary details of ball at
the opera. Here are twenty dollars !!
DelpIt relates that the confidence between
Dumas and his son was most touching.
" heneYer the father had play ready for
representation the son was always present
al The rehearsals, and never did the father
consider his play arranged for the public
before the son had given his approval.
This lie with the two Dumas gave Del
lit ambition for the theater, but Dumas
cOunsels were wisely followed. Said he:
as You are too young TO understand what is
needed for theatrical representations; be an
apprentice; work first as dramatic critic,
and III this way you will become thoroughly
alQuain ted with all that Is necessary for the
career OF dramatic author" That advice
was given twenty-five years ago, and Delpit
became dramatic critic Of three journals,
the Petit Moniteur, Mousquetalre and
D'Artagnau.
The Franco-Prussian War interrupted
his work, but Delpit proved himself soldier
as well as writer. He was decorated for
his bravery during many battles, aud after
the war resumed his work as critic, this
time for the GaulOis, Figaro, La Liberte
and Paris.
As critic, Albert Delpit has fought not
few duels. Perhaps the most celebrated
one was that caused by an article ON REALS
tic writer's. The critic wrote the article in
the mostly kindly manner, but what was his
hOrr on opening the Paris, in whith the
article was published, to discover that the
type-setter had turned his fine phrases into
horrible epithets. There was no explana-
ton possible, and duel was inevitable.
The realistic writer's drew lots, and it was
Paul Alexis who crossed swords with Delpit
THE AUTHORS HOME.
The home Of the author is in the Avenue
Percier, between the Boulevard Haussmann
and tie Faubourg Saint Honore; here he
has collected very fine library, and on his
walls may be seen many pictures of merit,
some originals and some copies. The most
noticeable, perhaps, is a copy OF Luc-O Olivier
MersOn's Flight Into Egypt" made by the
painter especially for his friend, the
dramatic author.
Albert Delphi is an enthusiastic traveller,
and when he tires of Paris he makes studies
in Spain, Italy and the Orient.
The Bostonians
Made such decided hit last week at the
Baldwin in the De Koven-Smith opera,
Robin Hood" with its free-rnging lyrics
aud admirably arranged concerted music,
that, by the solicitation Of many who adj
mire the work of the composer, as well as
the talent of the artists who put it into
voice and action, they have consented to
give up tile coming Wednesday evening for
a final performance. The programme for
the present week-the last-will stand as
follows:
Monday" MlgDon"