The sun., 1899-03-21
N. PODs FIRST LECTURE.
French Novelist Speaks at Adelphi College
on Shakesprars in France.

NJ Edouard Rod. the French novelist and
literary critic. delivered his first lecture within
the bounds Of the Greater New York. at Adel-
ph College In Brooklyn yesterday afternoon
before u large audience. 1t was inevitable. OF
course. as II was Brooklyn in the daytime. that
the audience should consist almost exclusively
OF women, young for the greater part and many
of them good looking--a pleasant contrast
doubtless to the lecturer after the Cambridge
and Boston faces he had drecently had before
him. NJ Rod comes to the United States on
the invitation OF the French Club OF Harvard
University following NJ. Doumic. who lee
tured last year. and NJ. Brunetinrc OF 1.-THE
Academic Francaise. who. under different
auspices. led the stream Of French lecturers
to this country NJ Rod. however. has much
heavier literary baggage to show than his pre-
dcccssurs. as he has written a score OF rhilo-
sophica romances besides volumes OF literary
and philosophical studies. He Is fairly sure OF
entering the French Academy before long. al
though. like NJ; Victor Chcrbuliez. he Is Swiss
by birth and education.
He is q little oyer ~ years OF agc, somewhat
resembling M. Brunotiere in appearance, with
his head, and. by the side OF the lady who in
troduced him seemed tall for Frenchman.
black trousers. This was probably duo to n.
Bru1etitres ,experience here. The little
criticised in America. so he had his clothes
made in London. He unlucklly selected the
trousers patterns himself with Gallc taste,
and returned to France unable to understand
why his trousers had attracted 80 much atten-
tion; NJ, Rod speaks in pleasant, con, con,
carry very far, His lecture. which was on the
iiyened With touches Of humor. N. Rod has a
trick OF smiling. when his eye catches a good
thing coming In his manuscript. that helps
! people who understand French to watch for
his points. and enables those who do not un-
After explaining the reasons why Shake
| speare had made little impression on France
for two centuries the chief being the difference
! in dramatic taste and the, worship OF the three
NOR OF the troubles the first adapters, had in
arranging his, plays to suit, French taste.
Romeo and Juliet" was made, to end with a
reconciliation OF the families aud the marriage
| Of black, and Hamlet was made to conform to
the unities by the substitution OF long recitals
for inconvcnient scenes. The first real impress
sion was made in the struggle Of the romanti-
fation Of "0thelo," but in spite OF admiration
| Shakespeare inspired mainly curiosity; Even
now the public applauds a tirade, fine
| verse or n phrase because 1t harmonzes with
French standards and not because it Is Shake, NJ
has lately published an authoritative book on
| the question. that Shakespeare has had com;
| paratively little influence on French taste. and
that the acceptance OF his work is only an cpl
modify the forms OF the French stage some
| what. but without touching the roots OF the ma
| tional feeling for classical tragedy.
tomorrow evening on "Cyrano de Bergerac, I,
| Tickets may he obtained from Prof. V. f.
ScharN at the college.