New-York tribune., 1901-03-24


experts the most important collection or hrs'
editions of French classic authors ever made.
The sale will begin Monday, and last during
the week. Among the books TO be sold Is an
original edition Of Esther" dated 1859. bound
in red morocco This book was presented to
Nine de Maintenon by Racine, and bears the
inscription in Recines handwriting: "A Madame
Ia Marquise de Masntenon, offert avec respect
Racine" The book is in excellent condition.
There is a "Celestine" original edition Of 1918;
only two other copies are known to be extant.
II is beautifully bound In dark blue morocco in
compart clents in the style OF the sixteenth CEN
tury with the arms and initials Of Louis NH
and Anne Of Austria, TO whom 1t belonged
Through the courtesy Of NJ. de VilleneuVes IL
brarian, l was enabled to examine this and other
treasures OF the collection and turn over the
leaves and scrutinize the covers and prints. III
is astonishing to find them in so fresh and per-
feet a condition. Malherbe is represented by an
original edition of 1880, bearing the arms of De
Thou, the unfortunate companion of Cinq-Mars.
There are all the editions of Mollere, from looo
10 1894 including the famous edition of l6o2
that belonged successfully to De la Reynie, lieu
tenant of police; to Armand Bertin and TO the
Count de MontaIivet the father-in-iaw OF NJ. de
Villeneuve This copy was for many years sup
posed 10 be unique for De la 'Reynie kept it for
himself just as it printed before the sup
pressions ordered by him had been made An
other copy however. made its rpearance at the
Rochebere sale in 1882. when it brought S'',2V'
All these books have passed through the hands
Of famous personages; among the scvereigns VINO
possessed copies were Anne Of Austria, Charles
TX Clement XI, Francis / and Francis H.
Henry ii. Henry III and Henry ~, Innocent
III. James III. Louis XIII. Louis XIV, Louis XIV
Louis XVI. Louis Philippe. Marie Antoinette'
Catherine de Medicis, Stanil9s Lecztnski and
Marguerite de Valois. Among other historical
personages to whom some OF the books OF the DE
Vileneuve collection once belonged are Bossuet
the Prince of Condo, Cardinal Mazarin, the
Narquise de Montespan. the Marquise de POM
padour Nine du Barry Prince Eugene and
Cardinal RicheIieu. There is a unique set Of
volumes relating TO ceremonial entrees Of kings
and queens into the city of Paris.
The Paris racing season promises TO be unusu
ally brilliant. A pleasant feature of the nat
races al the Maison Laftte yesterday was that
Mr. William X Vanderbilt broke the spell of i'll
luck which has for long time attended his
horses when his gelding Ontario II got home in
the hands Of the new American jockey, Edward
McJoynt. Indeed. Americans were well to the
fore yesterday for Rigby rode two winners Tor
the Menier stable. Mr.. Vanderbilt was present
at the races. HIS stable is popular here so also
are the American jockeys. and McJoynt came In
for an enthusiastic reception his return TO the
paddock
la Pente Douce' C'The Inclined Plane'D,
psychological analysis of society Irritation por-
trayed in four acts by Fernand Vanderem, was
produced on Wednesday night at the Vaudeville
Theatre, and well received by the somewhat
diettante audience of a Partisan first night |
Mime. Rejane enhanced the piquancy of this |
comedy Of manners by impartng girllike senti-
wifi prudence
TO the character OF Genevieve. a young married |
woman whose scarcely perceptible slide down an
inclined plane forms the subject Of the play. |
How affinity OF taste leads to friendship, then TO
fondness, which in turn grows into affection and
love between Genevieve and Clarence, the life
long friend OF Genevieve's husband, is deli
cately shown by author and actress. Genevieve
is not conscious that she really loves Clarence
until stolen kiss reveals the danger of further
propinquity. The development of a passion
which thr1ves under the eyes OF the honest and
unsuspecting husband constantly strains. but
never breaks. the checkrein of outward conven-
tionality and worldly propriety. The remarkable
feature Of La Pente Douce" is the introduction
Of new factor in the construction OF a comedy
by an adaptation in modern form Of the chorus
Of ancient Greek tragedy. NJ. Varderem accom-
plshed this by inventing the character OF
Savion. a fascinating man OF the world, OF
mature experience, whom GeneVleVe conSullS
and whose philosophical advice. impaired in
brilliant conversations occurring at regular in
tervals. dominates the whole play. The part Of
Savillon, admirably acted by NJ Huguenet has
the success of a novelty. La Pente Douce"
begins on a summer evening Lake Geneva |
There is lawn tennis match at Montreux,
promiscuous flirting, clandestine but innocent
rendezvous and a denouement in Paris where the |
lovers decide TO master their passion rather than
wreck the life of Genevieve's husband by re
vealing ii. There is true insight into human |
nature and literary excellence Of dialogue. but |
the play has the fault common to nearly all the |
productions OF the younger French dramatists. |
who fancy that a single clever idea can supply |
material for four acts; who sacrifice action TO |
rhetoric: who despise the sound stage tactics |
sequences, unexpected situations and ingenious |
surprises OF Dumas Scribe, Labiche and Sardou |
Consequently is forced to the conclusion |
that this delicate analysis Of hearts delciously |
acted by Rejane. would have had greater sue |
cess as a novel than as a play c. l. B.
TO ARBITRATE BOUNDARY DISPUTE.