The Washington times., 1902-10-12

Soaoe NC hdu Ueeu playwright, and
even Racine had out of regard to the
church to acknowledge that there was
'one stain" upon his memory, namely
that he had been a dramatic poet.
Actors were even during the reign of
King Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis
XIV and Louis XVI denied the sacra-
ment of marriage. An attempt was icade
to get around this by arranging that the
actor who desired to marry should re-
nounce his profession, returning thereto
by order of the King after the perform
ance OF the ceremonies. But the Cardinal
Archbishop of Paris on learning this
refused to accord the sacrament of mar
rfage to any actor who could not pro-
duce an official paper guaranteeing him
against ever returning to the stage. and
the same archbishop suspended priest
from his ecclesiastical functions because
he had inadvertently married an actor.
And now We hear of the supreme head
of the church at Rome according the
honor of private audience to a cele-
brated trasedienne, and imparting to her
his special blessing. and the Archbishop
Of York entertaining Sir Henry Irving
at his palace of Bishopsthorp. all of
which goes to show that we have reach
ed more enlightened age where great
er charity and broad -mindedness pre-
vail.
g..
eminent Of European actors who have
not received tokens of monarchical
recognition endowing them with social
status above that of their ordinary fell
low citizens. Thus. whereas the first
Napoleon absolutely declined TO confer
the Cross of the Legion of Honor upon
the celebrated actor Talma, who had
helped him to organize the famous
Comedie Franchise, and who had
taught him not only the art of deport-
ment. but also that of oratory, besides
fulfilling a number of confidential mis-
sions for him. there are today at least
dozen of the leading French actors
whose buttonholes are adorned with
the red ribbon of the Legion Of Honor.
The Emperor of Austria has con-
ferred hereditary nobility upon the
popular and veteran Viennese actor Won
Sonnenthal, while in the same way the |
German comedian Haas has been en-
nobled by the German Emperor. Queen !
Victoria conferred knighthood upon |
Henry Irving and Bancroft, while King |
has granted similar distinc-
ton to that equally popular Anglo !
American actor, Charles Wyndham, who |
served throughout the civil war in this
country as cavalry surgeon. Besides
this. the De Reszkes have been deco
rated with the Victorian Order and
everything possible has been done to eff
face the memory of the fact that In
the days of Shakespeare the members
Of the dramatic profession were judi
cially regarded as vagrants, md, from
a social point of view. as menials
l should add that Eleanora Duse is
by no means the first well-known ac-
.ress who has been received by the
Pope. He accorded an audience TO the
viennese footlight favorite, Katie
Schratt. 1t is true that the latter was
in Italy at the time as
member of the suite of the Countess
rrani, that Bourbon princess who, of
3avarian birth, is sister of the late
Empress of Austria. But the countess
would not have selected Nine. Schratt
Is her travelling companion, nor I
would Leo XIII have received her along
With the princess in private audience.
lad there remained any of the social
" ecclesiastical prejudices concerning