New-York tribune., 1902-03-16

Of his regret for her capriciousness Nine. Sarah
replies that IT is impossible to produce the play
before Easter and says the refusal Of NJ. Men
des TO return the manuscripts prevents her
going on with rehearsals. and concludes: With
tears drown my illusions. hopes. admiration
and friendship for the man. I emerge from the
crisis bruised in mind and body, but with the
determination as long as I live never TO see
Catulle Mendes any more"
To appreciate this decision which seems ir
revocable. it should be stated that the Paris
periodicals have been publishing each day col
umns Of kilograms, letters and telephone mes
sages exchanged between the actress and the
poet in which they treat each other with such
effusive terms as beloved friend "despotic
sovereign" "capricious angel" and delicious
poet" In conversation with the Tribune cor
respondent to-day Nine. Sarah exclaimed: eff
the split is final, all the more pity, because. as
I was saying 'Therese' Is a truly splendid
play
Two books that the Paris book dealers this
week say they selling the most are Victor
Hugos "Derniere Gerbe' and "FlorIse Bon
heur," the latter being the story Of Partisan
dressmaker's apprentice, by Adolphe Brisson,
the son-in-law Of the late Francisque sarcey.
NJ. Brisson, while engaged in making studies
Of Socialism for the Temps" chanced to meet
a sprightly working girl. living at Montmartre,
whose father was a mason whose brother. was
a carpenter and whose mother was a cruel,
stingy virago NJ. Brisson lived for months with
these people, recording their sayings and doings
with marvellous eXactitude of detail. All the
observations are set forth in picturesque. at
tractive language, forming a truthful romance
OF the Partisan life Of to-day. which induces the
French literary critics to characterize the work
as human document which promises to at
tain the rank Of a classic"
The booksellers say that there Is a marked
falling off in the demand for works by Zola,
but that Anatole France is steadily gaining in
popularity. The tendency Of the season also
shows increased demand for historical me-
moirs. souvenirs of history and travels. The
Partisan novelette, is having bad time of It.
The French read fewer books than years
ago, but they are now more eclectic, and the
books they do read must be OF a higher grade
Intellectually well morally. The halcyon
days OF the meretricious yellow novel; seem,
happily to have departed.
The spring concerts and musical receptions
are now in full swing. Chamber music has at
tanned a higher excellence in Paris than has
been the case for some years. At the Princesse
Alexandra de Bibesco's musical in the Rue de
Courceles the Russian pianist, Ossp Gabrto-
WITCH made quite hit to-day. Nine. Marchesi
Ottyu and Miss Juliet sondheim, of St Louis
whose readings Of the great German masters
were full Of depth and color, the unison and
technique of the Misses Sondheim being pro-
nounced by Partisan critics as exceedingly
dainty and brilliant. Among those who
pressed appreciation of the recitals OF these
clever American girls were the Infanta EuIalie
and the Infanta Isabella OF Spain. Countess d'Eu
and Sir Campbell Clarke. Among the prominent
pupils Of Nine. Marchesi who sang to-day were
Miss Parkinson, Miss Hockenhull and Miss
Leloir, all Americans with most promising
voices. Other musicals highly appreciated this
week were those given by Nine de Bernardaky
where Lassalle sang one Of Schumann's songs,
which was enthusiastically applauded- A musi-
cal matinee also given by Mr.. Holman
Black. where Mile. Yvonne de Treville an Amer
lean with superb voice, scored a well de-
served success, and where NJ. Hardy's style
and dictum admired Mrs. w. ]. Todd,
who has rented the studio and house Of Fred
erick Bridgman. the American painter in the
Boulevard Malesherbes, gave a musical on
Thursday, where the young American barytone
Arthur Philips, sang tastefully and with excel
lent diction. NJ Coudert. the talented American
tenor, heard to advantage with Miss
Dorigny. contralto OF fine power and quality
at q musical given by Nine Berthelot at her
residence in the Avenue Henri Martin.
c. L B.