New-York tribune., 1903-06-21
ROSTAND rs I'm ORATOR.
Reception of the 4uthor of "Cyrano
Into the French 4cademy.
Paris, June 9.


always a most impressive spectacle. but that OF
Edmond Rostand on Thursday was, in the opin-
ion of veteran AcademcianS more brIllIant thdn
that of Victor Hugo Alfred de Musset, VIC
3orien Sardou, Dumas fills or Paul boufSe'.
The author of "Cyrauo' and "LAigion. VINO
attained his thirty-ifth year on Apri l. Is d
very lucky man. He is not only the youngest
member of the Academy, but none Of the great
poets or men of letters Of the last century eh-
tered the nlustrious society at so early an age
I,amartine became an Academician at 1orts'
Victor Hugo at thirty-nine. Alfred de Nlgny a'
fortv-nine. Alfred de Musset at forty-two and
I.econte de Lisle at sixty-six. CASTOR Bolssiei'
peroetual secretary OF the Academy, declares
that within living memory no reception at 'iie
Palace of the Institute has called together SO
eminent an assembly or aroused such popular
enthusiasm as that of the young poet. Never
before has there been such demand for IN
vitations The reception room of the Institute
is CAPABLE of holding only fifteen hundred per-
sons. Over five thousand duly auallhed apph-
cants had to be refused. Academic SALONS anu
the Partisan world of letters had, indeed Ior
several weeks been wrought up to pltch OIL
excitement. The reception was the event OF tue
season, and Edmond Rostand is the hero Oh the
hour. Through the courtesy of M. CASTOR Bols-
sier The Tribune correspondent was able TO
secure lnVtallOn 10 llllS hlelaiy
The scene was one long to be remembered
The reception room is circular. with eight tlers
of seats covered with faded green velvet, ana
there are half dozen tribunes for favored spec
tators. At 1:3O o'clock the room was denseV
hacked All the seats filled A beVy OF
young ladies stood in the aisles. Nine. Bartet'
of the Comedie Francaise, Mime. LIE Barry
Nine Rejane, Mile Berthe Badi and many
other eminent actresses and artists were oohseo
to content themselves with seats on the steps
of the passageway. Mime. Loubet sat IN the
official box beside Vicomtesse Henri de Bornler'
widow of the deceased Academlcian and Iorhier
occupant of the thirteenth fauteul, to WHICH
Edmond Rostand succeeds. In the tripuhes
were Nine Paul Deschanel Comtesse EeHri
Houssaye. Nine Leconte de Lisle, Nine. Alexan-
DIRE Dumas Nine. Ludovic Halevy, Mime. Hyp-
polyte Taine, Nine Brunetiere, Nine. Emile
Olivier Nine. Henri Rochefort, Nine. Bodley ana
Nine Dieulafoy,-the last mentioned dressed as
usual in mans attire, wearing in the button
hole of her smartly cut frock coat the red rlDbon
of the Legion of Honor Near by were the TWO
sisters of Edmond Rostand-Mme. de Margerle,
wife of the councillor of the French Embassy at
Washington, and Nine. Mante Inc toheoie
F'rancaise was represented by Nine bartel oSAi
oness Pierre de Bourgoing, formerly Mile. f'elch-
emberg: Mile. Sorel Mounet Suliy' Coqueiin
cadet lie Bargy and Ballet Among the mum
dane celebrities were the Duchesse dues, Nine
E6na Rrice Comtesse de Nun, Comtesse Jean oe
CastelIane Comtesse d'Haussonvllle' Marqulae
da Beauvoir Comtesse Potocka, DuchesSe ue
Iuvnes Vicomtesse de Vogue Countess Gfel-
fuIbe and the Duchesse de Ia Rochetoucaula.
Art WAS represented by Carolus-Duran, Besnaru'
Jules Iefebvre Joseph Bail, Albert RoIl,
Edouard Detaille and the sculptors Puench Du-
Caip Mar There
silk and muslin and Nine. Sarah Bernhdrul
foated into the room, wearing dellclous gown
of white lace a mantle of silver gray, with golo
buttons a boa of Zbeline and a superb hat OF
pale green, with long, waving feathers OF varied
but delicate tones of green. The actress look
ing remarkably young was in fine spirits anu
hurnor She was accompanied by her son anu
bv CIairin the painter, and she chatted con-
1identiaIly for few moments with the Marquis
de Galliffet, ex-Minister of War. A feW mo
1nents later Nine. Edmond Rostand appeared
with her two children Maurice and Jean. Inc
wife of the poet wore exquisite dress OF pearl
white gauze with old lace insertions and panels
of hand painted flowers. The hat was OF rice
coIorad straw trimmed with pink roses which
were admirably becoming to her piond halr
and delicate roseate complexion. The clrcuiar
recaption room now contained fifteen hundred
persons representing Partisan intellect, culture,
fashion and refinement. More than half OF the
guests were women. and the perfect taste OF thelr
eIoIa NJ hair