New-York tribune., 1908-05-24


French poet and dramatst who died yesterday
whole family grouped He was an idle child
lazy pupil but he already had number OF verses
scrbbled the margins OF his copy books Later
he was seized with avidity for reading, ana
completed his education with some degree of credlt
When he was yet scarcely more than boy MS
father died. and he found himself suddenly MADE
the head of the family. with his mother and one
sister dependent upon him for support He oD-
tained a clerkship in the War Department the IN
come of which was just enough to keep the not
boiling and then he went on in all his spare time,
writing poems stories and plays. Some OF his
poems printed in current periodicals, ana III
1856 thin volume of them was published emitted
LIE Reliouaire.'' This was noticed, year or two
later by Theophe Gautier in an official report on
the progress Of poetical literature He called it, in
two lines "a charming volume. promising and en-
tertaining" In the same report Sully-Prudhomme
had six lines of notice, Catulle Mendes half page
and Leconte de Lisle whole page. The two lines
were of service Coppee, however, and encour-
aged him TO put forward in 1868 4 second volume.
'rIutmites." Then Nine, Agar the popular ac-
tress. got hold Of one of his poems recited 1t in
public and pleased with 1t that she sought
the author in his little home at Montmartre, and
suggested to him that ne should write play for
her in which she and Sarah Bernhardt. then al
most novice on the stage, should appear. The
young poet eagerly accepted the proposition. and
in a few weeks produced lie Passant." which
produced at the Odeon in 1869, and immediate
and great success. OF his volumes of poems per
haps the best known is Les Humbles' (1S92). de-
voted TO the lives and joys OF the poor.
NJ Coppee then devoted his chief attention TO
dramatic composition, and found ready market
for his plays. The best known Of them, after lie
Passant." ''LAbandonnee'' and ''Fais ce que
dos," 1871; lie Bi1ou de Ia Devrance.'' 1877; lie
Luther de Cremone," produced the Theatre
Francois, in 1877; Nine. de Maintenon," 1881, and
Pour la Couronne," 1891 His collected plays fill
four volumes. He the author of a number of
prose tales. written chiefly in the SOS. Among
them are .FNie de Tristesse," ''Henrette,' Mime.
Nunu' and lie coucher de Soeil." In .'Toute Une
Jeunesse" he told the tale OF his career. For
several years he was attached to the library of
the Senate House and in 1873 appointed keeper
of the records at the Coincide Francaise. He was
made member of the French Academy in 1884
and four years later officer of the Legion of
Honor He married but lived with his
unmarried sister. In later years his home was in
a pretty little house in the Faubourg St Germain
His life always quiet, domestic and orderly.
without of bohenianism To the end of
his life he a prolific writer of both verse and
prose, and almost invariably his inspiration was
drawn from the lives of the poor and humble
His whole philosophy TO do good unto others
freely and instnctively.
Speaking to visitor few years ago. he
said Il have spent my life in trying preach
that idea There IS other salvation for So
the only remedy which will cure the injustice of
society What does this frightfu anarchism
mean but return to original ferocity caused by
lack Of goodness, Of charity, in the world? These
poor wretches are savage because they have found
nothing else but saVagery in society The disease
in France is caused by irregiou With
out religion there is but one course for society
To return TO force and anarchy. | am not a be-
lever in the dogmas of Christianity 1t is my
loss I deplore it every day. l envy those who
ofb halle
ision-all religions In my judgment the Chris
tian moral Is the most beautiful Thing on earth
the purest the nobest-and it is the very thing
which will save from destruction for what
is Christianity but sympathy for every poor
wretch and aid, without asking any questions?
He did not exactly believe in any literary
schools but if there to be one in the
future it would. he thought be humanitarian and
not "symbostic" Indeed. for symbolism and
other fads of fn de steele decadence he had
slight regard. Il don't see,' he Said what
these 'sy1nboiists' driving / like them:
they are charming fellows. they good enough
to show sympathy Why shouldn't like
each other? l don't do them any harm: l try to
apprecate them. But / can't appreciate a SYM
bolist | don't know what he means. 1 went
To one OF their gatherings and made a
speech There lot of verses read; they
were pretty verses. but they left cold: didn't
understand them They sang songs | en-
toyed that. One always enjoys song. you know
II isn't necessary that it anything But |
like them. they good fellows"
NJ Coppee a particularly approachable and
companionable man. capital company and an open
handed and big-hearted friend OF the poor Al
hcme one would find him in a scarlet working
ticket and skull cigarette at lip lounging in
an easy char before the fire He had many de-
voted friends among them Alexandra Dumas the
elder: AIphonse Daudet, Princess Mathilde who
FIRST brought him out" in society, in 1869 and
CatulIe Mendes He described himself as "a man
OF refinement who enjoys simple people; an aristo-
crat who loves the masses.
Two of NJ. Copree's plays under the titles For
the Crown and The Jacobtes' have been pro-
duced with good in this city within the last
years. The dramatist had been seriously III
for nearly a year in August. 1907. 1t was an
nounced that suffering from Intestinal
trouble and his death was expected in October
NJ Coppes had been in declining health for sew
sral years. Recently he had been confined 10 his
in condition OF complete heplessness The
end probably fastened by the death of
sister of whom he was extremely fond.