New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-28

Copyright by c. Gersche)
Chanticler" arrived in Paris from Cambo. and
he ready to begin the rehearsal Of the play. in
which NJ. CoQuelin. who had the leading part, was
expected to duplicate his famous success obtained
in NJ Rostand's 'Cyrano de Bergerac." Tester-
day NJ. CoqueIin recited gayly long passages of
lie Chanticler'' to some of his friends.
The French press pays high tribute to the
genius of NJ Coquelin. whom 1t considers to have
been one of the greatest theatrical figures Of the
age. Almost all the papers recall his last success
in Sardous The Poison Affair
The Temps" says: M. Coquen will be mourned
by every one-by the authors, of whom he the
brilliant interpreter; by the public. of whom he
the idol; by the great and humble and by
poor actors of whom he the benefactor.'
on behalf of President Faleres NJ. Narenae the
Presidents secretary. left here tonight for Point
aux-Dames to pay his respects to the memory or
the distinguished actor The funeral will he neid
on Friday at Pont-aux-Dames NJ. Coquelin hav-
ing expressed desire 10 be buried in the Gene
terry of the Home for Aged Actors, Of which insti-
tuition he the originator.
Edmond Rostand. the poet and playwright. ar
rived at Pont-aux-D Danes during the evening. He
is heartbroken over the death OF NJ Coqlelin- lie
went Immediately TO the house where the ueau
actor Law entered the death chamber and remained
long time gazing the features of the great IN
terpreter whom he cherished a warm friend
Death has taken another famous actor in Benot-
January q. 1871. His father was tradesman, and
Constant in boyhood. aDprentced TO his
fathers trade.-that OF baker Early IN YOUTH
however. he manifested dramatic propensity ana
talent and means provided Of promoting his
ambition to become al actor. he was ADMITTED 10
the Conserv atoire, In the French capital on De
cernber g 1889 and he enjoyed the advantage OF
tuition under the care of that exceptionally aole
actor the distinguished Regner. When only nine
teen years old he obtained Dply 1850 the second
prize at that school, for merit in comedy. In the
same year he became member Of the Theatre
Francais company. making his first appearance
there on December I. 1850, GrosRene. in Dept
Amoreux The Love TIN. On December 80,
1863 he was elected "societaire" of the Coincide
FRANCHISE During the next twenty-three years lie
remained in the service OF the national theatre of
France acting many parts. winning extensive pop-
uIarity, and becoming more and more proficient IN
his profession and famous In the esteem Of his
countrymen He then decided. his conspicuous
associate Sarah Bernhardt had done to break away
from the Coincide. and TO pursue an independent
course which he expected to find at once more
agreeable and more remunerative. In 1885 having
formed a dramatic company, in association with
that potential deeply interesting actress Jane
Hading. he TO America. making his FIRST ap-
pearance in New York october of that year. at
Palmer's Theatre then first opened. as Mascerile.
in Les PreclAuses Ridicules.' and Noel. IN La
Joie Fait Peur.'' The audience was numerous and
sympa hetic. and the comedian welcomed with
prudg1ous enthusiasm. His acting Of Msscarille.
always excellent was that occasion. more than
commonly effective. and I'm that character. as we'll
as m Noel he evinced that complete mastery OF
technical method, that consummate knowledge of
the machinery Of his profession. for which, 1T all
times till the last. he particularly dtStin
guished. Nine. Hadipg did not appear that night,
except as a spectator Of her associates success,
October that actress was happily disclosed,
as Claire de Beaulieu, in lie Maitre de Forge
CThe Iron Master). in which part'she charmed the
public by her winning personality. and made de-
lightful impression, only deepened by the several
performanc noes that she subsequently gave. The
gagement lasted three weeks, ending on October q,
and the Coquelin company then proceeded tour
Of American cities lasting till the spring of 1889,
when It returned 10 France.
On reaching Paris,-tha dissensons with the
Coincide FRANCHISE remaining unassuaged,-- Coque-
lin acted a time the Porte Saint Martin The
atre, but presently he rejoined the Francais. and
there he continued for about three years
He then again left the Coincide and another visit
TO America arranged for him, and In January
1894 he again acted in New York. appearing in as
soclation with Jane Hading and a selected company
at Abbey's Theatre NOW called the Knckerboc
where he we'll received. though not with the
exceptional enthusiasm that had attended his orig
inaI advent here. His temperance in Paris. after
that professional tour had ended. signalized by
a lawsuit and ultimately he commanded to pay
a fine, to rejon the Theatre Francais. and to for
felt 10000 francs If did not so by Septem-
Der J. 1899. He did not return. At the Porte Saint
Martin Theatre, in October 1899 he Chicot in
La Dame de Monsoreau,' and in the following De-
cember he attempted the part of Jean Vatican In
drama based Victor Hugo's famous novel.
CoqueIn wrote and published several treatises
relative to the theatre. among them being "LArt
ct le Comedien." 'doliere ct lie Misanthrope.' "Un
poete -philosophe Sully Prudhomne." Les Come
dfens, par Comedien' "LArnolphe de Moiere."
and in. collaboration with his brother "LArt de
dire nonologe." At time he had the bad taste
to write publish criticism referring. by name.
to his distinguis contemporary. Henry Irving.
His dissertation began with the doctrine that
actor should always merge his individuality in the
character, and ended with the precept that
actors individuality should never be merged. The
English actor. a restrained temperate effective
article replied, and completely discounted his adj
versary.
The strong personality that Coquelin possessed
flor he was of the most self assertive and
compacent of mem. combined with positive talents
and great industry. made him a very prominent
hs,,re on the European stage, and his death means
the extinction of d fine Intelligence, restless
shirt and conspicuous celebrity. He not.
however A man of genius, and he has not exerted
a great influence the stage. He played many
narts anu in some of them he admirable for
his fidelity TO the surfaces OF nature and for the
exceeding skill of his executive art: but he lacked
ip,arination poetry, and power. and he especially
lacked distinction His artistic personality
invariably bourgeois. Within his limit he
an excellent actor, but his limit was narrow. His
most popular performance was that OF Cyrano de
Isergerac first given in Paris in 1897 ard made
6r-7ericl when he made his last visit to