El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-28

6eIF Louis XIV and Napoleon had
not lived and the Coincide
Franchise had not been created
by royal decree, there would not be
much of historical interest in France
! remarked an American tourist short
time ago upon his return from Paris
While the generalization is eXtrava-
CANT, it is a fact that the names Of
these two great rulers and of this pow
erful dramatic organization are more
closely associated i'll the public mind
with the French nation than any other
array of personages or group Of insti-
tutiOnS.
The Coincide Franchise occupies
place of prominence in the world OF
dramatic art, and has maintained the
position almost since its creation by
Louis XIV, when he decreed that the
three rival theatrical organization
Kings company, Moliere's, the company
OF the Marais theater and the Royal
company-shouId combine in 1880. 1t
is practically the only royal institu-
, ton of France which survived the reyo-
luton Napoleon gave it 4 new home
and revived it by his decree from Mos
cow in 1912. Its handsome theater, a
treasure house of records was burned
in 1900. but was rebuilt with a govern
ment appropriation.
How 1t Is Governed.
1t is governed in a most peculiar man
ner- In fact, no one seems to know
exactly what its code is. Its laws are
rather common law, which has grown
out of tradition. When a promising
young student graduates from the Con-
servatory. the national training school
for actors, he may be employed at
yearly salary to play minor roles. After
he has been in the employ of the thea
ter for several years, shows aptitude,
M nff her
through death or retirement, he is elect
ed one of the associates" As an as
sociate he shares in the annual profits
of the istitution, which are sometimes
considerable as the institution receives
an annual subsidy of $4,000 francs from
the government, and in addition
ceives the theater free of rent and
taxes.
One of the best features of the or
ganization is that actors cast for minor
parts do not quit in disgust They
know that while they may be playing
the parts of maids and men servants to-
day, tomorrow they may be cast for
principal roles, as one play is seldom
given more than two days in success
sion. and three days a week for the
same play is the limit. BY this means
OF rotating the actors and actresses the
ensemble excellence of the casts is made
easily the finest in the world.
One reason why actors do not COM
plain of appearing in minor roles is that
they are given small extra stipend
for every performance in which they
take part. There is no Iaziness or ten
permentaT' illness there. When an actor
has grown too old to do capable work
he is retired on a pension. In the d.
vision of the annual profits the actors
are ranked according to length Of ser
vice.
Antipafhy to Stars.
One of the features of the Coincide
Franchise which strikes Americans most
forcibly is its uncOmpromising attitude
in opposition to the starring system,
which is such an integral part of the
stage in both England and America.
And this antipathy to stars is we'll
founded at the comedie. for it's one ex-
perience in that direction was fraught
with much artistic and financial dis
tress.
The single exception was the great
Rachel, who packed the theater to the
doors every night that she appeared.
bringing into the box office 10000
francs upon each appearance. all of
which went into her own pockets On
the nights which the star did not ap-
pear. however. the theater was practical
ly empty On one occasion it is .re-
corded that "Tartufe" and Legacy" the
two masterpieces of Moiiere and Mari
vaux, were produced without the star
and the receipts were 81 francs. or
$3.50
But Rachel had been elevated to the
position of a star because in the opinion
of her associates she was the greatest
actress in the history of the world One
critic, Mr.. Lewes, described her thus:
Rachel was the panther Of the stage;
with a panther's terrible beauty and un-
dulating grace. she moved and stood.
glared and sprang'
Discovered by American.
1t Is not generally known that the
honor of discovering this great artistic
belongs to an American. When Edwin
Forrest was in Europe in 1884 and 1885
he was asked by the manager Of a Paris
theater to give his opinion Of an actor
of whom the manager expected much
At the conclusion of the performance
Forrest said he thought the man only
mediocre. but he added But that Jew
ish looking girl. that little bag of bones.
with the marble face and the flaming
eyes here is 6er7oniacal power in her
If she lives and does not burn out !
soon she will become something won !
derful"
And it was not long before the bag
or bones arrived. but there was lots
OF work before she reached the top. NJ /
Legouve. the author of "Adrienne Lee |
relates that on one occasion
she worked with him for three hours /
over the reading of a single line in 1
Louise de Lignerolles"
Another of the greatest names asso- |
,iated with the Comeddie Franchise was