The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-22
drama has found its way
r. to New York at last. and It hopes
! il has come to stay.

to New York at last. and 1t hopes
= il has come to stay.
During the last ten or twelve
years many attempts have been made to
implant French theatrical organization
in the American metropolis They all
began obscurely, lived their short lives
known only to a very limited circle
Of French residents and dropped away
into complete oblivion Honestly. they
hardly deserved a better fate Those
little makeshift companies Of players
were too far from being representative
Of the art Of the stage In France. They
were doomed to leave American theatre
goers. who are used to better things.
thoroughly unlnterested.
Not so with this most recent organiza-
ton the French Drama Society. 1t Is
a serious thing and It Is being taken a.
such by those whose patronage has
appeared most desirable to the society:
such among the French colony a.. In
Paris, would have their regular seats.
anywhere from the boxes to the third
tier, at the Coincide Franchise or at
the first class Boulevard theatres: those
among New Workers. who have learned
to love the beautiful language Of France
and who delight In hearing It we'll
spoken: those among the university and
high school students who make Q
speciality Of modern languages and 70
whom it is stimulating to see the mas
terpieces Of French dramatic literature.
both classic and modern. presented to
them as artistically as they might hope
to see them II they went abroad.
To these three classes Of New York's
populati ion. more especially, the French
Drama Society has sent out an appeal,
and the response has surpassed its Wild
est hopes. The announcement that Mr..
Lucien Bonheur. one OF the influential
members a the Alliance Franchise, had
agreed to FIJI the functions Of the So
C,ety's president resulted In numerous
subscriptions from the most prominent
French families Of New York. Miss
Beverley Sitgreaves, the American
actress and one Of the founders Of the
organization, being a personal friend Of
Sarah Bernhardts and the only Ameri-
can whose perfectly pure French en-
tlties 1eT u pay III tHdt tuhs uhSe'
aroused the interest OF New York So
ciety people, with whom she is favor
lite Of long standing, as well as that Of
our American stage folk, in the plans Of
the French Drama Society. Teachers
Of French. both official and private. were
invited to witness the first performances
Of the society and found them SO excel
lent that they begged to have a cycle Of
six classical matinees. each preceded by
short lecture, organized more es-
pecially for their pupils.
The name alone OF Nine. Yorska at
the head Of the French company OF
players and Its artistic director was
enough to attract many subscribers who
had seen her before, either in Paris, In
Sarah Bernhardts company and at the
Odeon Theatre, or at the Theatre Royal
du Pare in Brussels, or even in this
country, where she played last season
in vaudeville and. several years ago. In
legitimate American companies In the
West.
Nine. Yorska, indeed, is a very accom-
plished young woman. She was born In
this country as the daughter Of the
Russian Consul-General and q French
mother. The obligations Of her fathers
service brought her to Paris when quite
a baby, and there she received all her
education and artistic training. Even
in her childhood the stage was her one
ambition. An early marriage with one
Of Italy's "grands seigneurs." the Count
Ventulini. in no way hampered her