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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (April 15, 1899)
THE COURIER ,! Indeod, I think that "Peter," Bleopy "Potor," who only boro tho "Nursee" fan and said "Anon, good nurse, anon," is a good doal tnoro alivo than "Carbon do Castel-Jaloux." Certain it is that if tho first act of M. Rostand's play woro stripped of its embellishments, its buffet girls and pickpockets and troopers and lords and ladies, the associations of tho Hotel do Uourgognoaud tho atmoBphero of old Paris, there would bo very littlo left of it, and whilo tho playwright's do vico of placing his fourth act on tho battle field is both effectivo and artiBtic, tho act has very littlo dramatic merit beyond that device. Undoubtedly tho conservatives are right in saying that this is a play of embellishment?, of accessories. Even the famous noeo itself is but an acces sory, a trick of make-up, a foil for tho romantic and chivalrous soul which it dfoguieod. Yet a not the very fact that 4 this play is bo entirely a play, that it calls out all the resources of the modern theatre, makes such demandH upon the coEtumer, the scenic painter, the prop erty man, the gas man, and at tho sumo time exhibits high literary quality tho most encouraging featuro about it? Does not this fact make it a play of tho modern theatre, which engages to satisfy tho eye, as well as tho ear, Mr. Norman Hapgood to the contrary. A man with Sardou's stage craft, and a poet to boot, what more could wo ask? Said Sarcey, "A great poet has been born to us, and what delights me most, is that he is a man of the theatre.'' It was not a great poem that we were wanting, nor a dramatized great novel, but a play, an acting play, which, how ever much it may be garbled by "second year" French clasies and discussed bb to its literary merits, will still remain a thing of the theatre, of te property man, the gaB man . Nobody claims that these elaborate embellishments make "Cyrano do Bergerac" a great play, only ' that they were conceived by a great imagination, that they engage and stim ulate feebler imaginations as the author intended they ehould. In short, they complete the illusion of the theatre. It is a great play because it abounds in picturesque action, because it is dra matic, progressive, from beginning to end, because it is rich in effect and novel, if somewhat strained situations, it id saturated with color and glowing with romantic ardor, because there are lines in it that thrill one like the music of nightingales, most of all because it contains an unselfish and chivalrous passion which immolated itself. That single conception of a love noble enough to forego of a passion which crucified itself, of a proud soul content to live in the happiness of another, that made the play great. The play succeeds because Cyrano de Bergerac failed. After he has been dead three hundred years and his ashes were scattered by the Terror ists through the streets of Paritt, this unhappy Gascon again wine fame and " fortune for another man, bo relentless and implacable i thing is destiny! "A poet has been born to ub." Yes, after all, tho literary excellence of this play is its groatoet merit; Ub chief beau ties are literary, and Mb brightest dis tinction is that it was written by a poet and contains linoB liko these: "There lies Paris, nocturnal and nebulous; Over the blue shadowed r.ofs the moonlight streams; Below; wrapped in her vaporous veil Like a mirror mysterious and magical Trembles the Seine' Through the lips of this "Cyrano" speaks the soul of Kuy Bias. After so much twittering of epigrams, again wo have music; after the chatter of tho monkeys, again the note of the night T ingale, silent for bo many yearB. So un accustomed are we to the nightingale's song that our enthusiasm 1b not unnat ural. In Franco M . IloBtand's balcony scone has oven been compared to that in "Romeo and Juliet." One has but to read tho two ovor togothor to boo that such a comparison is absolutely fatal to M. Rostand. Neitbor as a dramatist or a poot can ho bo measured by such a standard. His lii'ht goes out. aa a Btar boforo tho sun. Ilia elaborate and gracoful metaphors, his boautifully, fanciful definition of a kiBB, his melodi ous phrdBes which Eomotimes show the dent of the hammer, Beom artificial and inadequate after that comploto and si in plo expression of nature, that torrent of poetry and passion in which both are transfigured and transfigure speech, It is not "literary," no effort is visible Nothirg is strained, nothing sought for, nothing over-wrought. Tho passion iB natural and beautiful, mutually ex perienced by both tLo lovers. Its ex pression embodies all the oxtrava. gance of youth and love. Tho in terruption which prevents monot ony in the soeno, the calling of tho nurse, is Bimplo and natural, wberoaB Rostand's devico of tho entrance of tho monk is far-fetched. Tho scono Boars into tho very zenith of poetry on a wing light as a lark's, it's forvor is un parallnlled in litoraturo. Language has never gone higher. If the English tonguo has anywbero left its highwater mark, never again to be reached, it is thatecene. We are deaf to much of its beauty because wo havo heard it quoted from childhood, but the men who heard it read for tho first time must have gone out o' the Globe theatre drunken, feel ing like blind men who bad for the first time looked upon the dawn. Moreover, Shakspere's scene admits nothing im probable, while Rostand's includes three potent impossibilities; the substitution of loverB, "Roxane's" failure to detect tho substitution, and the crowning ab surdity of the kiss. Again, for pure grace of phantasy, "Cyrano's" remark able moon extravaganza in detaining "de Guiche," is not to bo compared to "Mor cutio's" Queen Mab speech. No, M. Rostand is a great poot, but ho is only a man a man of tho Nineteenth century. The character of "Cyrano de Bergerac" as presented by Rostand will probably endure as one of the type-characters of literature. It voices one of the com monest tragedies of life. It has taken hold of the affections of the people. It speaks the great apology for failure and who has not failed? "I will be jour mind: you shall be ray beauty," That line is the history of so many lives; of the overworked music teacher who exults in the triumphs of Carono. of the underpaid journalist who is made happy by each achievement of Kipling's art. of the plain matinee girl who de rives a personal pleasure from Julia Marlowe's boauty, of tho lonely man who is happy in happiness of lovers, of the ugly, clever school girl who is the hum ble handmaiden of the prettiest girl in tho class, of bo many generous and npble and unselfish enthusiasms. "I will be your mind, you shall bo my beauty." Rostand said it for tho first time, but it has been lived before Ah, it has been lived before! And henceforth this Cyrano de Bergerac will stand for these pent-up soule and thwarted passions; for the prima donnas born without voices, tho nolhors who die childless, tho lovers who never speak, the painters who are color blind, the cross-eyed aphrodites, and heaven knows the world is full of theBe victims of nature's un kindness. Next week, if the patience of The Courier aud its readers holds out, I will attempt to say something of Richard Mansfield's impersonation of tho char acter, "Cyrano de Bergerac." W. O. f 0M oml LEBS- LOUISA Ij HIOKKTTH.) ' Following aro tho ofllcors of tho Gen eral Federation of Women's clubs: President Mrs. Rebecca D. Lowo Atlanta, Ga. Vico President Mrs. Sarah S. Piatt, Donvor, Colo. Recording Secretary Mrs. Emma A. Fox, Dotroit, Mich. Corresponding Socrotary Mrs.Gqorgo W. Kondrick, Philadelphia, Pa. Treasurer, MrB. Phillip N. Mooro, St. Louie1, Mo. Auditor Mrs. C. P. Barnes, Louia villo, Ky. State Chairman MrB. Louisa L. Rick etts, Lincoln, Nebr. Ofllcors of tho State Fodoration of Women's clubB; President MrB. S. 0. Lang worthy, Seward. Vice President Mrs. Anna L. Appnr son, Tecumsoh. Recording Socrotary Mrs.F. II. Sack ott, Weeping Wator. Corresponding Socrotary Mrs D. G. McKillip, Soward. Treasurer Mrs. II. F. Doano, Crete, Librarian Mrs. G. M. Lambortson, Lincoln. Tho Lincoln SoroB'iB met on Tuosday with Mrs. Sawyer Tho president of the Nebraska Federation of Women's clubs, Mrs. Langwortby of Soward, was a guest and her presence and short address con tributed very much to the interest of the meeting. Mrs. Sawyer, as one of the founders of Soroais, has "a very deep interest in its wel'faro and growth. She considers that tho object of club life is not bo much for tho gathering of knowledge as for discipline in thinking and reporting the results of thought To think clearly and to some purpose and to be ablo to express ideas with the same clei'rness is one of the most impottant effects of tho intellectual and friendly association of clubs. To show exactly the progress attained in speaking and thinking no plan could be better thau th6 symposium arranged by Mrs. Sawyer at the last meoting, Each member of the club Bpoko for four minutes on twelve questions. The interest was keen and the discussions revealed great difference of opinion as to the object, functions, duties and the future of clubs. THE QUESTIONS. 1. What is the strongest atgument in favor of women's club.? 2. What is, or should be, the Sam mum bonum of a club? 3. What i6 the duty of members of small clubs to large clubs? 4. Wherein is the greatest strength of the club movement? 5. Does it show inefticoncy or in adequacy? G. Does it make women moro com panionable to men? Would mixed clubs be preferable? 7. Is it helpfully or injuriously en croaching on social usages? 8. What should be its attitude on public questions? (e. g. labor disturb ances which affect women who are wage, earners.) 9. To what extent should it foster par ticular schemes? (as the "Free Travel ing Library.") 10. Has it reached a climax in num bers or usefulness? 11. What is the greatest danger which threatens the club movement? 12. Do you consider the next five years a "critical period?" THE ANSWERS. 1. A demand for diecipline to lit women for duties and larger opportuni ties of life. The strongest argument for them is that clubB "are" in such num bers and oxtont. Clubs answer tho do iimnd for sociability, bring women to gothor and oxtonds their Imrizon and sympathies. Thoy murk a stage in de velopment, thoy aro a preparation for it timo of greater influence. They give to a cocial gathoring an intellectual aspect and purpose 2. Tho club should give to each woman what fho needs moat, should broaden and strengthen hearts and hoada. Tho groatost good of clubs in Bociabiiity, holpfullnoRS, tho object dif fers with each club. It should broaden the outlook, onablo women to unalyEo hor own purposes in lifo. Membors of small clubs owo sorvico to tho largo club as the individual owou a servico to tho community, nob a legal or compulsory obligation, but ono of will ing sorvico to tho whole. Attitudo determined by local conditions. Largo clubs ought not to neod help from mem bers of smallor clubs. Reciprocity tho koynnte of club lif s, 4. Tho greatest strength of tho club is in its influenco on womon, physically, intellectually, economically and through hor on tho homo and tho noxt genera tion, in organization, co-oporation, abil ity to work together, in miniBtoring to neod, in woman's loyalty to club move ment, in woman released and thrust into a largor world. ft. It doo9 show tho ineillcionuy and in adequacy of infancy, which shows that maturity and accomplishment aro be fore it. (I. As it quickens tho sympathies, en larges tho understanding and increases knowledge of vital topics it fits women to be moro companionablo to men. If congeniality exist club oxporionco aug ments it, not tho purpose offclubB to in crease conjugal happiness, thoy neither intorforo with, nor incroase congeniality between husband and wife, it incroasos congeniality becauao both thought and feeling are broadenod, if not moro com panionable it is tho woman's fault, bo far compunionabloness Sb not increased by clubs, other things being equal tho good club woman is moro companionablo by reason of her club. Mixed clube have a place, but tho timo is not ripe for the substitution of mixed clubs. Thoy should coexist. Mixed clubs would bo preferable. They are- not feasible Thore should bo moro mixed clubs, but as additions, not as substitutes. The club idea is comploto in mixed clubs. Theso s'aould be added an rapidly ub possible. Each baB its own and inde pendent place, men should not be re fused the benefit of clubs. 7. Clubs are helpful in breaking down artificial distinctions and conventionali ties. 8. No attitude based on distinction of ex, all influence based on superior preparation and qualification, it should be conservative, strength and influenco it possesses should bo utilized, power evolved for a purpose and should bo utilized, it should be aa influenco rather than an attitude, should create senti ment, should realize power to make life more tolerable, not antagonise, should be decidedly for women in its power to create sentiment for ameliora tion of wrongs, Bhouid oxort a direct in fluence wisely administered, club to teach individuals to act as individuals not for concorted action on any ques tion, always stand for "justice," demand that equal pay must bo preceded by equal service, no action unless euro of success as failure is more disastrous to cause of womon than inaction. 9. Every scheme whose only aim cen ters in the betterment of homo and its inmates, much tact necessary, circum stances decide, helpful to all which aro helpful to club ideas. 10. Unanimously no in usofulneEs, the majority no in numbers, some thought when those dropped off who had been allured by pleasure and novelty the