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Centaur will when warmed in the sun restore the wearer to her arms。
At the opening of the fifth act we witness the nuptial fetes。 Religious
dances and processions circle around the pyre laid for a marriage sacrifice。
Dejanira； hidden in the throng； watches in an agony of hope for the
miracle to be worked。
Hercules accepts the fatal garment from the hands of his bride and
calls upon the sun…god to ignite the altars。 The pyre flames； the heat
warms the clinging tunic； which wraps Hercules in its folds of torture。
Writhing in agony； he flings himself upon the burning pyramid； followed
by Dejanira； who； in despair； sees too late that she has been but a tool in
the hands of Nessus。
No feeble prose； no characters of black or white； can do justice to the
closing scenes of this performance。 The roar of the chorus； the thunder of
the actors' voices； the impression of reality left on the breathless spectators
by the open…air reality of the scene； the ardent sun； the rustling wind； the
play of light and shade across the stage； the invocation of Hercules
addressed to the real heavens； not to a painted firmament； combined an
effect that few among that vast concourse will forget。
At the farewell banquet in the arena after the performance； Georges
Leygues； the captain of the Cadets； in answer to a speech from the Prefect；
replied： 〃You ask about our aims and purposes and speak in admiration of
the enthusiasm aroused by the passage of our band！
〃Our aims are to vivify the traditions and language of our native land；
and the memory of a glorious ancestry； to foster the love of our little
province at the same time as patriotism for the greater country。 We are
striving for a decentralization of art； for the elevation of the stage； but
above all； we preach a gospel of gayety and healthy laughter； the science
of remaining young at heart； would teach pluck and good humor in the
weary struggle of existence； characteristics that have marked our
countrymen through history！ We have borrowed a motto from Lope de
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Vega （that Gascon of another race）； and inscribe ‘PAR LA LANGUA ET
PAR L'EPEE' upon our banner； that these purposes may be read by the
world as it runs。〃
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CHAPTER 30 … The Dinner and the
Drama
CLAUDE FROLLO； holding the first printed book he had seen in
one hand； and pointing with the other to the gigantic mass of Notre Dame；
dark against the sunset； prophesied 〃CECI TUERA CELA。〃 One might to…
day paraphrase the sentence which Victor Hugo put into his archdeacon's
mouth； and pointing to the elaborately appointed dinner…tables of our
generation； assert that the Dinner was killing the Drama。
New York undoubtedly possesses at this moment more and better
constructed theatres； in proportion to its population； than any other city on
the globe； and； with the single exception of Paris； more money is probably
spent at the theatre by our people than in any other metropolis。 Yet
curiously enough； each decade； each season widens the breach between
our discriminating public and the stage。 The theatre； instead of keeping
abreast with the intellectual movement of our country； has for the last
thirty years been slowly but steadily declining； until at this moment there
is hardly a company playing in legitimate comedy； tragedy； or the classic
masterpieces of our language。
In spite of the fact that we are a nation in full literary production；
boasting authors who rank with the greatest of other countries； there is
hardly one poet or prose…writer to… day； of recognized ability； who works
for the stage； nor can we count more than one or two high…class comedies
or lyric dramas of American origin。
It is not my intention here to criticise the contemporary stage； although
the condition of the drama in America is so unique and so different from
its situation in other countries that it might well attract the attention of
inquiring minds； but rather to glance at the social causes which have
produced this curious state of affairs； and the strained relations existing
between our elite （here the word is used in its widest and most elevated
sense） and our stage。
There can be little doubt that the deterioration in the class of plays
produced at our theatres has been brought about by changes in our social
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conditions。 The pernicious 〃star〃 system； the difficulty of keeping stock
companies together； the rarity of histrionic ability among Americans are
explanations which have at different times been offered to account for
these phenomena。 Foremost； however； among the causes should be placed
an exceedingly simple and prosaic fact which seems to have escaped
notice。 I refer to the displacement of the dinner hour； and the ceremony
now surrounding that meal。
Forty years ago dinner was still a simple affair； taken at hours varying
from three to five o'clock； and uniting few but the members of a family；
holidays and fetes being the rare occasions when guests were asked。 There
was probably not a hotel in this country at that time where a dinner was
served later than three o'clock； and Delmonico's； newly installed in Mr。
Moses Grinnell's house； corner of Fourteenth Street and Fifth Avenue； was
the only establishment of its kind in America； and the one restaurant in
New York where ladies could be taken to dine。 In those tranquil days when
dinner parties were few and dances a rarity； theatre…going was the one
ripple on the quiet stream of home life。 Wallack's； at the corner of
Thirteenth Street and Broadway； Booth's in Twenty…third Street； and
Fechter's in Fourteenth Street were the homes of good comedy and high…
class tragedy。
Along a