The son of the respectable philosopher M. Martin had now been at
Paris for two weeks. He spent the day in various ways, but in the
evening he was invariably found at one of the places of amusement.
In order to become acquainted with the different features of the
French stage, he had resolved to visit all the theatres of the
French capital, commencing with the most distant.
In the first place, he visited the “Délassements Comiques.” On that
occasion the attraction consisted of a “Review of the Year,” an
allegorical spectacle in fourteen tableaux. Eusebe was unable to
comprehend the drift of the piece, and returned to his lodgings in
a melancholy mood.
On the following evening the provincial went to the “Folies
Dramatiques,” where they gave another “review.” He could not
comprehend this effort at all, and retired before the close of the
piece. His mind was more hopelessly puzzled than it had been on the
previous evening.
On the third evening he went to the “Variétés,” where there was
another “review.” This time the provincial thought his brain was
turned.
“Ah,” said Eusebe, “I am the most ignorant being in the world, or
else all the comedians and those who listen to them are fools. Why
do they paint their faces like Indians? Why do they wear costumes
which do not belong to any nation? Why do the public laugh so
loudly at seeing them deceive a foolish old man? Why do they
applaud when the comedians make use of words with a double meaning?
Why do they sing _àpropos_ of nothing? How do they manage to speak
my mother-tongue so that I cannot understand it? I will go no more.”
On the following evening, however, he resumed his visits, saying
that perhaps the theatres were not all alike!
He passed five hours at the “Gaieté,” listening to the history of
a lost child. On the ensuing evening he went to the “Ambigu,” to
witness the representation of a drama based upon the history of a
foundling. Subsequently, at the “Porte Saint-Martin,” he had the
immense satisfaction of seeing in a single piece a child lost and
found, then lost again, and, finally, recovered.
At the “Français,” at the “Odéon,” at the “Gymnase,” at the
“Vaudeville,” and at the “Palais Royal,” the provincial saw the
same piece in fifteen different forms: a young man wished to wed
a young woman, and, notwithstanding a thousand obstacles, he
succeeded in accomplishing his object.
“When I have seen two dozen of them married,” said Eusebe, “I will
save my money.”