Thoro are several interesting projects afoot that have to do more or less with the popularisation of art. One concerns! the erection of a lyric theatre for the people on the site of the now demolished 'Temple market, in the old days the headquarters of the famous Order of Knight Templars, and the prison where Louis XVII perished. 'The Municipality is showing much interest in the scheme and is prepared to vote a Isrge sum'
money.
The originator of the idea of, at least, its most active agent today, is M. Corre, the director of the Opera-Comique which, like the Grand Opera, is a State-supported institution. M. Corre, whilst waiting for the building, has already begun work amongst the masses who are being educated to an appreciation of the lyrical masterpieces. Thus a complete company from the Opera-Comique is sent into the uttermost regions of Paris, where it gives a series of representations from its réper~ toire in the theatres of the quarter. Those experiments have been attended by the happiest: results, and nothing is more charming than to see the enthusiasm with which the French working classes great the artistes and listen with the keenest attention and appreciation to the operas.
M. Antoine's " King Lear."
The theatrical event of the week has been the King Lear of M. Antoine, which synchronises with a remarkable Shak pearéan revival in London. M. Antoine, if he fails in giving us a very striking King Lear, at least has won our com:.ymnpathy with the beauty and fidelity of the production. For it must be noted that the tragedy is translated literally and no attempt has been made to mitigate or change, in the slightest detail, the Shakespearean form. In ordes.to provide for a continuity of action, M. Antoi draws @ curtain whilst the scenery being changed; and the actors wait in the proscenium to proceed, without interraption, with the dialogue. It is admittedly A groat feat for a foreign artiste to attempt to play the English drama is still groater that he should concern himself with the minute of the play #0 that the Boulevards may know for once the true and inward Shakespeare, instead of a distorted image of him seen in the mirror of the French' playwright. M. Antoine, in many respects the foremost actor in Paris, certainly the most prius-taking: and conscientious, contemplates giving the other chefs @euvre of thi mortal bard, which he will alternate with Schiller and certain of the groat masters of drama in the world. [t is an am-bilious and courageous attempt. worthy of every success.
The Press and Propaganda, One of the prominent Paris papers, Kelair," has changed hands and become, under the nominal ownership of M. Judet, formerly editor of the popular "Petit Journsl," the property of a wealthy syndicate of Nati who intend, it is said, to make it a Bonapartist organ, It is curious and perhaps 8 little disconcerting to those who believe in the influence of the Press to find that the major part of the journals of the capital espouse principles in direct antagonism to the Ministry. Not a few are hostile even to the regime. Yot it cannot be eaid that the Third Republic was ever stronger and more likely to endure than at the present moment. The Pros. propaganda is the last trench of a de-teated party.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.