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A perfect procession which kept me on my legs from morning till evening during a week. I didn't want to exhibit it, as it lowers one to do so, and Naudet also opposed it. But what would you have done? I was so begged and prayed; all the young fellows want to set me on the committee, so that I may defend them. Oh! my picture is simple enough I call it "A Picnic."
I shall now proceed to investigate the merits of the former, at the Theatre Francais. Parts of noble Fathers. VANHOVE and NAUDET. VANHOVE. This actor is rather more sufferable in comedy than tragedy; but in both he is very monotonous, and justifies the lines applied to him by a modern satirist, M. DESPAZE: "VANHOVE, plus heureux, psalmodie a mon gre; Quel succes l'attendait, s'il eut ete Cure!"
NAUDET. I have already said that the Reverend Father NAUDET, as he is called, played the parts of tyrants in tragedy. Never did tyrant appear so inoffensive. As well as VANHOVE, in comedy, he neither meets with censure nor applause from the public. First parts, or principal lovers, in Comedy. MOLE, FLEURY, and BAPTISTE the elder. MOLE. At this name I breathe.
'It's sold, Naudet. That's enough, isn't it? However, the dealer went on lamenting. He remained for a few minutes longer, going into raptures before other sketches, while making the tour of the studio with the keen glances of a speculator in search of luck.
Nature has given him a strong but hollow voice; and he recites so coldly, that he makes the public yawn, and seems sometimes to yawn himself. When he means to display warmth, he screams and fatigues the ear without mercy. NAUDET. This man, who is great only in stature, quitted the rank of serjeant in the Gardes Francaises to become a bad player.
And instead of giving the violent answer which was rising to his lips, he said in a familiar way: 'You are right, Naudet, I should have done better if I had gone to bed on the day when the idea of that picture occurred to me. 'Ah! there he is; excuse me! cried the dealer, making off. It was Fagerolles showing himself at the entrance of the gallery.
Well, Naudet, who had compelled Fagerolles to build a house, and who furnished it for him as he would have furnished a place for a hussy, wanted to get hold of his nick-nacks and hangings again. But Fagerolles had borrowed money on them, so it seems.
Let us now examine the merits of the principal performers belonging to the Theatre Francais. Noble Fathers, or characters of Kings. VANHOVE, MONVEL, ST. PRIX, and NAUDET. VANHOVE. This king of the Theatre Francais neither has majesty nor nobleness of manner. His countenance is mean, and his make common. His monotonous and heavy utterance is sometimes intermingled with yelping sounds.
'That's a daub Naudet asked me for. Oh! I'm not ignorant of what I lack a little of what you have too much of, old man. You know that I'm still your friend; why, I defended you only yesterday with some painters. He tapped Claude on the shoulders, for he had divined his old master's secret contempt, and wished to win him back by his old-time caresses all the wheedling practices of a hussy.
However, Naudet noticed the 'Village Funeral. 'Hullo! that's your picture, eh? he said. 'So you wanted to give a companion to the "Wedding"? Well, I should have tried to dissuade you! Ah! the "Wedding"! the "Wedding"! Bongrand still listened to him without ceasing to smile. Barely a twinge of pain passed over his trembling lips.
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