People see and perform in the Rue Benouville pieces that could not be played or shown elsewhere; for here the audience and the actors are all people of the same education, the same surroundings, who know each other. The doors have been more widely opened than they formerly were. But they are still closely guarded, the members of the society intend to amuse themselves as they please in their own circle, and to exclude anything that offends them. For instance, you will not find either at the rehearsals or at the performances in the Rue Benouville in the boxes or behind the scenes, the shadow of a professional actor. [p330] [Illustration] The door is closed against theatrical men. What! even “Chose” and “Machin?” [p331] Even for them. The “cross” and the banner are both useless. _Monsieur le Sociétaire_ has vainly tried to force a door which is half open for the _banquistes_ . . . . . A voice has cried to him from the trapeze, “We are very sorry, sir! But we have retained the prejudices of the comedians.” [Illustration] FOOTNOTES: [14] Baron DE VAUX, _Les Hommes de Cheval_. [15] Baron DE VAUX, _Les Hommes de Cheval_. [16] JULES LEMAÎTRE, _Révoltée_, Act I., Sc. 3. INDEX. A AGOUST, 34, 224, 293, 294, 295, 296 AGRENIEFF (d’), 200 ALLARD, 86 ALLEN, 20 ALPHONSE, 265–269 ALPHONSINE (Lady), 212 ANCIOU (Miss), 8 ARABELLE, 74 ARCHIMEDES, 113 ARQUEVILLIERS (d’), 320 ARTHUS, 325 _Artist_ (_der_), 7, 8 ASCO (Léa d’), 325 AURIOL, 13, 15, 246 B BAILEY (J. A.), 17 BANVILLE (de), 3, 296 BARLOW, 20 BARNUM (P. T.), 10, 16–20, 261, 305 BAYARD (Émile), 100 BECKER (Jeanne), 325 BERBERIE, 172, 193 BERMONT, 81, 84, 85, 86 BERTINI (Suzanne), 74 BERTRAND, 86 BIDEL (François), 26, 27, 130, 143–146, 153–157 BIÉVILLE (Berthe), 74 BLANCHE (Ada), 215 BLONDIN, 216, 217 BONE (Colonel), 146 BONHEUR (Rosa), 144 BONNEFOIS (Melchior), 74, 76 BONNETTY, 127–131 BOULMIERS, 85 BRETONNIÈRE (Guy de la), ix BRIOCHÉ, 86 BUCQUET, ix BUFFALO-BILL, 10, 204–206 BUFFON (de), 126 BURGESS, 282 C CALLIAS, 64 CARRABILLIAT, 42 CARVER (Dr.), 15 CEPHISSODOTE, 77 CHABLE, 41, 42 CHADWICK, 28 CHAM, 216, 217 CHAMPSAUR, 326–329 CHELLI (Emilio), 233 CHELLI (Erminia), 60, 232–240 CHUNG, 124–126 CLADEL (Léon), 140, 141 CLAM, 91, 92–96 COCHERIE, 89, 91 CODY (W. F.), 206 COQUELIN aîné, 91 COQUELIN cadet, 120 CORRADINI, 122 CORSO, 193 CORVI, 26, 117, 118, 120 COURTAY, 320 COUTURE, 118, 320 CRAFFTY, 325 CRAGGS, 300–305 D DACIER (Mme), 195, 196 DARYL (Philippe), 160 DARWIN, 117 DEBURAU, 294 DELILLE, 23, 96, 100 DESODER, 327 DETAILLE (Edouard), 152 DOMINIQUE, 86 DUDLAY (Marguerite), 169–172 DALSÈME, vii E ELIJAH (Prophet), 106 ELLEVANTIÉMIE, 23 _Era_ (_The_), 4, 5, 6, 8, 253 ESEUDIER, vi EXALTIER, 41 F FATMA, 72 FOOTEET, 286 FORSBERG (Nils), 242 FRANÇOIS, (Monsieur), 60, 61, 62, 71 FRANCONI (Chs.), 168, 169