7 
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1797-] 
is to confift of three clafles, through 
which it is intended that all the pupils 
of the eftablifhment fhall fucceffively pats. 
Young perfons, of both fexes, whofe in- 
clinations and talents lead them to the 
ftage, as their profeffion in life, will be 
admitted into it, from the age of 15 to 
253 thofe alfo may be initiated who with 
to aflume the caft of actors occafionally, 
and only for their owa amufement. This 
elafs of initiation is defigned toraife up a 
nurfery of a€tors for the Odéon, and for 
all the theatres of Paris and of France. 
‘In the firft clafs of the Odéon, the pupils 
will be taught to acquire a confummate 
knowledge of the French language, and 
the moft correét manner of pronouncing 
it. They will alfo be taught to make 
themfelves perfect proficients in the art 
of recitation or reading, without which 
it will be impoflible to attain to perfection 
in aéting. In this clafs care will be taken 
to develope and difcriminate the phyfical 
and intelleétual faculties of the pupils, 
fo that each may be enabled to apply 
himfelf to the caft or walk for which he 
fhall appear to be the beft calculated by 
nature. 
The pupils of the fecond clafs are to 
be inftructed in the art of analyfing and 
working upon the different patiions 
which agitate, melt, or over-awe the 
beart of man. 
In the third clafs, the hiftory and plot 
of dramatic pieces are to be laid open to 
the pupils; a critical analyfis of thefe is 
to be entered into, and their excellencies 
and blemifhes pointed out, and critically 
enlarged upon. 
Thofe pupils who give proofs of pro- 
ficiency in the courfe of their inftruétions, 
fuch as diftinguiih themfelves above their 
fellows, by their difpofitions, their im- 
‘provements, or their talents, will be 
entitled to make their début on the ftage 
of the Odéon. 
The complementary days in the Odéon 
will be apprepriated to the reprefentation 
of pieces whote fuccefs thall appear to 
have been the moft marked and confpi- 
cuous. Onthefe days the adjudication of 
prizes, and of crowns of glory, will be 
made, by the order of government. 
Every kind of public {peétacle being 
concentred in the Cdéon, prizes of va- 
rious defcriptions will be awarded to the 
moft eminent artifts, whether authors, 
actors, or mufical compofers. 
The author or compofer whofe per- 
formance fhall have been reprefented on 
one of the complementary days, Mall be 
~ 
Plan of the Odéon at Paris. 
127 
entitled to receive a crown, and an annual 
penfion of 600 livres. 
The adjudication of a crown the third 
time, fhall be accompanied with a fecond 
penfion of 600 livres. 4 
A feventh, adjudication, of a. crown, - 
fhall be accompanied with a third pen- 
fion of 800 livres. 
The triumphs of each author or com- 
pofer can only be acquired on the flage 
of the Odeon ; and at the conclufion of 
the reprefentation of thofe pieces which 
fhall have merited forthe candidates fuch 
an honour. 
The works which fhall be crowned in 
the Odéon, fhall confiitute, for ever, 
a part of its repertory. ‘The aétors 
whom the Odéon engages to procure and 
attach to its eftablifhment, being already 
ia the height -of reputation, by the fuc- 
ce{sful experience of many years, cannot 
be put on a level, in the diftribution of 
prizes, with thofe pupils of the Odéon 
who are defigned one day to replace them. 
The prizes willbe of two defcriptions: 
the firtt of honour and gelebrity, for the 
moft excellent performers, in which con- 
ummate merit will gain its juft laurels; 
and the fecond, of encouragement and 
emulation, for thofe whofe taleats are 
only ripening towards perfeétion. 
The ancient artifts of the Theatre 
Fauxbourg St. Germain, fhall alike be 
entitled to the palms of the viétor, and 
the penfionary rewards appropriated to 
merit. They fhall not be obliged to run 
through the {cale of acceffiis of the Odéon, 
having already, by their labours, attained 
the highef point of profeffional glory and 
fuccefs. 
The other artifts will have it in 
their power to gain, in the twenty-five 
years’ courfe of their dramatic career, 
twenty-three acceilits of pre-eminence 
or fuperiority ; four crowns of honour, 
a crown of celebrity, a medal, and four 
penfions or life annuities. 
The acceffits are defigned to be fo 
many fteps, by which every a€tor may 
proceed, from the firft to the feccnd, 
third, and fourth crowns of honour, and 
to the crown of celebrity. 
The adjudication of a Sirf crown fhall 
entitle the viétor to a penfion of the 
value of 2;50 livres; of a fecond, to a 
penfion of the fame value ; of a third, ro 
a penfion of 400 livres, and of a fourth, 
to'a penfion of 600 livres. 
- Thefe four crowns of honour will en- 
title the victor to a penfion, or life an- 
nuity, of 15909 livres. 
‘The 





