The Opera, that temple of pleasure at Paris, was burned in the month ofJune, 1781. Twenty persons had perished in the ruins; and as it was thesecond time within eighteen years that this had happened, it created aprejudice against the place where it then stood, in the Palais Royal,and the king had ordered its removal to a less central spot. The placechosen was La Porte St. Martin.
The king, vexed to see Paris deprived for so long of its Opera, becameas sorrowful as if the arrivals of grain had ceased, or bread had risento more than seven sous the quartern loaf. It was melancholy to see thenobility, the army, and the citizens without their after-dinneramusement; and to see the promenades thronged with the unemployeddivinities, from the chorus-singers to the prima donnas.
An architect was then introduced to the king, full of new plans, whopromised so perfect a ventilation, that even in case of fire no onecould be smothered. He would make eight doors for exit, besides fivelarge windows placed so low that any one could jump out of them. In theplace of the beautiful hall of Moreau he was to erect a building withninety-six feet of frontage towards the boulevard, ornamented with eightcaryatides on pillars forming three entrance-doors, a bas-relief abovethe capitals, and a gallery with three windows. The stage was to bethirty-six feet wide, the theater seventy-two feet deep and eightyacross, from one wall to the other. He asked only seventy-five days andnights before he opened it to the public.
This appeared to all a mere gasconade, and was much laughed at. Theking, however, concluded the agreement with him. Lenoir set to work, andkept his word. But the public feared that a building so quickly erectedcould not be safe, and when it opened no one would go.
Even the few courageous ones who did go to the first representation of"Adele de Ponthieu" made their wills first. The architect was indespair. He came to the king to consult him as to what was to be done.
It was just after the birth of the dauphin; all Paris was full of joy.The king advised him to announce a gratuitous performance in honor ofthe event, and give a ball after. Doubtless plenty would come, and ifthe theater stood, its safety was established.
"Thanks, sire," said the architect.
"But reflect, first," said the king, "if there be a crowd, are you sureof your building?"
"Sire, I am sure, and shall go there myself."
"I will go to the second representation," said the king.
The architect followed this advice. They played "Adele de Ponthieu" tothree thousand spectators, who afterwards danced. After this there couldbe no more fear. It was three years afterwards that Madame de la Motteand the cardinal went to the ball.