THE NEW LILLE THEATER

The people of Lille finally have a magnificent theater worthy of them, worthy of the artistic center that their great city has always been. It is a new attempt at artistic decentralization, which does the greatest honor to the eminent prefect, Mr. Morin, and to the active and tireless municipality, chaired by Mr. Delory.
We know that the old theater was destroyed in 1913 by fire; it was on its site that the new room was built, the complete completion of which was prevented by the war.
Today in the heroic rebuilt city, whose labor has received its reward, stands an imposing monument, with sober lines, which will house numerous beautiful regional events and remarkable representations of classical masterpieces.
Mr. Delory, in a widely applauded speech, donated the new Opera to his fellow citizens. A large crowd, civil and military authorities, attended the inauguration of the room, which Mr. Cordonnier of the Institute adorned with both the vigor and the grace of his fine architectural talent.
The interior of the building, which can accommodate 1,600 spectators, is red, accented with gold. A chandelier with hundreds of bulbs floods the room with rich light, without crudeness. Wide clearances everywhere; a large, sumptuously decorated foyer harmoniously completes a gigantic marble staircase. The ceiling of the room, a remarkable work by Mr. Edgar Boutry, is enhanced by frescoes by MM. The Man and Dilly. On the front of the stage. we can read in gold letters, this inscription: Ad Alta per Artes. To the summits through the arts. Doesn't this happy aphorism sum up the destiny of Lille, where big industry has always walked hand in hand with Art?