The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-21 00:00:00

`AN ING EDITION.

TiI4EA.TIIICAL ANECDOTES OF

THE FRENCH.

(From the Charivari.)
Political comedy having this day allowed us a little
more room, we shall take advantage thereof in relating
divers anecdotes which have latterly enriched the annals
of dramatic comedy.
Two journals have spoken of a young man who,
having vainly attempted to gain an interview with an
actress of the Gy7rnase had recourse to suicide. The
Droit gives us some particulars of this event
" For several months past Mdlle. Nathalie, an
actress of the Gymnase, had inspired a young man i
with one of those passions which are akin to
madness. The admirer of the actress presented him-
self on every occasion to the notice of his divinity—.
at the hours of rehearsal, at leaving the theatr
the sighing sentimalist was ever parading on the
Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, in anxious exp.eta-
tion of a look, a smile. At night, during the per-
formance, he was invariably to be seen in the box con-
tiguous to the stage, and there he sat absorbed in the
contemplation of the woman he adored, intoxicated
with her voice and appearance.. The lover wrote
several ardent and supplicating epistles, to which
no answer was ever returned. One day he presented
himself at her residence, in the Rue de Provence,
where he was received and dismissed by the mother
of Aladile. Nathaiie. On Sunday he returned ;
again received by the mother of the actress, he was
told that her daughter was not within, and desired
to withdraw. While the young man was endeavour-
ing to penetrate into the apartment of Mdlle. Nathalie,
the mother perceived that the visitor was armed, at the
same time her daughter, attracted by the disturbance,
opening her door, " Fly, fly, my dearest," exclaimed
the affrighod parent, " he seeks thy life !" Mdlle.
Isiathalie, however, despising her counsel, advanced to
pacify the dung man, who, grasping a pistol, discharged
it at her. Fortunately, however the ball missed her,
and, passing through the door which she had just
opened, shattered a mirror in the adjoining room.
Upon this the mother, making one tremendous
effort, seized the young man by the collar, pulled him
down upon the staircase, and bolted the door upon him.
Another pistol-shot was then heard on the stairs. The
neighbours attracted by the noise, hastened to the door,
and discovered the young man upon the landing-place,
wounded in the arm. The Commissary of Police and se-
lieral men from the neighbouring station immediately
proceeded to the spot, and arrested the young man,
who was conducted to the prison."
This piece of news, which bears every appearance of
being a puff, is, nevertheless, with but few variations,
exact. The aspirant, who is of a known family, is about
to be called to account for the freaks of his passion be-
fore the Cour d'Assi.ies. The affair has created much
gossip at all the theatres, where, however, the matter is
not thought to be of so serious a nature as to exclude
a j,,ke. One of our comedians was saying yesterday,
" Egad, it serves him right ; with such a flame we ought
to be careful how to meddle with gunpowder."
Let us proceed to news of a less dramatic interest. A
Contemporary announces the following fact :
" An Italian co median has recently act up at Bologna
a theatrical newspaper, of a nature as novel as it is ori-
ginal, to which we boldly prophesy success. The inven-
tor, judging that the spectators would be delighted if
they could dispel the ennui of the entr (ides with some
dainties, was inspired with the idea of starting a paper
which should give a programme of the performances,
and to employ, instead of paper, a delicious paste, which,
by a process in the pastrycook's art, should be trans-
formed into so many little leaves, on which should be
printed the most witty articles, not with ink, but with
chocolate juice ; and thus this paper, after having served
the purpose of a programme, is still available as a puff-
cake."

However witty the articles may be, this journal seems
to have been destined as a humbug, and we fear that
the speculator, in palming it. off, is committing a gross
mistake.*
We give another anecdote related by a little theatri-
cal journal :—" A vaudeville has recently been enacted
with certain variations at one of our second-rate theatres.
'cite manager, aiming at candle-end economy, resolved
in open council that. he would never again supply wine
for the service of the stage. An actor, in performing
his part, asks for wine : he container, not the con-
tents, being brought, he replies, I don't ask you for an
empty bottle, but for wine." There is none.' Here's
a five franc piece to buy seine, if your master has no
money.' The actor throws down the piece of money
on the hoards ; the actress, not daring to pick it up,
makes her exit. The actor continues, That's it, eh
then go and fetch some myself. Meanwhile, ad-
dressing himself to his brethren, you can get up a
game of earth.' The audience, not knowing how to
take all this, proved, however, very patient, but began
to murmur on seeing the actor come in with two bottles
tilled a iih the juice of the grape, and having placed them
on a table, advance towards the lamps. A deep silence
ensued ; the actor, making a low bow, began as fol-
lows :—" Gentlemen. I entreat your forgiveness for an
attack in which 1 car mot forgive myself for having. taken
the initiative, but I can justify myself in what concerns
me. You reqttiee that-au actor !should be natural in his
performance. How is it possible to be so, when a ma-
nager deprives you of the most simple means of gaining
such an end ? If lam to drink a glass of Cote Rotie,
which should espaed my countenance with enjoyment,
and that I am presented with Surene, causing me to make
the- West distorted grimaces, you will not be satiqied.
Vett will he right, but I shall not be wrong. It tap-
room wash ought to be given to me, and that I am sup•
plied with nothing at all, the illusion is again dispelled,
and I sin not to blame. Brunet, when taking the part of
a lame maw, never failed putting pebbles in his shoes, that
he might not forget to limp. The same comedian, it
being required in his part that he should prick himself
on touching the arm of one of the actors, was careful
before each performance of the play, to ask his compa-
mon whether he had stuck pins on his sleeve. I'll prick
myself in reality,' said he, it will be more natural.' Cer-
tem4 the opinion of Brunet, in theatrical matters, is
not to be despised ; therefore I conclude that I have
done wed in insisting on the wine required in the first
scene of this vaudeville, and the more so because it was
only done in the interest of the illusion, without which
no dramatic performance is possible, and that my aim,
gentlemen, was your satisfaction. Ido not repeat my
apologies, when 1. express the hope that the piece may
hereafter be performed without additions.'"
" This impromptu address was received with raptu-
rous applause."
This is indeed a puff which we detect in flogrante
delicto. The author might have placed his innocent false-
hood elsewhere than in a bottle, and not have put him-
self to the necessity of giving the lie to the old proverb,
In vino yeritas.

a A pun is here conveyed, the wo. ds " galette" and
" brioche," which both designate a species of cake, are em-
ployed in their secondary sense, a " humbug" and a " gross
mistake."
SINGULAR DEATH FROM