New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1855-10-25
NUMBER B 1856. 5!
Mdme. Lagrange and the Poisoned Bcuqae.,

h., S"JscF NcS l|tNS CLtS SldteS Lhdt
au,ne. Lagrange was present at the last repre-
sentation Of -adytenne Lecoupreuy. and in the
scene where Adrienne receives the poisoned
bouquet, she was so overcome by her feelings as
almost to faint. The emotion, it is said was oc.
casioned BY terrible recollection of a similar
situation IN which she was once placed, during
tne early part Of her professional career. 1t an.
musical salons Of Europe, she made 4 brilliant
debut ct the theatre. Her second engagement
was at Pavie, where her youthful talent entirely
echpsed that Of rival Cantatrice Each re-
presentation was for her a new triumph, and
each triumph defeat for the previous PrinaD
Donna. This circumstance created in the
breast of the other o deadly jealousy, and she
| determined to be avenged, no matter at what
cost, or by what means She was an italian,
with strong passions, and was not therefore to
be disappointed of her revenge She was one OF
those dangerous Syrens, whose charms are snre
| to fascinate youth; and Pavie being university
town, it was not difficult to find an instrument
for her purpose among the students She fixed
| upon young Venetian, Of noble birth and Of
large fortune. By her Establishments she fairly
bewltcned this young man, and having obtained
an unbonnded influence over him, he agreed TO
carry out her design. go
At every representation, Mdle. Lagrange re-
ceiyed numerous bouquets, wreaths, etc ard
among the bouquets which fell at her feet, was in
yariably one OF small dimensions composed of
roses only, the perfume of which was delicious
This homage was always paid after the andaate
| of the grand Cavatina in .Na6uceo, an opera
then highly popular. Mdle. Lagrange always
placed this small bouquet in her girdle after
smelling the perfume, and proceeded With re-
neWed encouragement TO the completion of the
song. 3''t@ 9s7 5Nl
On one evening the bouquet was larger than,
usual, and the size preventing her from placing
it in her girdle, she handed it to o fguranses
who stood near her, to carry to her dressing
| room. At the end Of the act she Quilted the
stage, aud was surprised at seeing her ressing
maid at the wing, and on opening the door of
her room, started back with stfright on perceiv-
ing her lying on the floor, apparently ifeless!
Her cry speedily brought large number of per-
sons, and the utmost establishment was express
ed as to the cause of this dreadful affair. After
endeayoring for five or six minutes to restore the
girl from her death like state, voice was heard
almost sufocated by emotion, exclaiming, The
bouquet, the bouquet and on recognizing Dr.
Marozzi. the physician of Mile Lagrange there
was general enquiry what he meant. He,
however, gave no explanation, but continued to
repeat, $ The bouquet, the bouquet This mys-
terious exclamation served to direct attention to
bouquet which had fallen from the girl IS hand,
and it was eagerly seized. f4 Ts''sti 81 u
g What great value do1you attach to the bou.
"
g That bouquet, unhappy tits poisoned y said
che doctor. - ". @ -=.5s5-,.,.,.+ s5,, 5-;
A thrill of horror ran through the company,
and the cantatrice escaped thus as by d miracle
| the death which had been designed for her, had
scarcely time TO recover from the shock, when
| the signal was given for raising the curtain
She re-appeared. pale, even under the rouge,
and with heart wrung with inexpressible an
gulsh She sang, however, and played as though
filled by inspiration, and the audience were
frantic With excitement-never had she receiv-
ed such an ovation. r rs-g
The doctor, who, it seems, had been in front
Of the house during the evening, perceived in
very private box the young Venetian, and re-
| marked that his countenance wore strange ex-
preston The vanauished rival of Lagrange had
partly opened the door, and the doctor as he
passed heard the young man say
=" 1t is done-she is dead"
| "The bouquet !" said the Italian the young
man made an affirmative sign, and hastily quit
| ted the theatre. Hf9 z4s5 gst aa ,4log
The Doctors suspicious were Immediately
aroused, and he hastened behind, the scenes,
where he found that some one had been poisoned
by a bouquet, but it was not Mdlle Lagrange
The guilty party was arrested, but being re-
lated to the nobility and the high dignitaries of
| the Church, he was released after brief i'm
prisonment; she who had conceived aud in
spired the crime, was never even arrested.
| 1t was no wonder, therefore, that Nidlle. La
grange nearly tainted the other evening ON see-
| ing Adrienne Leeouvreur inhaling death frcm
bouquet. She had forgotten the circumstance
at the time, but the power of Rachel had
/ brought before her that dreadful scene, with all
| the force Of reality.