Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1857-01-14

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Miss DAvENPoRr's New PLAY OF "MoNA LISA"
Tins PLoT.-It viii be seen that Miss Davenport
has announced for representation this evening at
the Nashville her new and brilliant Domestic Play
OF MONA LISA; OR, DA VINCI's NAsrERPlEcE Its
production in Philadelphia, Boston, Providence and
St. Lous-in which cities, only, it has been rers
formed-crcated quite an excitement, and it ran
for several nights ia each Of the three fret named
cities, with great success In the last named, in
this city, it could not be repeated, for want OF
time.
The story of "Mona Lisa which we briefly trace
for the benefit of those who intend to be present,
il as follows Ia the wear 1888, the idle people OF
Florence had their curiosity raised 10 " concert
pitch" by the frequent appearance IN the opera box
and carriage Of nObleman, of a very beautiful
woman; but high curiosity ran, nothing further
could be learned about her; and as she bore mosE
striking likeness 70 Da Nincrs masterpiece the
young attaches TO the French Legation ia Tuscany
gave her for a sonbrquct its name, Mona Lisa
The truth was, Therese Deacroix an orphan at
an early age, without friends without money, and
unable TO procure employment, was pinng with
hunger and despair, when her evil genius threw
her into the tolls adroity spread by the nobleman
alinded to, wa concealed his designs under the
mantle Of charity. The poet it l. true, tells
that suicide alone can cover her guilt and hide her
shame "when lovely woman stoops to folly" But
Tnerese rightly conceived that the true mode Of
stonemeut, even Of her own crime, is neither in
the suicides grave nor in the sisters" cell, but
rather in the discharge Of those duties we owe TO
our neghbor-in a life of sefu activity. Among
the persons at this time belonging 10 the Legation
was a young man named Maurice de Lornay, he
though ofhigh birth and sufficient fortune, was proue
misanthropy in consequence Of the heaTtiessness
of girl Of rank aud beauty, who broke her trOth
to him and married the Marquis de FonteHac.
~ De Lornay wa. also struck with the exceeding
beauty and constant melancholy OF the mysterious
fair one, and his frequent sympathizng and plying
regard, al length awakened feeling OF love on
her part so powerful to induce her TO fly her
purple protection" to follow n. de Lornay, WHO
had been ordered 10 a distant court and her sins
pie out relation OF her unhappy hie deter
mined de Loruay TO offer his hand ami fortune,
thus placing her in position to retrieve her past
life.
Here the play opened and unblemished as her
life has been since her marriage, constant as she
has been in the discharge OF every feminine vir-
tue, 'the ghosts OF departed hours" constantly
harrow her thOughts-they Cypress, too, her hus-
band For he, embittered by the miscarriage OF
his ir-t love- (Which still possesses, though he him
self unconscious OF it, bis heart aud the sulled
fame OF his wife, has resigned his profession and
retired TO a chateau Ia an obscure part oil Norman
DIV, where we first them.
The scenes 10 the play where Maurice de Lornsy
snd his wife represented in their country Re-
treat dischargng all the duties Of their station OF
life surrounded by prstjng, arlless children, anus
ed by the simple pleasures OF rustic days environ
ed 10y the holy calm aud peace Of rural life, while
they alone Of every object near them, are vexed
by an unresptng fever-the contrast between that
calm aud this agitation are painfully interesting
sceues.
B4raton is employed by the French government
TO discover the retreat OF De Lornay, in order TO
OFFER him a mission to Brazil, which it is thought
that none other can successfully discharge. At
the little inn in Normandy, near his habtatlon it
happens that there arrives with Baraton, the Mar
Quse de Fontenac now a widow, Hercue de Fons
tenac, her cousin, and a naval officer, Lieut. Geo.
Delacroix brother of Therese, for many years sup-
posed dead
Hercule and Blraton had been attaches Of the
legation at Florence, when Mona Lisa disappeared,
but they knew not that De Lornsy was companion
OF her fight The whole design OF the latter part |
Of the play is TO prevent a knowledge OF IheTese |
De Lornay's previous history from becoming known |
to the Marquse aud the world.
De Lornay is unwilling to expose himself aud |
his wife by accepting the mission, and introducing
her TO society. She urges him TO 60 to Brazil |
alone. He consents, bet Therese hearing OF the |
arrival of Marguerite De Fontenac in France and |
knowing Of her husbands poor attachment 10 her |
becomes stirred by jealousy that she follows him
to Paris where being seen by Herculc who is a
foolish fellow, he discovers her identity with Mona
Lisa and u grand revelation Of her character en-
sues. The husband and the brother challenge the
indiscreet gossp-George being increduious, but
De Lornay knowing too we'll the truth OF what is
alleged. A duel ensues, in which no one Is NOR |
tally injured aud at length the brother horror |
struck, becomes acquainted with every thing. De
Lornay had s5eeled himself against the destinations
of Marguerite; and If Therese bad remained in |
Normandy no trouble would have ensuei.
The finale which is strictly consonaut 70 poetical /
justice and morality, will be perhaps better left for
dramatic revision.
crowded and brilliant audience Witnessed the /
performance of AGrienne" last evening, proving |
conelusivey that despite the severity Of the wealth
err the retired location and ventilaye qualities Of
the Theater, when such genius and talent Miss |
Davenport's presented to our citizens the re-
Spouse will ever be liberal and appreciadve. We |
regret to learn that this splendid aud attractive
drama, also, eauuot be repeated.