The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-06-25
"FERNANDE' AT THE PORTLAND THEATRE

"FERNANDE" AT THE PORTLAND THEATRE.
Victorien Sardou is the dramatist of the pres
emit but he builds for the day only, not for en-
during time. When he has gone the places
that have known him will know him no more.
In him we have the true coniuror who by his
sklful Intervening OF the events of the day
with the characters Of every day Partisan life
has fairly enchanted the theatrical world of
that gay city, but SO quickly do the pictures
fade upon his magic glass that it requires in
cesant Incarnation and skill in the shape of
fresh plays to hold that volatile public. Like
all later French plays translated for the Amer
lean stage Fernando" is designed to sound the
glittering immortality of Partisan society and
picture its social rOttenness. A French play
without mistress, seduction or an adultery
would be an anomaly. Fernando tells the story
of two women, Fernando and Clotilde, one high
born and wealthy, the other the daughter of
woman who keeps gambling house. Both
are mistresses. the one of a man of breeding,
named Andre, the other of the virtual proprie-
tor of gambling house named Rougevile.
Fernando, sick Of her dsreputable life, throws
herself under the wheels of Clotlde's carriage
and ClOtilde rescues her, follows her to the
gambling house and with the assistance of her
cousin Pommro takes her to her own residence
and adopts her. Andre sees Fernando, falls in
love with her, excites Clotlde's jealousy, who
makes arrangements for the marriage Of An
DIRE with Fernando which are at first frustrated
but afterwards succeed. Then having accom-
plished her designs she tells Andre what sort
of a wife he has got. Andre will hear no ex.
PLANTATION f'on Fernando, but the cousin Pom
merol presents a letter thatFernande wrote
Andre before marriage, which Clotilde pre-
vented his receiving, in which she had confess
ed all and thus enables the curtain to go down
on a happy couple. Thus we have the last
sensation. 1t decidedly holds the mirror up to
nature in Paris, but whether such plays as
Fernando" are as healthy in their effect upon
American yonth as "School" and other plays
of that like we seriously question. That it is
most ingeniously concocted, filled with most
plausible situations and intensely fascinating
none will deny and the critic of the N. Y.
Ifibunewas perfectly safe in his remark ''that
apart from the moral the play was perfectly free
from anything that could be cavilled at" We
commend it to the author of "Hedged In"
The play as performed at the Portland Thea
tire is considerably curtailed and is bereft of
several of the original characters while the
denouement is changed somewhat from the
authors edition.
"WHERE! OH wHERE."-We hear of quite
| an interesting little piece of gossip that may
be acceptable in these dull times to our readers
| and serve to enliven our reading columns No.
| a thousand miles from the city of Portland
| there reside two gentlemen who are earnest,
active business men, working hard to secure
that fortune which all SO earnestly desire to
realize as the fruit of their labors. These two
| gentlemen possess couple of wives to whom
they have been devoted during their married
life, but who have lately disappeared in most
| singular manner. About month ago these
| two ladies babe adieu to their respective
| spouses for visit to relatives at the Eastward
| and it was afterwards ascertained that one oil
them had taken with her large sum Of
money that had been deposited in bank in
her name. All was supposed to be right until
the husbands received letters from their bet
ter halves short time ago informing then
that they were going away and that they would
not hear from them again for a year. The hus
bands answered not, for they knew not where
to address letter, and are now patiently
awaiting the close of the year. The only rea
sons we have heard assigned for this strange
freak on the part of the ladies are that the
one has been somewhat excited lately on re-
ligious topics, and the other has been DESTROYS
of change Of residence. We have no doub
that they will eventually be heard from a
their brothers. residence and nine days won
der will Qvaporate in smoke.