National Republican., 1874-05-09
POMANCE or THE PARIS STAGE

Olive Logan, writing to Wilkes Spirit from
Paris, says: "The Renaissance and tho Ghataiei
both produced their show on Easter Sunday The
Chatelet's piece is callod La Belle au Bois Dor
mont, and is Of course a new version of the old
fairy story. Its principal claim to notice is the
elaborate character Of It's music, which is for
superior to that usually composed for pieces oi
this sort. The Renaissance has revived Les
Bibelots du Diable, fairy piece which had run
OF over 100 nights at the Varieties some years ago
Two performers who then received the plaudits Of
the crowd shall know them no more forever. One
OF these was LassaRne, comedian whose humor-
Gus loutishness 1 never saw excelled upon the
stage. He played the stolid, Ignorant guffawing
peasant in q way that could and did shake
crowned and uncroHned heads land bodies) with
laughter. But see on what q slight thread our
destinies hang! One evening when the Empress
was present at tho theatre Llssagas INDUCED In
that bit OF business which is a standard stupidity
among comic men. In a scene where he was called
upon to take of his jacket aud vost under the
imperative bidding of somebody else he made as
if he were about to remove moro of his garments,
and was brought to reason by o peremptory 'Ahl
hold on? &C., from the other performer.
"Eugehie considered herself very greatly af.
fronted by this piece Of vulgarity, and sent word
to the management that Lassagne must never
again play when she visited the theatre. When
the news was communicated to the poor comedian
his brain reeled, he tainted and when he returned
to consciousness his mind was gone. The insanity
Of "poor Oarlotts," )" brought about by Napolson's
lack Of good faith to MaxImiIian, has moved the
sympathles Of the entire world, but the fate of
the poor actor who was made q luuatic by Euge-
nie's caprice Is little known or cared for He
dragged on some miserable years in mad house.
his hours passed In the heartrending portrayal of
his old parts, mingled with agonfIed prayers for
forgiveness from the offended lady. cannot offer
any extenuatIon for his yulgarIty, but I should
not like to have the wreck Of his life on my con-
science. He dlod without ever recovering his rea-
son.
"The other phantom which rises at mention of
the revival of this fairy plsce is Judith Fsrrayra
beautiful black-eyed girl who played the lead.
ing femsle part 10 1t. She was msryelously
lovely, and an excellent actress. .
"She was the original OF the part known with US
as Nan, the Good-for-Nothing. Though still in
her early twenties, she had CLEANED o plentiful
harvest Of diamonds and other valuables from In
fatuated men whom she was honest enough not to
pretend to care for, when one night Q young
American was presented to her. shall not name
him, for he still lives, Q solid man now, family
man, church-golng man, prominent citizen.
His Introduction to her was an accident. She
had not known him an hour before she fell wildly
IL AONo WIN hitu. N ioW Nogs p4sso0t euu oooiuk
he did not come to her che few to him, and Law
lshed upon him the kind of treatment Titania
gave Bottom. The comparison Is not fair one,
because our American was young and handsome.
But It seems strange that this beautiful woman
should have found his haltIng Ollendertf French
more musical to her ear than the polished diction
Of her eogstrymsn. -. s.e.s
"Explaln It as you may, she loved him, vol
shipped him, left the stage to devote herself more
entirely to oompanionship with him. It was
second edition OF Camille. By and by the old
father In America heard Of II. His mode Of put
ting stop to the affair was simple. He cut of
his sons allowance, and wrote to his offspring to
take the next steamer for home or consider him.
self disowned. The young man was In q very
embarrassing situation. He was In no position to
brave his fathers anger, but Judith loved him so!
She sold all her diamonds to be able to stay with
him longer; but this could only postpone the in
evitable' separation, He went home amer six
months Of romance life. Now, she sleeps her last
sleep, sad he-valks the streets Of New York, at
this writing, with his Ulster coat about him.