The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-13
MU s E M E N T S .


given Is q strlKing example OF tre latest sensual
ism of the French school, Generally speaking,
when the works Of the modern French playwrights
reach our stage q great deal OF The dross of base
passion Is eliminated, so that we only see imper-
fecty the character traced by the hands OF these
grOveling evangelists OF a modern religion OF the
senses. Sardou, in "Paul Forestier,n touched
depth in this particular of deifed, agon-
lied senetalism which has with difficulty
been out-plunged by Ad6lpna Be1nt. TIE hanger
for novelty OF emotion which possesses these play
wrights is fed by lively imaginations and when
one OF them has reveled in covering the creatures
OF his fancy with the mre Of occult sin against
chastity all his fellows are mad with envy until
they succeed in discovering some greater or more
reconcile crime on which to break human hearts,
Last nights play Is a translation from the work of
NJ BelOt, and his book. from which the leading idea
is taken, is, perhaps, the most immoral in the
whole range OF modern French literature. We do
not wish to have the play answer for the crime Of
the boOk-it can afford to muster It's own little
battalion Of enormities without any exoteric as.
sistance. The central character of the piece is
naturally ''the woman Of hre.n Around her the
other characters revOlve with more or less uncer-
tainty OF orbit. She believes In metempsy-
Ghosts like . true modern pagan, who
can believe in anything which is not
generally believed in, and has decided
symphonic remembrance that in former state she
swan in waves OF fire. II there Is any truth In
future Of molten birthstone, reward for total de-
pravty, Diane Berard's life might be called 'sbe-
tween two nres, an interude.n 1t requires six
mortal acts to tell the story OF the play. In the
first we see group assembled In a seaside casino
in Brittany, consisting of Monsieur and Madame
de Cabin. Marie de Meux and some other ladies.
NJ. de Cabin is sort of chorus used for announc-
ing approaches ana connecting the links OF the
story when they want it. He announces to the
young deputy magistrate, has arrived, with his
mother at The seaside from Nantes. This young
his mother desires Nine Marie de-" de- R sH bette
blonde, loves him; but he is not touched by her
Affection. At length he meets the "woman or
him with q Rhapsody on transmigratiOn. He
is now anxious enough to marry, as we
When e at Casino bali he PROMISES onts 'ai her,
to ask his mamma for leave. He does So but the
fond parent opposes it a toat,ance and on purely
French grounds. Diane returns to tell him that
her atheI Is opposed to her marrying poor, young
lawyer, and she accordingly makes MIN swear
that he will remain single tor two years. He does
so, and little Marie for her part, releases him
from loving her. Diane marries the aged Baron de
Sery, who appeared for moment in the FIRST act
led on and of by his steward and adopted son,
Lami. This latter is In love with Diane Bernard
Also The chorus, M. de Cabin. tells all that inter-
Of D'Aubier. This act is numbered with what
is, unfortunately, one OF the most amusing
De CABIN and his wife. Of the story of trial in in
which D'AuDier gained the acquittal of criminal
by pleading long-suppressed emotion. The stage
Is now cleared for the drama to begin. Diane
enters his room, resumes her empire over him.
Her idea is to make D'Aubier wait until the old
S Diane dscosers that La her auspsnds
steward, 9verhears and she snatches some poison
is alter the death BY poison of the old Baron and
the marriage OF Diane and D'Aubier. Laml pur-
Wnch she makes to The old CASTLE I've at s OF Ss5
She dares him to tell her husband. He is about to
>dQ 49, but she promises to renew her visits Marie,
D'Auber's legal assistance, but it ends IN looking
more like lovers. She IS departing when the
man with loving Marie indeed the the ItS act.
D'Aubiers visit to Maries home is suspicious,
Il nothing more. Diane follows him thitner, and,
she murdered her husband to possess him.
and last act shows Diane agonlzed with her un-
returned passion LAM enters and threatens to
He relents for moment. She runs OH
TIE stage to AVOID the glance Of D'Au:
the crime. DAubier now enters and Informs his
parent that 1t IS mis- Intention to commit suicide.
Two shots gre heard; II is, however Lami who
dies at the feet OF D'Auber.
This play. as will De seen, Is exciting in parts,
the stage SO far as scenery and appoint
ments are concerned. The phosphorescent sea
not :he slightest part In the story,
save as realizing the rhapsody Of 'La femme de
o s
resent sea-that is all. Nobody helps her out,
nor does she ofer any remarks. The principal
characters last night were distributed as IOl.
Diane Berard.. Mrs J. B. Booth
Marie Dc RisSx Ra Mary S SoaS
Nine de- hs. Cabin Miss rostsr Fox
Lucen d Auber Mr. Joseph Wheeiock
Monsieur iEr de- CABIN Robert pa MeaNan
Monsieur Lami ii. f. DAILY
The part OF the heroine, as played by Mrs. Booth,
gave all the most favorable side OF the fiery
wOman's passion, with as little possible OF It's
responsiveness. She acts and dresses well, and has
fifth and last acts her acting was very fine.
and worthy of character cleaner morally.
makes her PhaOn wait until her old husband de
conUenance is well murdered. Indeed, before her
marriage she makes proposition to D'Aubier
similar to that made by Heloise to AoeIard when
marriage was talked or She is as fond Of MUIR
der trials as George Selwyn was, and, in
fact, the sum OF her viciousness makes 1t
decency. 1t is something to Mrs. Booths credit
that she can do so. The character represents a
no American woman can iully grasp. The
hero's part was very poorly filled by Mr..
true; but Mr.. Wneelock represented him as an
awkward 'stick." He must mend his prOnuncia-
ton OF certain provincial soeclsms Such words
as right, mind, child, retire. why. &c, he pro-
nounced rOight, mOynd, &C, which, ad-
ded to monotonous falling infection
Mr.. Patemans De Cabin was a hearty.
we-ntentioned performance, but ne has evidently
misnterpreted the part, which Is mixture OF Gym
ical shrewdness, with a laxative nature in cOnju-
gal subsection. Mr.. Pateman only shows the more
ludicrOus side and let's the finer portion escape
h,M Mr. Vnlu ,aIs Il
matte Tufiian OF the horrible m0bileeyeDrow order
Miss Rachel Noah, as Marie de Rieux, made several
very pretty points. The newcomer, Miss Fox,
played quietly, without much force. Ii she
mas decided talent she has the future to