Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-07
BELLE La MAR.
A story Of the War I'm the valley Of
the Dion BOucicault
Laying the Foundation for an Amer
lean Drama.
New York Sun, Aug. 4,

Laying the Foundation Tor an amer.
lean Drama.
New York Sun, Aug. 4.
When the reporter entered he saw a
white back, white ivory head, and a
round centre-table on which were
books, papers and six pears-luscious
California pears. The reporter ap-
preached the white back and the white
head. Modestly, timidly even, he
said:
That's myself" said a pleasant
voice, and atonce the back disappeared,
and the genial face of Dion Boucicault,
the man who has written mole dramas
than any other author, met the gaze of
the reporter. Happening to be an old
London and San Francisco acquaintance
of Boucicault, the Sun man naturally
looked for recognition. 1t came in
an instant. "Why, my dear boy" ex-
claimed the dramatist, chow are you.
Sit down, I'm glad to see you"
The rain was pattering steadily with
out, and as the reporter seated himself,
he explained the object of his visit. He
said:
"You see, 1 was going by here and l
saw the rain coming. l thought L
might utilize your rooms for a short
time, and save my umbrella good
wetting."
THAT'S right, my boy. I'll try my
best not to bore you"
BoUcICAULT IN WORKING RIG.
Mr.. Boucicault had been writin g.
He sat at the centre table IN his shirt
sleeves, with his manuscript before
him. He wore no vest. He was
thoroughly enjoying the GOODNESS of
ductve. He pushed the manuscript
away, stretched himself carelessly,
arose and walked to the Chinese cabi-
net, from which he took cigar saying,
There's fourteen-year old cigar. You
can depend on it, for I've kept them
all that time myself" then sat down
and said, NOW, my boy, well have a
little talk"
The conversation which followed was
repeatedly interrupted by Mr.. Bouci-
cault's private secretary, who ran IN
and out for instructions regarding
some manuscript which he was prepar-
ing. The dramatist gave the instruc.
lions, and then returned to the inter-
view, not once losing the thread of his
talk. Napoleon dictated three dis
patches at once. Dion Boucicault
writes plays and talks TO his friends at
| the same time.
After some desultory conversation,
the reporter preached the subject of
Mr.. Boucicault's new play, Belle La
Mar" the dramatist said:
THE HISTORY OF HIS LATEST PLAY.
"I'll tell you how happened to write
this piece, which is a thoroughly Amer
lean one. You remember last winter
when was in California. AT that time
l promised John Mccullough, the man.
ager of the California theater, rising
YoungactOr, that would write an Amer
icanplay for him. On the trip to Europe
that promise botheredme. ouknow you
have no distinctive American drama,
| and the pioneer in the work of estab-
fishing one has TO be very cautious in
his subjects. Finally thought Of the
late war. Thought passions and preju-
dices had been cooled off now, and the
time had come when justice could be
done on both sides, North and South,
without. offending either. 1 sent to
Benjamin Moran. your Secretary of
Legation in London, and asked him to
send me history of the war. After l
had read and studied it thoroughly, l
seized ON the episode in the valley of
the Shenandoah in the spring Of 1862.
1t was the time when Fremont, Nc
Dowell, and Banks, each at the head of
an army, were advancing down the val
| ley. That was the time of my play.
The foundation of the plot lies in a
different direction. In the Peninsula
campaign Mcclellan found that all his
plans were made known to the enemy.
The news was carried by Washington
women who were acting as spies. He
therefore refused to tell anybody what
he meant to do.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN's ORDER.
Secretary Stanton didn't like that,
ard President Lincoln finally ordered
Mcclellan to tell the Government what
he meant to do. He told them, and in
forty-eight hours the plan in all its de-
tails was known in Richmond. The
plot of my play was drawn from that
historical fact.
Reporter-Can you give me in a very
concise form the story of Belle La
Mar?'
Mr.. Boucicault-The story is very
simple, but l think very dramatic.
Belle La Mar is a Southern lady
who is married to a Northern gentle
man. She leaves him and goes South
when the war begins, because he is a
Union officer. She loves the South so
much that, after securing a divorce in
Virginia, she becomes a spy for the Con-
federates. An officer Of the Union army
under her husband falls in love with
her. and betrays the plans of his Gen
eral to her. She isfnally captured and
brought before her husband for trial.
She refuses to tell the name of the Off
Ger who has helped her; but he, after a
severe struggle, confesses voluntarily
IN the hope of saving her. The officer
Is condemned to death, but the court
martial refuses to pronounce upon her
guilt or innocence. On the interces-
sion of Stonewall jackson, who re-
turns unopened the dispatches which
| she had stolen, she is allowed to 90 to
the commanding General a pass is
given her by her former husband, and
that pass she manages to give to the
condemned officer, who escapes. To be
brief, the lady is finally pardoned, a
reconciliation takes place between her
and her husband, and all ends happily.