Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-04-14
.,.xa. Gazette ~ Virginia Advertise
r,E PLAY THAT DELIGHTS PAKI>

TIE PLAY THAT DELIGHTS PARIS
Twenty Wears ago young author uamed
Nlscount de Borurer began 10 Write draua~,
novels, etc, uuuc OF Which seemed TO please
popular taste, aud the poor mail was called the
"grauuy OF writer's. Six years ago be gave
play to the directors OF the Theatre traucals
aud they put it IN thelr rawer aud only pulled
it out the other day. From the drawer 1t weut
straight to the stage, sud such has been lts
success that before We are all much Older the
author Of LA File de Roland" will be on his
way to receive the honors of the Academy aud
to lit by Alexander Dumas, whose dramatic
houors he has eciipSed. Ii Is grand play, the
uoetry OF which Is Dnbc AMI full ut Imagery.
The aciou is rapid aud the situations highly
dramatic ln word ur such drAula has been
played 10 Paris in any way TO ,qual 1t since
''Hernaul" THIS is the plot:
Alter the battle of Rauceveaux, the traitor
Knight GaueIon, who murdered tue iu,trluu>
Roland, stled 10 wild horse, like NJ ,zcppa,
but after many perllous adventures is released
by the mouk Radbert. Uuder the name Of
Cuuu, Amanry the tclOn commences uew
hie at the castle Of blois on the Rhine.
While people thiuk he is dead he instrucS with
great care the young Gerald, his son, the child
of The sister of Ro!auu'S mother. At last pur-
sued by remor>e for the treachery which he
practiced at Ranc .Veaux upon Roland, and
winch rnded IL The death OF that hero, he re-
solves to 70 upon pilgrimage aud pray before
Roland'~ tomb. Upon the former battle. field,
where Roland lies with the many dead he
contdes to the monk r albert, his friend, his
crime. On his return to the castle, he finds
that his son Gerald has rescued the youthful
Bertha lrrm the hands Of nihe of Saxous,
who ore about TO carly her off to Germany
She is the daughter Of Roland, and grand.
daughter of Charlcmague.
Of course Gerald fails in love with her and
she with him. Ga,elou learns with horror The
love of his son. Cag he allow his offspring to
bc uDited 10 the daughter OF the hero he has
murdered? No uo Hc hurries him off ou
mission OF chivary, and Bertha is sent 10 the
Court OF AK la Chapclle, to her grandfather,
the great Emperor H.ther comes Gerald dis
puised as Il troubadour. Bertha recogu,z 8
uaueDt is to be fought immediately against u
Saracen knight, who has grossly iusulted the
Emperor and B'rtha Gerald is her cham pion,
aud she is TO be the prlz. of his victory. He is
victorious, but at the moment the cup OF pleas
ure is nearest his lips II is dashed away. He Is
recognized as the son OF Ganelou, the ASSASSIN q
of Roland. Horror-strcken, he refuses the
hand of Bertha, and determines to corsecrate
himself to works Of penaDce in strict order,
to be offered up to Heaven iu expiation of his
fathers crime
The farewell then Of Bertha and Gerald is
like that Of two beings, both Of whom aIe
uuomed to death. 1t is sad ending, but 20
thoroughly 10 accordance with the spirit of
chlvaIry, so noble and grand tha. the first
representation OF LA File de Roland reused
an enthusiasm 10 the house such as has, per
haps, not been seen for fifty years. Nine.
Sarah Beruhnrit is the daughter Of RoIand
and acts the part to perfection. The scenery
is gorgeous, and the author. unknown yester-
day, is the man of the hour. The work is al
ready crowned by the Academy as the finest
play written 10 tho French language since the
days of Racine Tile .5rcadmn.