, 1876-02-06

The Latest Sensation in Paris !:
A Russian Play, the b.
"Danicileff.''
The Champion Of England: An Office
that Comes Down from the
Middle Ages.

Audt NolutS u0Wu 1IQm tuo
| Middle Ages.
Anecdotes Of Francis Deak, the Dead
Hungarian Observation-Disclosures
in Opera Bouffe.
THE "DAN!cHEFF."
! The 'sDanicheff" (says Paris letter to the
! New York Epening Post) il the sensation Of the
moment. Alexandra Dumas is perhaps not sor-
| ~ that he agreed. some months since, to aid q
clever and distinguished Russian literary man to
| put q pretty aud interesting comedy into. shapo
for the French stage. The Russian vent to
Dumas, saying, Here is the story; here is my
northern way Of putting it. Will you help me
! to make it available?" At first the author OF
"LEtrangere" refused; then he consented to
read, and, reading, was ravished with delight So
the piece was presented on Saturday evening at
the Odeon, and all literary aud artistic Paris
vent to aee it. AS it is likely to take
and keep place On The American
Stage, I will analyze it briefly for you.
Vladimir, last Of the Daniche1s, family
represented as powerful in Russia about 1851
{some time before the Gar had made up his
mind to release SC, 0,000, 600 OF his subjects froma
condition Of absolute slavery, falls desperately
in love with WOMAN slave, the daughter Of a
serf, whom his mother has brought mp. andloves
very much as she loTes her dog or her parrot.
This alaEa is named Anna, One day the Count
ess Vladimir announces to her son that she has
planned brilliant marriage for him with tho
Princess Labanof, and is petrifled with aston
ishment when she learns that he loves Anna, aud
is determined to marry none but her. Her sense
OF caste ia SO inexpressibly shocked that she
Can scarcely offer objections. But, as she iB q
clever woman, she at once hits upon an e1pedi-
cut. She banlshes her son from her country
| estate for yesr, exact,ug from him PROMISE
+! that during that time he will hold no relations
| with Anna, but, On the contrary, will pay court
| to the Princess. He promises, and departs. No
] eoouer ia he gone than tho shrewd mother calls
Anua and coachmnn Berf named Osip before
| her summons priest, and commands the min~
! lister Of Heaven to marry the luckiess pair. In
this manner. she REASONS, she will have placed q
| barrier forever between her son aad the slave
Anna. The marriage is at once consummated,
and the Countess persuades herself that she has
] done worthy action. Now, Oaip is OF noble
feeling, although sorf by birth. Young Vlnd-
| imir has done him many a generous turn,
| and completely wou his simple heart He
therefore announces to Anna that he con-
aiders her as the bride Of Vladimir. whom
ste loves and that be will protect her as her
brother, but not Is her husband, until the luck
less lover returns, when he vii! consplre With
made, 0sip TRANQUILITY awaits young Viadimir's
return. He does not wait long. vladimir hears
Of bis mothers treachery, OF the enforced mar
riage, and returns. determined to Kill both Oslp
the poor eerf says to him, "Don't ssrikal You
will repent it all your life! Anna is yours- I
have managed By strategy to protect her during
your absence; and hava paid my debt OF grati-
tude to you" Osips devotion and abnegation ara
all the more touching because he really Loves
Anna, and because it had been the dream OF his
life to we'd her until he discovered that his young
master loved her. Vladimir accepts his sacrifice,
which is finally copsummated by the entry into
convent OF the heroic osp. This, according TO
Anna become. the Countess Vladimir Danlchef.
This is the body of the story. Around it are
grouped some OF the most charming character
istio sketcheH ever placed on the modern French
stage. The comedy ia a. pure as snowflake
from beginning to end. Here and there the
delicate vet firm painting by the master hand of
Dumas may be plainly traced. The play IS
dressed with wonderful fuxuriance; nothing can
Russian parlors 10 the princely chateau, With
their p1ofusion Of exotic plants, and their Law
ish ricbness Of furnishing. Russian manners
are very freely touched upon the types Of
fashionable women are portrayed with such
fidelity that the fair leaders OF tbs MuscoVite
colony in Paris rustled their fans uneasily on
Saturday evening at the Odoon. There is q
fins intellectual flavor pervading the whole play
which places it far above the cheap 6ent1men-
tality ct Feuillet's comedies, or even above the
self The atmosphere is refreshing; the
best senses ara all appealed to; there are
beside many little tricks calculated to
render the piece popular here. One OF
ond act Talde, an attache to the French en-
basss in Russia, recites an adventure in 8 |
hunting expedition in which he was saved from |
the unfrendy, grasp. OF white bear BY