The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-02
THE FIR ENCH DRAMA.
The Plot Of Alexandrc Dumas's New Play,
"L'Etrangcrc."

PART Correspondence Of ne London Dtnv Ne,os.
Monsieur Moriceau is n rich tradesman
who formerly kept shop IN the Rue st. Denis
under the sign OF The Three Sultanaa," for
signs over shop doors are still rather the rule
than tho execution In France. NJ. Monceau,
about twenty million francs, more or less re-
solves to marry his only daughter to noble
man. lie Is ltst introduced TO the audience na
a blatant, Objectionable old fellow, FAR too full
OF health and wine; and he explnns the rea-
sons which induce him to invest In titled SON
which bad decided him to ouv into n particular
stock In the money market Professor R6monin
asks NJ. Morceau how he contrlved 10 md
marriageable uubleman for sale, inasmuch IA he,
Moroccan. WIS not Of an age or character to find
ready access TO high society. Moriceau replies
that he purchased the nobleman In question
from Mrs. Clarkson, n stranger lady, who resides
IN Paris; and who captivates all hearts and purses
that although he really paid fl0,0OO for his
nobleman, In the shape u necklace c dc
Clarkson, that article Of jewelry could not DO
garded as tho price Of his nOblcman, but must
be rather considered as the graceful acknowl-
ed gment " his social obligationsI to Mrs ClIrk-
sDn--L Etraneere.
Tho nobleman thus bought and paid for in
compliance with the usual mode OF max NC mat
rimonial speculations in France ia the Due Maxi
min, and NJ. Alexandre Dumas has evidently
taken great pains IN the delineation Of a charao-
ter which l. quite new To the stage. This young
man Is very curious study, and perfectly true
TO nature In Paris-perbaps also elsewhere He
! Il brave, base, unprinciped, yet with a certain
| sort OF knlghthood and chivalry about him; and
/
| ms demesnor, indeed. presents several OF the
higher aspects OF French nobility side by side
with its absurdites.
The business OF the play opens by Mrs Clark
son a. Etrangcre) sending n letter to the Duchess
Maximin, who Is pitroness OF charity, offering
$500 francs for permission to drink cup OF tea
in her Graces drawing room: The Duchess
writes 10 answer that II Mrs. ClarksOn can ind
sny gentleman AMONG tho friends or relatives OF
the family to Introduce her she Will be welcome,
not otherwise. The company assembled hear
| this letter read In profound silence. and then
tDo Duke rises ana says. not Win out kindly
| gallartry, that since nobody else will volunteer
for so honorable a service, he himself will offer
I his arm to the stranger, and lead her into the
presence Of his wife. The Duchess, thus con-
| strained to receive the adyanturess hands her A
| cup Of tea, and after a brief passage OF womanly
| arms dlsmisses rather than takes leave OF her.
When she Ia gone the onraeed wife dashes the
! cup from which her unwelcome visitor has
drank upon the floor. and smasAes IL to atoms
Then she cries, Fling wide the house doors to
So the curtain falls on the nrst act. the part OF
the angry Duchess being played by Mile. Croi-
| settle, the regnng favorite Of the French stage,
aud that OF L'Etrangerc being powerfully rem
dered by Sarah Bcrnhardt
Mrs. Garrison, who had her own reasons for
! seeking the Duchess. now insis's ON a return
visit and their second interview Is the great
whom her b. nsband has become both odious and
| contemplate. feels her affection revive for
Gerard, the son OF former governess, for whom
she felt pirlt-h attachment before her mar
riace and II happens that Mrs GARRISON. who
has saved the life OF this young man In Italy,
has also fallen In love with him. The adventure
ess, therefore, W rms the Duchess to leave Paris
at once with her hu .band, to dread her van
geance In case she dares to dispute the love OF
Gerard with her. In order To show the terrible
sort Of revenge she could take II aroused to
Of a slave who has been publicly sold by her
father and master, whose property she was, and
abetting series Of murders and atrocities in
hatred OF mankind ever since, considering that
she has no AFFINITY with the human family and is
| n born alien. Gerard she declares IL the only
man who ever inspired her with love, and she
Nh nYevei consent to give hun Up TO rival;
| The duchess. having calmly heard this fearful
! account Of Mrs. Clarksons antecedents. denes
her, aud the war between the two women be-
gins IN earnest
Mrs Clarkson pots tho Duke on his guard
against Gerard. and 9 l. thus enabled to Inter
cept a letter In which the Duchess avows her
love Tor her former playmate. This brings about
another sensation scene between the Duke and
| his wife. Ihe Duke offers to forgive aud forget
| the let;er II she will promise him bat some day
| by repentance aud atonement he may Induce
her to write suca words 10 lin. He acknOw-
edses that he mas not hiihert appreciated her;
she was I'LL now that hls eyes and heart were
| opened. But 1t is too late, and. after Leaping
| insults and scorn upon him, she llings him away
| forever in hurricane of passion. This scene Is
| the gem OF tile piece. The Duke. now reduced
| lover and sends 10 Mr.. Clarksnn husband Of
! LEtrangere), an American specull tOr Of fabu.
to act as his lis second. H. Moriceaa u hayns
| IN vain tried TO dissuaie him from a duel which
! VIII become IA public scandal compromise his
| daughter and deprive her Of her dearly bought
| t'tle, determines To checkmate the Dukes move
| by actlng as second TO Gerard, thus publicly
asserting his confidence In his daughters limo
| cence The duel Is arranged to take place ne xt
| daY, hut meanwhile a qu rrel occurs between
| the Duke and his chosen second, MIR. Clarkson.
! That snrewd Yankee does not at all like the
| Dukes idea OF numbering Gerard by his superior
SIKH In fence, because Gerard IL an engineer who
has made n new discovery in gold washing which
viii save Clarkson twenty-five per cent. on the
worknn OF some mines he has recently discov-
cred. He therefore concludes to nght the Duke
| himself, and kills him without ceremony.
| LEtrangere aud her husband then depart for
their enormous estates IN America. agreeing to
overlook divorce which has been passing
| episode In their existence; and Gerard On.
Mounet Suily) is left to be happy with the Duke s