Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-13

sterllty or other causes, he has instituted
himself special guardian of the Vaudeville
and Gymnase Theaters, that no young au-
thor can, without the greatest difficulty,
enter, unless MIR. Gondinet opens the door
to him. Unknown authors who
BEG FOR HEARING
Carry their manuscripts to the dlstin-
guished comedien, who fourishes his pen
throughout, a touch here and touch
there, and placing his name first in great
letters carries it to the manager, and after
wards divides the profits with the original
authors. Such was the case with regard
to Jonathan" a comedy containing an
American character very well drawn, and
which has proved one of the greatest sue
cesses of the Gymnase Theater for years
it was the first effort of two young authors
who found the door of the theater barrl-
caded by the body of Mr.. Gondinet, and
appealing to him, he added few words
here and there, accepted third OF the
profits and monopolized the lions share OF
the honors The last piece is called " Les
grapds enfants, " and treats of divorce, but
whether in favor or against it is difficult to
ulSCONtI tuc HOWCNOA $500
unstable, are rendered interesting by the
clever manner in which they are brought
in contact, and the amount Of wit which
pervades the entire play.
NEW MELoDRAhIA,
By Messrs. Dennery and Bresil, made Its
first appearance at the Ambigu Theater
night before last. Mr.. Dennery occupies
the same position in melodrama as Mr..
Gondinet in comedy; his name also
seldom now appears without being ac-
eompanied with that of some un.
known young author, but unfortunately
for this last his name is always more diff
cult to retain thAn that of the known
dramatist. Mr. Dennery is well known
throughout America, as he is one OF the
authors of "Les Exiles," as wellas other not
less interesting dramas. This last piece is
peculiar, and requires greater tax on the
Imagination and good faith of the audience
than is generally the case in melodrama.
The events pass under the reign OF LOUIS
XVI; an officer of the marine is not pres
ent at his post during battle on the
Astree, attacked by fotilla OF pirates IN
the Indies. No trace of his absence, he
supposes, could remain after this disaster.
Armand de Maillepre reaches France,
where he again sees his father and mother,
who believed him epgulfed with his brother
in arms, and it is they who are to Judge OF
his conduct He went on land the even
ing before the unexpected attack upon MS
vessel, authorized by his commander to re-
main there until the following morning. In
the night a great fire lighted by the re.
bellious slaves spread over the dwelling OF
the Baron d'Armagny, whose daughter
| he loved he fastened to the held
of disaster and succeeded IN saving
the fair Henriette. But in the mean time,
some one stole his horse, and in order to
return he was obliged to surmount thou
sand obstacles placed in his way. When
at last he arrived at the shore there was
no longer any bark, the Astree was far out
! in the sea where they were already light
ing. He sprang into the water to SWIM,
/ but the sea threw him back inanimate on
/ the sand, and when he came to the Astree
had disappeared.
THIS LOYAL SOLDIER,
Who feared to have forfeited his honor,
needed the acquittal of his parents /; tie
Count de Maillepre opened his arms to
him, the child whom he thought lost was
found, the officer who judged himself
deserter was absolved, and he could be-
come the husband of her whom he had
saved and who also had returned to France.
| In the midst of this happiness scarcely got
| glimpse of, there rose up under false
name rather mysterious creature who had
also arrived from India, and whom they
had received generously and rather too
easily in the midst of the family. This
| Diana is none other than the daughter of
Portuguese, chief of the pirates who in
tested the coast of India, and whom
Mr.. De Maillepre had had brand
ed and whipped in the public
"place. This Carbacena had since
died, leaving only this daughter, who IN
| herited the savage instincts of her father.
She did not enter this family but for the
purpose of avenging the death of her father.
! The ships book of the Astree had fallen
into her power, and on this book the cap
tain had stated the absence of Armand de
Maillepre and dishonored his desertion.
To make of the daughter of the condemned
Carbacena the daughter law of heJudge
Maillepre by marrying his son is the bar
gain which she TRANQUILITY proposes to
Armand to destroy this accusing page.
The Count offers Diana his entire fortune
in exchange for this leaf, which would be
in the eyes of the Council of War the death
warrant of the officer, signed by his own
commander. Diana refuses, and If the
next day she is not Armand's wife she will
place the accusing proof in the hands OF
the "Criminel Lieutenant, who will the
better do his duty since he aspires to the
e =, i. A TO
the officer. In the middle of the night
Armand wanders across the garden of the
chateau, near the pavilion which overlooks
deep ravine, and which is occupied by
Diana. Suddenly fearful specta-
Gle rises up before his eyes he
sees his father enter the creole's
room and strike her with his sword,
then raising the inanimate body of Diana,
he precipitates it into the ravine, and
moves away with fixed eye and grave and
slow step. Will this crime, which delivers
them from mortal enemy, remain forever
unknown? No, daylight soon came, the
victim eroans and signs, when she is heard
and succored. They bring her before the
family, her eyes already nearly closed by
death. She, however, finds sufficient force
TO rise up and point out to the . Crlminel "
Lieutenant the author OF the CRIME, who IS
no other than the Count, but Armand
throws himself before his father, and cries
out, cit is 1 L am the assassin I" Why
does this guilty father then allow his inno-
cent son to accuse himself? 1t is because
he is ignorant of all that has passed. He
went to sleep broken down with sorrow,
and had seen in a nightmare the council OF
war condemn his son to death, and near
the condemned, triumphant, that monster
of woman, his denunciator. He had
seized his sword, and in his somnambulistic
sleep had marched straight to Diana's pa
yilion and killed her. The father, uncon-
scious of his crime, believes his son to be
guilty, and considers him crazy since it
is difficult for them to understand
each other. At last they are withdrawn
from this cruel predicament by Mr.. de
I