Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-20
FROM PARIS.
SARDoU's PLAY A FAILURE-FREECH RE-
LIGION AND FREE THOUGHT
The Dramatiss's Picture of the American
eirl in Franee-Art Club-Some
New Paintings.
PARIS. February %. 1880.

PARIS, February %, 1880.
Daniel Rochat," Sardou's play now
being performed at the Theatre Francois,
according to the opinion of the litterateurs
of Paris, has proved complete failure. 1t
now depends on the public to see it through
certain number of representations, so as
not to force Sardou to make his exit by the
back door. Victorien Sardou has scared
too high for the strength of his wings, and
it is not astonishing that he should sud
denly find himself on the ground. A stage
mechanic, understanding the secret of
doors, and the various effects of opening
and closing them, sort of theatrical ex
pert, has wished to teach principles of high
morality to Parisians. He has desired to
be more philosophical than the philosophers
themselves Dut now here is charlatanism
destined to as early death as in France,
where man who pretends to be something
is that one thing and nothing else, where
he is possessor of the ground he has
conquered and fully able to defend his
property. Victorien Sardou has therefore
made the philosophers smile and discon-
tented the public, without satisfying alto
gether the religious Catholics under whose
banner he has ranged his battery. In or
der to comprehend the plot of this piece
one must understand the
RELIGIOUS SITUATION OF FRANCE.
Since there is an established and intol-
Grant religion, the reformers left in France
since the massacre of st. Barthelemy are
very limited in number, and their efforts at
proselytism are very feeble, if ever made.
The established religion has it all, there
fore, its own way, and finding no opposi-
ton, no restraint on its fantasies, 1t has
succeeded in weaving number from its
holy precepts. There exists, therefore, but
two denominations-the Catholics and the
free thinkers. The distinction, however,
is unjust, for free-thinker, to religious
Catholics, is synonymous of atheist. The
free thinkers are, for the most part, faith
ers of families, literary and scientific men,
bers of society, and although they are de-
termined to think freely on the subject of
religion, it does not signify that they are
irreligious. Far from it, for all that re-
ligion contains of simplicity, charity and
humanity belongs to them as well,
even though they refuse to conform
to the ceremonies of the established
church. Sardou has wished to prove the
inconvenience of being a free thinker, and
holding Daniel Rochat above the Parisians
heads in a threatening manner, he calls
out: "You see what you get by it p In
order to render the argument more forcible
and give an appearance of impartiahty to
his own views, the author has chosen an
l.. la of no ,alo1
1t is we'll known that the English and
Americans are tolerant so far as to permit
each one to seek that religion he may pre-
| fer but they do not admit that one may be
without any religion whatever Sardou,
as usual, has not profounded the subject
and learned that in those countries the hb-
erty of religious belief has permitted each
to seek that consistent with the progression
of his intelligence or modification of his
views, while keeping in mind the important
fact that religion is one of the strongest
cards which holds society together. In
France but one religion is known, and
those who are displeased with it naturally
denounce all others. Daniel Rochat is
young French orator of great talent and
of wide spread reputation. He spends his
vacation (for he is Deputy on the banks
of the lake of Geneva in company with two
charming American ladies. He is expected
at Ferney, where they are to celebrate the
hundredth anniversary of the death of Vol
taire and where Daniel is to speak. He
arrives
IN THE MIDST OF THE CEREMONY
And profits by a momentary respite to
recount his adventure during his voyage to
his two friends, DIR. Bidache, free
thinker, and Mr.. Fargis, a philosopher,
tolerant towards all religions. The two
American ladies are two young sisters,
Miss Lea and Miss Esther Henderson.
! Daniel falls in love with the elder, but he
did not make himself known by his real
name for fear of frightening her. 1t is
only when on the tribune where Daniel
appears as the speaker of the day that
Lea recogniz IS him as her travelling compan-
ion. 1t is here the question is posed on
which rolls and is constructed the entire
piece. If that adorable young girl whom
he loves to distraction should not share his
ideas. After his lecture on Voltaire, which
must have served him as sufficiently can
did expression of faith, when Lea, in
the most passionate terms comes to
express to him her admiration and
! enthusiasm, he gives expression
to great cry of Joy. "What happiness
Thus nv opinions are yours" "Oh, how
could YOU doubt it, Am not an Ameri-
can girl, raised in the love of the Republic
and of liberty ?" LEAFS aunt is even more
confrmative. "Ah, sir, we have horror of
all superstition and despise all vain cere-
monies" Therefore Daniel is treasured.
| I I. DID
in this case meant Catholicism the ''vain
ceremonies signifed mass. The simple
girl pleased to think that the free-thinker,
whose ideas were, however, widely spread
in twenty speeches throughout Europe,
did not turn away from the Catholic
Church, but to rush into the Protestant
Church, and rejected st. Peter only to
adore Calvin. However, intoxicated by his
glory and elequence, she promises him her
hand on the spot. Two days after the mar
rage takes place before the civil authorities.
The ceremony once accomplished, the pas
tor enters. Daniels stupefaction. What
is he going to do there? Why, marry us
| the civil marriage is but formality the
religious marriage is the indissoluble link.
The struggle then takes place on this
ground VIII Daniel go to the church
VIII Lea not go? There is the sole situa-
.tion-there is
THE WHOLE PLAY,
In which the same scene is constantly re-
peated, in which each one gives his argu-
ments for and against with distressing
monotony. Mr.. Sardou could not under
stand that the subject hedged him in a
narrow path. Either the young couple
love each other or do not love each other
! if they love, it will either be the man who
| will yield and be carried away by his pas
sion, or it will be the woman. But the
moment the hero and heroine pass their
! time in theological discussions. they cannot