Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
MANHATTANIsMS.
Thu New Play-sarah Bernhardt-
Success In Eew York

Success In Sew York
s'ChaubeIt, our New York correspond
ent. thus speaks of the local discussion O
a new play, III his letter Of November 10th
The new play, " Daniel Rochat, at tn,
Urion square, to which nave already al
luded. evokes very different sentiments
from the large audiences that nightly wit
ness IT. Il Is so well. because so naturally
rendered, that the people who see it speak
OF 1t as Of an observation IN real lfe. The
bulk of sympathy is manifestly with Ro
| chat, not with Lea Henderson. in the con
test between conscience, or superstition
and affection. While few women OF Z
very orthodox order are on her side, IN
| sisting ON the performance of the religions
as we'll as the civil service the majority o.
them declare that she does not and cannot
love him that, If she did, she would have
made no conditions, but would have beer
only too glad to accept him on his owI
terms. Some women, by no means IA
tionalistic either, say that, admirably az
the drama is given, they cannot bear to set
it and yet they go again and again, be
cause they feel such hatred of Lea. They
call her all sorts of things heartless,
selfish proselyte, a moral monster, an III,
! human creature, and | know not what
| They do not understand how any woman
could demand such a sacrifice as
she demands of her nominal hus
band, and, not understanding it,
they proclaim her impossible. This is very
much what.they said in Paris, and Sardou,
| the author, is reputed to have admitted
! n i |,
! flexible, but that an Anerican-his heroine
is represented as a Bostonian and an Epis.
copalian-is entirely another kind of being.
A number of men feel very indignant at
Rochat for making so many concessions to
| Lea, who, as he surrenders one point after
another, demands still another, until be
finally assents to renounce her. They as
sert that he lacks proper manliness and
| strength OF character, and that, in real
life, be would have won her wholly by
taking a decided stand instead of parleying
with her superstition, and relinquishing
more or less of the principle of his life.
! You see how much in earnest the play going
public takes the drama-a very high COM
pliment to the manner of its production.
For the time Charles Thorne is tie veIi-
table Rochat, and Sarah Jewett the genu.
inc Lea Henderson.
A dispute.has also arisen among patrons
of the Union Square as to what Sardou
intended to convey by his two characters.
Did he wish the audience to understand
that they are really and mutually in love
or that Lea alone is in love with Daniel
Each of these questions has been, and is
still, actively discussed, though, as may
be inferred, without any satisfactory con-
clusion. 1t m ght be logically deduoed
from the drama that the author designed
to indicate that Lea does not love Rochat
at least with the strength that he loves
her; that she is constitutionally thee.
logic zealot, and has not room in her mar
row nature for an absorbing sexual pas.
sion. Daniel evinces his wisdom certainly
by advising her to sign the paper needful
to their divorce. Such man as he never
could be other than unhappy welded to
such a woman as she. The denouement
may not be acceptable to the sentimental,
though it is clearly natural and altogether
sagacious.
Sarah Bernhard has, as you have seen,
made her long contemplated appearance in
the New World, and has had as enthusiasts
tic reception as she could have wished.
Booths Theater at her debut, Monday
evening, was packed, and the crowd was
SO great outside that it was very hard to
get into the house. The receipts at the
box-otiice were about 81 600, and probably
as much more went into the hands of the
spectators. Thousands waited In the
street from dusk until the close of the per-
formauce IN hope of catching glimpse of
l. L. ! 4, H., II
the Standardization square was
thronged while she was serenaded every
body trying to get peep at her face.
Ringing cheers We're gwen for her,
and she was delighted with the IT.
rational demonstrations in her favor.
Why the populace should take
such an interest, or indeed any interest at
all, in foreign actress that most of them
know nothing of, it would be difficult to
explain. Bat it is the way of the popu-
lace, and always has been, and the thing
naturally and necessarily pleases Bern
hardt. She has cause to be gratified, for nc
European actress has ever been so vigor-
ously and vehemently welcomed to the Re-
public. Her engagement will probably be
far more successful than was Rachers,
twenty years ago, and Rachel's amazed her
as well as the dramatic world of Paris.
Some of the critics appear to be IN doubt
as to whether Bernhardt has extraordinary
talent or positive genius. She doubtless
has both. | have often seen her in Paris,
and to my mind she does not appear at her
best in Adrlenne and Frou- Frou. But she
shines resplendent as Phedre-her favorite
part. as Dosa Sol in g Hermann" and as
Mrs. Clarkson in Dumas L'Etrangere,
in all of which she performs during her pres.
ent engagement. She says her reception has
gone beyond her highest anticipations.
She processes to be in love with America
and Americans, and she is improving her
acquaintance with the city by daily drives
and minute observation. New York re.
minds her OF Paris, and she can hardly be.
lieve that the greater part of its growth
and all it's pleasaDtness and attractivenes;
| hAd come within 20 or so years. Like
most of her compatriots, she had expected
to find New York very rough, little more
than half civilized, and her vision OF miles
on miles of handsome shops and elegant
residences has altered her opinions Of the
new world completely.
Manager Abbey viii, so far as can be
judged at present, make deal of money
by his bold enterprise, despite the princely
sum he has paid her, and the enormous ex.
penses of the troupe He has proved, fol
an hundredth time, that audacity is the
parent of success.
Oliver WENDELL HOLMES ON SPELLING