The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-09-25

A CHILD on THE STATE.-The Hoey-H Hardle
Combination will present the play entitled
"a Child Of the State" nj the Richmond
Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday nights
OF This week. The company is highly
commended by the northern press, is we'll
organized, and contains several actors well
known here.
The following Is the plot OF the play:
The scene Is laid at The Hague, in Hol.
land, in the latter part of the seventeenth
century, and the title comes from an old
Dutch law that made female orphans not
otherwise provided for "Cbildren Of the
Staie," and protected them from hlrm by
requiring that any man compromising the
honor OF one OF these girls should marry
her or suffer death. The Count Maurice de
Lsncey, nobIeman attached 10 the French
court, arrives at The Hague, accompanied
by one Gros Rene, a species OF every
body's friend. Maurice, Of course, is igno-
rant OF the peculiar law respecting these
orphans, and falls 10 flirting desperately
with Gertrande, "Chifd OF the State"
and regards the indulgence as o mere di.
version. Gertrsnde, being far from con.
tented with her lot In life, encourages the
Counts advances in the hope OF getting a
rich and titled husband. The young man
falls easily into the net the orphan has
spread for him. Gertrande begins to love
the young Frenchman with pure woman
ly love; but, upon finding that he IL be-
trothed to Marie. the ward OF Won Hell
mich, her passion causes her TO intensely
bate her rival. Marie Is also loved
By Christian, an advocate, aud nephew
OF Magistrate Wadberg, and the I'M
Gle demands the girl for bis nephew,
threatening Louise, The wife OF Won
HelmIch, with the exposure OF an unhappy
incident in her early life, OF which tiny
grave and himself as the lover who en-
trapped the woman into a false marriage
are supposed TO be the only reminders.
Louise braves the threat; Marie and Nau-
rice are happy in each others love, and the
formal betrothaI is about TO take plsce,
when Gerlrande bursts into the room and
iorbids It, demanding her rights as a child
OF the State from her betrayer according to
law. Waldberg espouses her cause, hoping
to clear the way for bis nephew, and Oh
tains from her the written proofs OF de
Lancey's advances. The unfortunate
Frencbman goes 70 prison; Gertrande
is relentless, and Marie begs her
lover to marry the orphan, and
SO save bis life. He refuses, and
desih seems imminent, when Gros-Rere,
the Deus eX Machlha oil the play, comes
into the possession OF a secret, which
proves Gertrande TO be the fruit OF the false
marriage between Lonise and Waldberg.
Her mother has long believed her dead, but
in reality she was stolen by her nurse, who
abducted ber to replace her own dead child.
Gros.Reue informs Gertrande OF ber posi-.
tion. which information at once softens and
completely changes her nature. She and
her mother recognize each other, and the
latter betrays her secret to her husband in
order TO save Maurice, Gertrande not being
an orphan. She procams Waldberg as
the father OF the girl, who deDies il, when
Won Helmicb, to save his wiie's honor,
claims Gertrande as his own child, just as
Maurice is being led to execution. Through
the whole story are also seen the characters
OF Carlne, bright, right-minded "Child
OF the State" who uses the law as a means
OF playing pranks upon the susceptible
Gros Rene. Waldberg, the villain, is
eventually brought TO justice by the conies-
sion Of one BIdoche, who has been left to
starve by bim after serving bIm 10 all Of his
yillainipS.