The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-31
sARDOU's NEW PLAY.
Rsmanee Of NihiIism with . Remark able
Fart for Sarah BeruhArdt.


Fart for Sarah BernhArdt.
PARIS, Dec. 12.-The Parisians are so con-
stituted that new play OF sardou throws all
other topics into the background. while Sarah
Bernhardts debut before Partisan audience.
after her adventures as wandering star. has
the privilege Of overshadowing the memories
OF two great men who had the misfortune to
die at this inopportupe moment-Louis Blanc
an. ne advocate Georges Lachaud. the great
est French criminal pleader Of this century
after Chalk d'Est Angc. One must have lived
at Paris, and lived the life OF the Parisians in
order to realize the intensity OF public curiosity
on this occasion. It was simply phenomenal.
How many people last night vainly offered 500
for the privilege OF witnessing the first per-
Torrance Of Fedora I" from stool In pas
sage way!
need not tell the old story Of sardous man.
ner Of writing play Of the conscientious way
In which he superintends every detail OF the
az MARY and the other SscEneye anesdotes,
Bnt before analyzlng tho Mot and tho principal
SITUATIONS. wish TO call attention to the fact N
Gas H fh sh hem has only
haa tNr r. &c II th
ssr Of ad the IN Tie fourth act q
the sphIns, In a ftders her role e com;
her means. to display, ali the phases Of her
marvellous talent Al her exquisite ismi,
st w. Sarah q fs say
mind Ir" f. wsrs see ~ o sTea l.
woman: At least This II the Way hsyc, token
ses In orde sna to render ay he as
tho she onsh r. BE- u
amorous like an Italian, refined like French
woman and racy like an Enslish ,rIIa a
ali that and Tor the tirst Time my travels have
t, study ali these tyres from lie"
to. S0 S is dsssopsS sssdau
hung his four acts OF concentrated emotion and
Rs YRsR ss The fHn'f%so!ss
g Pciersbprg The son Of the Minister q ths
asn pSdf y. mGs so",ed Soass th fSna
z:a3s Iss G s s9$S asss a.
s ss eso are PhnsYss sa alm %Se WI Pat
bSrns hs LAY tier Ws to sa
shows that the letter has disappeared; it has
man has entered the room. the .t6u,i Loris
lanoT T. is therefore c conc tina. hoIs
vladimir Is son q the POLES Minister, ,there-
fore tos II Nihilist md H'sd is tae via
striking exposition Of the drama.
the second act transports us to Paris. to the
pretty. aud frivolous lady who plays at con-
sriracy In order to console herself for her dis.
appointments In love; Loris. who has gone
nnSnst him BY Poee Is haSa
Of 0lgas sao1 ind there he meets meet and falls "
upon herself the mission Oh discovering the
murderer Of WiadimT. and under cover Of .
supposed disgrace has some to Paris e direct
her surprise Fedora felt cit no instinctiSe repai,
sSn a Mhsn sss h she wosd e 70
prefer 70, find him INNOCENT When finally
Loris declares his love she listens more sin
theess. in one Of the finest scenes OF the
drama, she struggles AGAINST her sympathy Ior
passion until she forces him to confess the
crime Yes it is he, Loris. who killed Vladimir!
Ws The story + too long to tel here In the
they might be observed or overhpard.. Then
tonish At ny h9ns eSeams foa ito
Vladimir sufiices. In Fedora's heart there is
no longer love nor indulgence but only hatred
r Ing third aq, We find Fedora at her house vs..
geance. She writes letter to the Police MIN
lister mt St. Petersburg. announcing that the
mated Vladimir. and adding from the indca-
tons Of the secret police. that his acconpiices
were his brother laleridn and his friend Patton
SrkOreV. AS Loris's crime u supposed to be
aaltiqn S q the French doysrnment, FtdSra Wa
take charge OF the extrudtion herself. Ac
cordinaly she posts an ambush OF secret police
in her yard end gives them orders TO seize FL, gaE
bule after his interview with her.
Loris arrives full of tenderness and love: he
resumes his story where it was interTpp'sd in
not out OF poiti cal hatred: Why. Because
Waain'r was the lover Of his wife liz, Ea.aa
that ii; marrlass with i:sdora is simply a mat at;
deU,, wounded Loris. Lpris's ball killed
w! Wqd% WY does d not t To- defend hi him
Minister OF Police; he would not be listened TO-
tte Wild Beast, Whose ruin ,-shss
s sns has RSs rayeS ShSsf Rrgsr s.2 EfaS
deceivtr. the lover Of F'a,da! In aysngins his
she has laid an ambush for ,his, man! II he
goes out he j. lost, perhaps killed! What Is to
be donet Fedora cannot son confess that she has
compromi mise tho frincess Eoris ought to CO.
No, Fr,t0ra throws herself before him, throws
her arms round him. forces him, by love and
tenderness, to stay until day. This scene is
really admirable in truth and humanity.
fedoras passion for Lori Is all the more pro-
found rs She feels that she is responsible for
ali the disasters that have befallen HIM, What
would he do II he heard that Fedora had de-
nounced him and that Frdora was the cause Of
his exile and Of the persecution OF his friends
and relations in Russia! This leads us to the
terrible and violent d6nouement Of the fourth
act. Eedords blind vengeance has been pir-
suing It's work. and has produced fata and IT.
remsdiahle consequences G0rishkne has been
dsgraced and LOrs has been parloned: but
before his fall the terocous Police Minister had
time to starve Platoon Srk0ref in prison and
to let Vdle,dn the brother Of Loris, be drowned
in his dungeon by a sudden rising of the
Neva. On hearing this news the mother
Of the Irdn0fS falls life!ess This terrible
news all comes at the same moment together
with the announcement Of his pardon ana OF
the arrival at Paris Of his friend BoroG. who
will show him the letter of the Russian lady
this wretched womsn fidora feels that ali is is
over. Her despair, her tears, her s,!pplicatiops
cause Lor,s to divine the truth. Frforn il the
woman who has betrayed him! In IN tburst
of fury and hatred L0riS springs upon Frtiol'd
filings her to the ground. and half strangles
her, calling he- SPY and an infamous wretch
Fedora STRUGGLES, frees herself, crawls
to the table. drinks q cup Of poison
and dies pHrdoned. The pantomime Of
Sarah Bernhard while Loris is reading the