The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-31
SARDON,S NEIH HLAY.
A Romance OF Nihiiism with = Remark able
Part for Sarah Bernhardt.

stituted TINT n new play Of Sardou throws all
other topics into the background while Sarah
Bernhardt's debut before u Partisan audience,
after her adventures as q wandering star. has
the privilege OF overshadowing the memories
OF two great men who had the misfortune to
die at this inopportune moment-Louis Blanc
nm. ne advocate Georges Lachaud the great
est French criminal rleader OF this century
after Chalk d'Est Ange. 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. 1t was simply phenomenal.
How many people last night vainly offered 800
for the privilege OF witnessing the first per-
Torrance OF Fedora from stool In pas
sage way!
need not tell the old story OF Sardou's man
ner OF writing play. Of the conscientious way
in which he superintcnds every detail OF the
at Marty, and the other hackneyed anecdotes
But before qnalyzing the plot and the pr h
issd T u h to fa roa r3e SARAH
B ii has created Hitherto she has only
had epsodc parts FIR IN % II b Rs
act OF the "Eirangere." in the fourth act Of
Rome yaincpp." Hnd secondary character q ERIN in
her means. to display ali the phases Of, her
n aiait'i impressicnability. and neryosity.
In letter %rtsn oB he I've 81
ton OF woman. Eve. the creation. of God. is
to Ssrdoq ibs S Sre"fSS nvo T. all
the role. Fedora is the incarnation Of all fem
mine charms and Of AL f tIln ne de-
G que like slay, violent like 2 spaniard,
white winged fallen angel. have tried to be
all that. and for the first time my travels have
bp NJ ADVANTAGE TO Tor L have been able
to study all these types from life"
see what s hs fha has
hung his four acts Of concentrated emoti and
passion upon q peg Of contemporary interest
Russian police, Wladbnir Gqrishki"esa is found
marry. not having seen him during tho day,
servants TO n are bnsns him hdme With BAH IN
the region of his heart. While lIiaddnd, is
breathing his last summary INQUIRY is made.
mir: he put this letter in his desk; 4 search
shows that tho letter has disappeared; l. has
man man has entered the room. the to0i Lor;s
Tdaot: it is therefore concluded that Loris
stole the letter and that Lotis is the assassin.
The police 20 TO arrest HIM: he has fled.
vladimir is son Of the Police Minister. ,there-
f2rc Log,f il Sihllist and niad. is Ne vic;
striking exposition Of the drama.
Tine seeS on act transports Sa US to rar TO inc
pretty and frivolous lady who plays at con-
srasy in order to console herself for r her dis
aiG ss Em By St lSe es sss&Sn f%
love xxi With the ft"eess fF'i6Ta who has imposed
upon, herself the mission Of discovering the
supposed Disgrace has come to Paris TO direct
the secret police kept there by the Russi IN
to Tach the N Nj rsEsG rp
s s a Mhn k%s n sSr %od Certainly to
prefer to find him innocent. When finally
LOris declares his love she listens more sim
cerey than she had Intended. but never
thcless. in one of the finest scenes Of the
drama she struggles against her sympathy for
Loris. masters her emotions and plays his
crime. Yes il is he. L0rs, who killed lItadinir'
| Why The story is too long to tell here IN the
they might be observed or overheard, Then
| tonight at my house" eXclaims Fedora, to-
ward / O'clock will expect, you. after the the;
Vladimir suflices. In Ftdord's, heart there is
no longer love nor indulgence but only hatred
In the third act we find Fedora at her house
! on the Cours Ia Refine. the most deserted of the
gea ni She writes letter 10 the Police Min
lister at 81. Petorsburg announcing that the
mated aa an So aSiins from the iaaea
tions Of the ,seret police that MS rsnd
.Sekoret: As Loriss crime is supposed to Ice
political, il Is useless to demand his extra
| UltlOn oil the frpnrn government, ftuDTU, VINO
has her steam yacht moored at the quay. will
take charge Of the extradition. herself. Ac-
cordngly she posts an ambush OF secret police
| in her yard and gives them orders to seize. gag.
and carry of Loris as he comes out of the yesti-
bule after his interview wit her.
resumes his story where IT was interrupted in
the second aft he Killed Why "Raa
Wiaddnu, was the loyer, Of his wife !'a,lda :
He has the proofs. the letters te Of Vladimir to
n, lis ma ef in WIKI Th fra & smy
ter of interest and money, Loris surprised
Wladnlr and Ia"da: duel took pla aS Wa,
Wjadlmm Why does not, Loris defend him
self in Russai ,,,a il would be useless; he is
Minister OF Police; he would not be listened to.
What revelation is this for hrdo'a This
hha ns pptt s.' whose s'' brc,her and friend
h to death This sn ms k lied
own honor. ,LOris was avenging Fedora! And
goes se out f he lost Perhaps ked What to
Be done? Fedora cannot confess that she has
compromise tho Princess: Loris ought 10 60.
No. Fedora throws herself before him. throws
ten ten s to- stay until nGf day hs IS
really admirable il. truth and humanity.
dYras passion for hos is all the m2 bop pro-
all the disasters that have befalicn HIM, What
would he do if he heard that Fe'iora had de;
|
his exile and OF the persecution of his friends
and relations in Russia? This leads us to the
terrible and violent ddnouemcnt of the fourth
act. FedOrds blind vengeance has been pur-
suing its work. and has produced fatal and IN
rrmediahle consequences. .Gd,'Shkine has been
disgraced and Loris has been pardoncd but
before his fall the ferocious Police Minister ha,!
time to starve Pidton SekortF in prison. and
TO let I'aerian the brother Of LoriS, he drowned
in his dungeon by a sudden rising of the
| Neva. On hearing this news the mother
of the Iranots falls lifcless. This terrible
news all comes ut the same moment together
with the announcements of his pardon and of
the arrival at Paris Of his friend B0rGt. who
will show him the letter of the Russian lady
who has denounced him. Loris runs to kill
this wrctched woman. Fedora feels that all is
over. Her despair, her tears her applications
cause L0riS TO divine the truth. Fr'iord is the
woman who has betrayed him! In an outburst
OF fury and hatred Loris springs upon Frdord
ilings her TO the ground, and. half stranglcs
her calling her Il spy and an infamous wretch
Fedora struggles, frees herself crawls
To the table. drinks "A cup of poison
and dies pardoned The panton.mo o!
Sarah Bernhnrdt while Lor;s is reading tn,
telegram and letter from Barot is marvellous
As Lor's learns the dreadful news, and as Fe-
dora sees tho moment Of dcnuncation arrive
for her, her yisngc is lllled successfully With
an expression Of fear. remorse. and grief; she
does not Spnnk "A word and vet her MI itul,