Connecticut western news., 1883-02-28
A NEW FRENCH PLAY.
With n Plot Laid in tho United States

"Le Nouveau Monde," a four act drama which is creating 8 sensation in Paris has it's scene in the United States during the War of Independence. The principal personages are Lord Cecil, commanding the English forces; Ruth, his unacknowledged wife; Mrs. Andrews, an adventures, and Stephen Ashwell, who is loved both by Ruth and Mrs. Andrews. Toward the close of the play we are introduced to the interior of a squatter's house, the last outpost on Rhode Island. The war is at it's height. Washington's army has been thoroughly organized and for some time past has been engaged in repeated fights with the English under Lord Cecil. Mrs. Andrews lives amid the troops. Her courage and devotion to the wounded excite general admiration. She passes for being the noblest of women, and no one suspects the odious nature of plans. Nor are Mary and Ruth less heroic. Ruth has even been wounded in the shoulder during recent engagement, in which she had followed Stephen.
 The attack on the English has been fixed for the next day, when, to the astonishment of the Americans. Lord Cecil's soldiers, which were believed to be at least ten miles off, make their ap- pearance on the scene. Unless they are driven back an irreparable disaster is inevitable.
 Washington is vainly trying to un- derstand the strange movement of the enemy'when word is sent him that his plan of attack had been betrayed to Lord Cecil by Ruth. The real traitress is, of course, Mrs. Andrews, who brings the infamous charge against her rival All appearances, however, are against her victim and Ruth is compelled to own that she is the wife of Lord Cecil, the commander of the hostile forces.
 Though the revelation has almost over- whelmed Stephen he defends her; but she is put in chains. Her trial is fixed for the next day. The enemy is close, at hand, and as the safety of the army is of paramount importance, Ruth is aban- doned
 Mrs. Andrews then sets fire to the house and surrounding forest. Lord Cecil finds his wife amid the flames, has her chains broken, and carries her away to Boston with his retiring army.
 The first tableau of the fifth aot shows us the hall of the Military Court, at Bos- ton, on the morning of the 4th of July, 177e. Boston, besieged by Washington's army, is in desperate strait. The En- glish troops are between two fires threatened from without by the besieg- ing forces, and from within by an upris- ing of the Bostonians, which seems in- minent.
 Lord Cecil, seeing no prospect of re- lief, embarks the remnants of his army, and only keeps with him one company of 120 men as guard of honor. With these he determines to brave death for the honor of old England and let the town be carried by assault rather than surrender. -
 Before starting, however, he tells Ruth that he has informed Estepha and Washington she is innocent of the trea- son she was accused of.
 The federals rush on for the last as- sault. Lord Cecil and his companions are killed in the breach. Stephen ar- rives only just in time to save Ruth from the dagger of Mrs. Andrews, who is herself slain, and the play ends by the solemn proclamation of the 1ndepend- enoe of the United States.