New-York tribune., 1889-10-17
"LA MARoUISE' AND "THE GOLDEN
WIDOW,
sARDOU's UNDEsERvED sLUR ON THE ITALIAN
NOBIIITY-A LETTER PROM MR.. MONTH.
fAe EdifOr OF Tie TriOMMe.

sARDoU's UNDEsERvED sLUR ON THE italian
NOBILITY-A LETTER PROM Mr. MONTH.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In the review in your issue Of to-day of The
Golden Widow adapted by Mr.. DAILY from Sardou's
La Marquise' it is stated that this piece in the
original was one Of the most brutal, revolving and In
decent that has been seen in any conspicuous thearc
in this generation. Mr.. DAILY has displayed singular
ingenuity and dexterty in dcodorizng and disnfcct
Ing IT," And further on, treating Of the fascinating
personality Of Miss Rehan in making tolerablc almost
the innate coarsencss Of the character of La Marqusc
mctamorphosed into Thypbena Magillicuddy, II is
stated: Nevertheless, it must be admitted that the
character is impossible. Such a woman this never
lived and brcathed'
do not know to the character represented In
the deOdorzed Thryphena Magicuddy, but the origi-
nal Marqusc of Sardou Is not imaginary character,
for she did live and breathe' in the last century.
The character that is not true IS the vile Neapo
nobleman, Marquis Campanes, who was no Ncapotan
all. In reference TO which beg 10 be allowed 10
quote a passage from lecture Of mine 81 Tho
Present Court and Nobility OF Italy, which read at
Lake Mohonk a few weeks ago In It said
L" But. beside gossip and newspaper reports, some
dramatsts have also added their quota to this mis-.
representation Of the mpecunous and immoral italian
nObleman. The famous French dramatist ssriou
wrote lately and had performed a drama entitled ia
Marluisc,' which has been translated and represented
on tho American stage The principal character Is
French woman. who, having amassed a large fortune
In disreputablc way, is anxious to exchange hor
notorious name for title OF nobility by marrying
poor nO0eman who would be willing TO give her his
name and title for consideration Not that she
wanted husband, but only his name and title, for
IN the very civil contract It is stipulated that after the
marriage they should live entirely independent Of each
other. Sarlou 10 Introduce on the stage this
,Uho 1I- d ap1
his honor for mess Of potage, finds no better way
out 90 10 Italy and invent NeapOtan Marquis OF
Cainpanella who IS reduced, cOntemptble and low
as to agree to this degrading bargain and nominslly
merries the woman Now, why should Monsieur
sardou insult Italy and the true Italian nobility by
introducing such despcable character on the stage
But mark! The worst feature Of this Is that Mon
sleur Sardou id not create tho character of this vile
Marquis The character Is historical only that instead
OF his having been an italian, he was a Frenchman-
The Marquis de Flcury-who in the last century being
dOsoiu'ey polness married MademO.sc DJfreSne,
l@Vor'e of the Duke de Rohan, brutaer OF tho
famous Cardinal dc ROhan, who was implicated with
Oouht CagOstro and Mime. dc Nalois In the purchase
ana robbery Of the diamond NECKLACE Of Queen Marie
Ahionleite The nOtaral contract IS stin extant by
which Mile Dufrcsne agrees TO pay yearly pension
of 1900 llyTes, for the payment of which she le
posted a. security "a 600 Ivros with the Marquis dc
iEIIlnahcoh' acting "a trustee for tho Marquis de
The poor Marquis did not enjoy his pension long,
Ior me hied eight months after, and the once
IA Marquise dc FleIry. That an actual historical
act committed by a French nObcman should nc
ahcn up by French author and p1raded on the sag
VI Iio worm a. uone by m0dorn Italian nODicman' -
somewhat hr la'lug TO an Italian to say the least
hut ilc thousands who have VIII see the pll,
ana 90 not Know the history Will naturally siPPoso
hai there must be such degraded beings in the llain
nobility
/ should therefore suggest that. as MIR. Day has
as Injected la Marquisc,7 he should in justice re-
STORE the Marquis 10 his original nationality, anu Ga"
him The Marquis de Feury. LUIGI MONIL
New-lorA, Oct. 3, 1853.