The morning news., 1892-03-27

the clergy, repsAied warnings Of the mag
istrates and the best efforts of gendarmes
seemed for time, alike powerless to pre-
vent the court being buried beneath tho
ever increasing inflow Of the scum Of the
great city. Happily all this Is now
changed and Paris has set one good exam
pie In public morality-an example which,
perhaps, London and New York might do
well to follow.
II was with the beginning Of the trial
OF Anastay, the assassin Of Baroness Dellard,
that there was first applied what is intended
to be an tntextble rule, governing the ad-
mission OF persons TO the court Of assizes
during the progress of celebrated criminal
cases. This rule provides that the privilege
OF admission shall be confined exclusively
TO judges, advocates. court clerks and OFF,
cers, and TO journalists-all OF whom must,
in order 20 secure admission. appear in the
discharge Of duties directly connected with
the case on trial.
AN ODD DRAMA.
IL has often been charged; aud, perhaps,
not always without reason, that the French
stage in its straining after dramatic effect
does not hesitate TO submit to rough hand
ling certain OF those things which it Is
the inherent instinct Of persons OF
refined instincts 80 hold sacred. 1t
Is. however, seldom that counterfeit
presentmants OF the saddest emotions and
most solemn situations are here permitted
to descend to the scale. OF buffoonery, which
has been reached at one OF the theaters of
Milan.
At the theater referred to there is being
nightly presented what is called a drama,
but which Is nothing really more than a
mass OF wood. paint, lights and other stage
furniture, heaped up and strewn about,
representations of alleged incidents con-
nected with the life and death of the late
Gen. Boulanger.
With the coming Of the fourth act Of
this remarkable drama the curtain rises
upon bed-chamber scene, and the audi
ence. in company with the daughters OF
Gen. Boulanger, who enter at the proper
cue, proceeded to "assist" at a representa-
tion of the death OF Nine. de Bonne~
mains, the generals mistress. One natur-
ally wonders what Mme. Boulenger's
dear girls are doing at the bedside or
the dying Bonuemains. Not for long,
however need the marvel last; for, to the
slow and solemn groaning Of the big fiddle,
aided and abated by its companions of the
orchestra, and. in the midst OF q sepulchral
sort Of gloom. which follows the turning
down of the lights, 1t Is made known that
the Misses Boulanger have come by the
flying express from Paris to Brus-
sells to forgive their fathers mistress for the
chagrln which she had caused their loved
mama.
This is pretty good; but better remains
behind. The hilaritY Of the fifth and last
act is worked on In the midst OF a tabIeau
representing the tomb of Nine. dc Bonne-
mains, in the Ixelles cemetery. 1t is good
long act, and one that is made the most Of
The suicide of the general is a scene so
artisticaly elaborated that it is doubtful If
it could be made more impressive, even
though the distinguished soldier and politi-
clan was to march In upon the stage In full
military fig and do himself to death to the
music OF brass band. Considering
that in this scene 1t is simply the duty of the
general to kill himself as speedily and grace
fully as possible, it is remarkable how much
time he puts in over the business, and how
recklessly he hangs himself about among the
headstones and other funeral furniture Of
the stage.
There is. Of course, an apothesis, full OF
variegated lights, growing bass viol notes,
ancient oherubim AID Milanese angels of
dubious antecedents and associations.
1t does not speak well for Italian culture
that this wretched mockery Of a drama has
proved a financial success, aud has been
patronized by some Of the most fashionable
people OF Milan. PAUL DE BARsAC.