Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-03-14


md defant-just such a sovereign as
me might we'll imagine adorned the
court Of Athens. at that Medieval
period when it was a picturesque mix
ture of feudal and Byzantine rule.
AS the duchess, as the woman, as the
distracted mother, as the lover,
as the avenger = in all these
phases is she marvelousIy por-
rayed. We first see her as the Duchess
or Athens, floating gracefully upon the
wave of fiattery and adulation; pleased
with herself, naughty and condescend-
ing. Then as the mother, almost crazed
with the seeming loss of her darling
child, and Offering for his rescue what
TO her is the greatest of all gifts-her-
self and her duchy
1t is here that she appears proud 10 a
fault, permitting no one to differ with
her nor contradict her opinions. Fond
of her child. Fancy free, yet longing,
looking for a mate. A hero worshiper,
How eagerly she seeks to find in her
child's deliverer her girlhood's love,
Zaccaria, who has been reared in Mos
lem court, and how great the disap-
pointment when with bated breath, she
sits clasping her young heir to her
heart, asks that his deliverer be
brought before her and sees that it is
not Zaccaria, but a bleeding, stagger-
ing, rough hireling.
Instantly she resolves that to keep
her VOW is impossible, but how to es-
cape it? The cL h shall free her as it
has others-it L She. duchess of
Athens, not even T., m itself can op-
pose her will, and so she goes to mon
astic retreat to await the decision of his
holiness. Here she is humble in her
piety until she learns of the popes re-
fusal to absolVe her from her VOW, be-
cause it was sworn on the cross, when
she is suddenly transformed from a
saint into demon, uttering passionate
curses upon the church, the bishop and
the world in general. Next she is dis
closed as a love-tortured being, I'M
bridled in her passion, giving even her
honor to save her name and rank
when the offer of money, jewels, titles
and her prettiest maid of honor are
spurned by this hireling. He only re-
plies, mo, no, no." but when face to
face with him Gismonda surveys the
man and something whispers TO her
that although he is a slave yet he is
different to others about her, frank,
gentle, unselish, and, while listening
to his past love and worship for her
she Is deeply moved and when he tells
her It's only the woman he wants, and
she alone, Gismonda is quick to see her
chance for release from a life with an
inferior, promises to pay his price for
her freedom and tells him she will seek
him. This is one of the grandest scenes
of human passion ever penned by Sar-
dou, / think, a masterpiece Behold
Gismonda in a new role, Now she
comes as the avenger. Her own life
counts as naught in her frenzy to save
the hireling she has learned to adore,
and, to avenge the would-be murderer
of her child. She has loved this man
and, as dawn is breaking, leaves his
hut, Ler faithful nurse attending her,
when voices and steps are heard below
on the hill. Fearing to be seen she con-
ceals herself and then follows a scene
of love, hate. vengeance, and at last
murder one crowding so quickly on the
other that the audience hold their
breath in expectation and suspense.
Gismcnda is now the tiger and she
fiercely springs upon him who has plot
ted against her child and lover. Fac
caria falls and she stands an "aveng-
ing angel" Lastly, comes the woman
loving, trusting. sacrificing, humb-
ling herself to the dust. Such self
abnegation l never before dreamed Of