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Madam Sans Gene.

Historical romance of the Revolution, the Con-
sulate and Empire, by VIcToRIEN SARDoU,
| paper so cents
Madame Sans-Gene, wherein Victorien
SardOu has once more manifested his
wonderful theatrical talent, his thorough
I acquaintance with the manners of the
times, and his skill at dramatic CON
structiOn, has been the prevailing sensa-
sion in Paris and London for the past
several months. In the presence of this
brilliant and thrilling review of the
most stirring period of French history,
when humble men become heroes and
modest women heroines, when the glory
of the Revolution was shed over the peo-
pie, and obscure patriots were changed
into valiant princes, vast public stands
enthralled, its eyes, its spirit, its heart
enraptured by the grandeur of the events,
the nobility of the sentiments, the hu-
manity of the purpose.
When all France had absorbed the en-
thralling language of the play, as put up
on the stage of the Vaudeville, and the
true conception of Napoleons incOmpar-
able genius was again impressed upon
the world, a demand went up from the
| Nation entire for a fuller, more comHlete,
more comprehensive exposition of the
historical events that gave the Napoleo-
mic epoch its thrilling character, de-
| mand that came from spectators, the Sa-
wants, the patriotic children of the cOun-
| try. demand that recognized the limi-
| tatiOns of stage representations, and
showed its desire to 90 beyond them, fol-
low the future of the lesser but intensely
inter esting characters, to make finer
! study of the excellent woman who is the
centre of The grand plot that forms the
groundwork of this romance, to pursue
the career of those who have thriven up
on the regenerated soil, who made such
progress in the upward struggles that
they commanded the attention of the
world, and caused tie spectators of
universe to stand stupified by the un-
equaled spectacle.
1t was this intense interest in the sub
ject, this uncomfortable desire to know
more than has already been told, that
prompted NJ. VictOrien SardOu to au-
thorize and aid NJ. Edmond LepelleUier
in the creation of truthful historical
| study of the Revolution written as most
| ingenious romance, and embOdying num-
beTless details and incidents that have
heretofore been buried in the official rec
ords of the state, but were opened and
submitted to VictOrien Sardou, the mas
ter of skilful construction.
The personality of Madame Sans Gene
is an interesting one, filled with exciting
episodes, and displaying varied phases
of character that are engrossing in their
peculiarities and expressive of the readi-
ness with which the woman adapted her
self to changed fortunes and to every
situation that confronted her. Hers is
truly character study frightened by
touches of genuine, authenticated and
historical adventures, filled with glimpseS
of human nature that is admirable and.
full of sentiment.
The work is written with dramatic and
literary ability; it is a romantic narra-
tive of depth and power; it arouses the
soul and imagination of the reader, and
never permits its interest to slacken; its
emotions are ever stirring and always en-
nobling: its language is chaste and flow
ing; it exposes grand period in the
worlds history, period that has been
appropriately described as the basis for
modern Iiad; it is made up of scenes
that appeal to the romantic minds of
every nation, that are among the most
stirring any people have ever passed
through.
The graceful sentences of NJ. Victor
len SardOu have been put into pleasant
English by A. Curtis Bond, and the sal
lent features of the story have been re-
produced by the facile pencil of A. Burn
ham Shute.