The times., 1897-06-27

1t may not be auIiss at this end or the
month 10 call attention TO an event of great
moment n the theatrical world which took
place at the other end OF the month But
the French papers, with all the Diet aiis, have
Just arrived. On the 1st Eleonora Duse
made her first appearance In Paris The
appearance of Duse anywhere is an occa-
sion, bat when an artist Of any nat iona al
ity foreign uc the extremely self-suffi-
cient Partisan makes a debut there the eyes
of the world may well be focused ON the
Seine city But added interest was given
to this event, because 1t was well known
that Sarah Bernhardt, well esconced n
her Partisan bailiwick, has not viewed
without various and sundry perturbatuns
of spirit the increasing ovatons which
the Italienne has received allover the world
On this occasion, however, Sarah, seeming
the inevitable, made the best OF 1t. And
that was great deal
She first OF all offered her own theater.
the Renaissance, to Duse, and the1 pro-
ceeded in the natural impuisive French
fashion to outdo all presidents OF dis
play and courtesy She called on Duse,
sent her flowers, praised her everywhere
and to everyone, and finally she took a
box for the first night, came with her
whole family, and applauded and bravoed
with all her might and main.
But in this connection you win find
as much amusement in the distinctly
French style of contribution Of Partisan
who signs himself ''Un Monsieur de FOR
cbest%e" as in all he has TO say of this
greatest of the years first nights. Mark
Twain could not have paraphrased so de-
lightfully:
Last night Paris signed another decree
of genius. Nine. Eleanora Duse may be
happy, and she is happy; the reception
she received was as beautiful as any recep-
tion that she could have dreamed Of.
But let US proceed in order.
The curtain was raised promptly at @
before a house packed TO the walls In the
boxes and orchestra we noticed the follow
ing persons: Princess Mathiide. her nephew,
Count Joseph Prirnoli; Countess Wolken-
stein, Countess Branicka, Countess Gref-
fuhie, yiscount and yiscounfess E. NJ. de
Vogue, the Italian authors; Marco Praga
and Antonio Travesf: the famous Italian
actress, Tina di Lorenzo, who came ex-
pressly from Italy; Princess Pauline de
Metternich, Princess iat'nsky, the Rus
sian embassy: all the members of the Italian
embassy, the minister of public instruc-
tion, Mesdames Bartet, Brandes, Rachel
Boyer and Rejane; Count Henri de Mon
tesQujou: the editor of the New York Sun,
the editor of the Tribunaof Rome, the mem
bers Of the Dumas family, Marcel Pre-
vost, J. LenIaitre, Ludovic Halevy and
Madame Marie Magnier.
During the evening tie following dis.
patches from some of the principal thea
ters in Rome were received by Duse:
I'VE send our sincere and earnest wishes.
We are sure of victory, and present our
homages to Madame Duse. "-Zanpieri
Mariani.
"The whole company, proud Of the fact
that it's manager is playing with Madame
Duse tonight, asks him to give to the
great artist their best wishes for victory
worthy Of the great battle she Is fighting
and one worthy of her talent "-FaIli
Pilotto.
The artists entrance was greeted by a
salvo OF applause. Paris gracious we'd
come to the foreigner
Madame Sarah Bern bardt, who sat with
her son and daughter, and Monsieur and
Madame Feydeau. in the stage box, took
part In the manifestation of sympathy.
You are told elsewhere Of the impress
sion created by the five acts OF Alexandre