Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-07-22
CELESTE BERLIN.
A Tale OF Paris Before the Empire.

relate took place IN the year 10,
shortly after | had taken out my di-
ploma in Paris. had just exchanged
the gay insouciance of student life for
the forced decorum of the physician.
Ny resources were far from ample;
indeed, had often great difficulty IN
scraping together the few frances neces-
sary for my weekly rent, and | have
known what it was, occasionally, to
take walk instead of a dinner. led
dull life: with no amusements, no
friends. This year, however patient
had CHANGED to give me season-ticket
Tor the theatre of the Porte St. Martin.
1t was my sole recreation and | went
every night
A debutante WAS advertised to APP
pear in new play. Author and actress
were alike unknown; report spoke
vaguely and variously of their merits,
the theatrical world was thrown into IA
anticipative excitement and | among
the rest.
The Porte ST. Martin was my theatre
cal world. The Odeon and the Varieties
were become Ia me as unknown regions:
was an alien 10 the Ambigus and
sighed in vain for the Opera Comique.
As you may suppose, this announce
ment was full of interest for me- had
nothing else TO think of for weeks before
the event
The evening came: | was one of the
first arrivals and succeeded in obtain
ing my usual seat in the centre of the
pit. The house was crowded long be-
fore the musicians made their appear
ance and during the long half-hour
before the play commenced | amused
myself with trying to discover the new
author, by the ANXIOUS expression which
must, of course, be visible in his face.
| fixed upon the individual. in tho
nearest stage-box. as the candidate for
dramatic fame. He was pale young
man dressed with faultless taste and
was gazing earnestly around the house.
not like theatrical habitue, who stares
languidly about him to single out his
acquaintences with nod-but nervous
ly and apprehensively, as one who
breads critic IN every spectator. He
was alone and | observed that every
now and then he wiped his forehead, or
folded his arms resolutely across his
chest. as if to keep down the agitation
that possessed him. When the overture
began he retired behind the draperies
of the box and when the curtain rose |
forgot him.
Inc first and second scenes were
decidedly duh. Bocage played the
hero, young Spanish cavalero; but
he could produce no effect in 1.-THE
house was cold and silent-the applause
that welcomed Bocage was for the actor
and not the piece. The debutante,
had not yet made her appearance and
the audience began to whisper to each
other that if the lady was no better
than the play, and the play no better
than AT present, the whole must be a
failure. The third scene began: the
stage represented the environs Of
Granada IN the time of Boabdil el Chico;
party of MoorS, ignorant of the near
approach of the Spanish invaders, were
carousing under some trees. Vine and
faucled security rendered them insensi-
BILE of danger. far away was heard the
faint cchoing tread of the hostile troops;
in front, the song, the wine-cup and the
dance. On sudden, a wild and
beautiful form bounded into the circle
of reyelers, Her arms extended. her
uIlI MOdlluS OH the Wluu, Out manu-
grasping lance-hre, disdain, inspira-
ton in her eye: SO stood Celeste Berth.
A thrill of admiration ran through the
audience; Celest spoke--w words of energy
and reproach. Her voice filled the
theatre and rang upon the ear like
martial music. She pointed TO the
distant hills and 10 the coming foe; she
babe them rise and save the city of
their fathers; the Spaniard and slavery
was at hand; day waned and night was
coming fast; back, back to Granada
while yet was time; to arms! to arms.
to arms!
One look. one gesture, one word Of
proud command-and she was gone.
The curtain instantly fell; it was the
close of the first act.
For moment there was a pause