The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-27
Maud Adams Who Has Scored Success ~The Eaglet"

sumption Of the character of the Eaglet, or
the Duke of Reichstadt, that unfortu-
nate son of Napoleon and Marie Louise,
with the soul of q warrior and a disease
Slapped system
The initial performance of eISAiglon''
was given in Baltimore, in which city
the star and her company have. for q
week, been fitting themselves to their re-
spective roles with the view of winning
the praise of the critical audience that
filled the Knickerbocker theater.
She was perhaps at her best in the
opening act. where light comedy Dre-
walls and where situations full of wit
humor and satire abound. Though the
great scenes Of the battlefield Of Wag-
ram We're undoubtedly more in Bern
Aardt s line, nevertheless the tragic is 50
pronounced in act ~. that the interest
of the audience did not flag throughout
In the closing scene the deaJhbed of the
Duke of ReIchstadt, Miss Adams act
ing, though good, was largely conven-
tional
The part Of Flambeau, the veteran.
was assumed by J. H Gilmour, while
Edwin Arden figures as Prince Met
ternich, chancellor of Austria. Ida Wa
terman assumed the role of Marie Lon
1se- In minor respects the company was
evenly balanced, and the production was
well handled
The action Of the play begins in Marie
Loulse,S salon, where is revealed bevy
OF pretty women, who give themselves
up TO laughter, chatter and snatchess OF
music But intrigue is in the air and
while Prince Metternich is keeping a
keen watch upon all that is going for
ward, SympathizerS with the y0uner Ma
poleOn IL the duke find their wav to
his side and urge him to redeem France
one of these, the Countess Camarata
who is Of Corsican blood, appears in the
Sul5e OF a mod1ste- This woman comes
especially from Paris to persuade the
duke to attempt a coup and return to
the faithful partisans of his father
Reichstadt hesitates; he is not sure Of
himself, he viii not promise. This act
the first, is brought to a close by a sud
den appearance of the dancer Fanny
Essler, who mounts table and declaiuns
the latest bulletin of the grande armee
which she has learned by heart for love
of the dalze- This wakes Reiehstadt
from his reveries, and he holds forth
before the astOnished court, showing
that he knows a good deal OF the history
OF his father. the Emperor Napoleon
more than it was intended he should
Next We see the duke in his study at
Schoenbrunn, about TO take his lesson
IN the art Of war. He discovers that
the little wooden soldiers which usually
inquired as Austrian marionetteS, have
been painted by some friendly hand in
sem blance of the grande ar-mee Met
tefnlcR enters. and a stormy dialogue
enSnes- Upon his departure one Of the
servants supposed to be a spy in the
service or Austria discovers himself TO
the duke as Elanbeau. a former erena-
der of Napoleonts guard who has IN,
troduced himself into the court Of
Schoenbrunn for the purpose of escorting
the young Napoleon back to France.
The duke promises he viii go. but not
until he shall have asked his grand
fathers leave This failing, ne win
escape.
Then came an interview between
Reichstadt and the Emperor Francis. in
which the former pleads with charming
grace to be allowed to go to France. The
old emperor is about to accede when
AIetternich. as usual intervenes and
puts stop to any such plan. Failing
by all the methods he had tried to dis
suade the son of Napoleon from his de-
sire to return to the land of his father
MetteTnich takes another course and
tries moral suasion. He leads the young
duke before a looking glass, and there
bidding him to leek at himself, reproach-
es him for his blue eyes and fair hair,
mis- unristaka bic Hapsburg features,
and tells him he is not fit to succeed to
the throne OF his father. After failing