The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25
N. RosTAND's NEW DRAMA.
The son Of Napoleon l. the Central
Figure OF the Play.

prom TIE Dcs NoiDe. Iowa. Leader)
The greatest dramatic occasion Witnessed
IN Paris for many years was the first pre-
sentation on Thursday night of Edmond
Rostand's new play. L'Aiglon. with Mad
anne Sarah Bernhardt in the title role The
secret OF the drama has been well kept
so THAT little vas known except that the
hero was the Duke OF Reichstadt. 'L'Aig-
lon the son of Napoleon and Marie
Louise. Curiosity has been Whetted BY the
announcement thar Madame Bernhard had
shorn her hair TO make her more look the
part and that she would appear in short
curling. golden locks and a white and gold
costume. She did. and it is said was the
picture of youthful buoyancy and beauty.
The mere announcement that the drama
had for las central figure the son Of Napol-
con was sufficient 10 fll the hungry Bona
partists with hope. They bought up the
best seats Of the theatre for the frs; few
nights. and hoped the play might provoke
q Bonspsriist demonstration. They were
disappointed. however. Mr. Rostsnd. it is
said. has written a great play. from both
a historical and literary standpoint. and
has. therefore. avoided everything sensa-
tional OF partisan. The tragic and pa thetic
fate Of the imperial waif appealed to the
drdmatisJ TO present the Duke of Reich
stadt. Napoleon H. in other than cursory
light.
The first act Is laid at Baden Baden.
in the Greek temple The favorite resort
CT Marie Louise. The young duke is
under the care OF his tutors. who have
instructions to teach him everything
except history. The boy knows Ma
poleon only by vague hearssy. but for
some reason his interest is caught and
he asks embarrassing questions about
Auster!itz and other battles OF Napoleon
From Young girl compaion the young
duke learns that the Emperor OF the
French is his father. The second act is
az schoeChrun, where the young duke is
surrounded by spies. among whom is the
faithful Flambeau. a former grensdier of
Napoleon, vho plays the SPY TO be near
Il AigiOn' He is the chief worker in a
plot 10 restore Napoleon II 10 the throne
Of France. one DAY Flambcau induces the
boy 10 Try ca a French uniform Meter
mich discovers them and is furious. He
orders Flamheau away. and leading Aiglou
before mirror, in an impassioned inVec-
tive. suggestive OF Hsmlet's comparison
between his father and his mothers con-
sort points out the discrepancies Of face
form. and character between Napoleon
and his frivolous. degenerate sen. The
boy. in a frenzy OF rage rushcs al the mir
ror and dashes il TO pieces Flambeau fall
ing asleep one day ard awakened BY the
entrance OF the sentinel, dIscloses his
identity by crying out, Hush. the Empe-
ror sleeps"
He had thought himself again at the pal
ace OF the Luxembourg Flambeau is driv-
en- from Schoenbrun. Other scenes show
"a masked bali al the palace Of Metternich
and moonlight on the battlefield Of Wae-
ram. in the mystic twilight where the
voices Of the slain cry out in their agony
The last acy shows The death Of L'Aiglon
Marie Louise is reclining on NapoIeon's
iron camp bed and LAiglon sits besIf,
her. To striking juXtaposition 10 The iron I
bed is the imperial cradle in which the /
young King OF Rome was placed st his
birth. While the boy leans against his /
mo- her the court chamberlain. at his re-
quest reads aloud description of the /
paEeants celebrated az Paris upon the an
nouncemelt Of the birth OF The King Of (
Rome
The presentation began az $50 o. m
End ended only al 1870 e. m The aud eaea
was composed Of the literary, artistic. and
fashionable u3tables Of Paris The yer
iic, Of The audience indicated by its an-
nlsuso and that OF the critics The follow
ing morning is that NJ Rostand has
sclIIsed The success OF his "CyrJno de Ber-
gCraC and that the divine Sarah has fill
ID her ambition by winning an unduubtCs
triumph U q masculine role. NJ Rostand
Is only thirty years old and already he
bias written two dramas which more near
y approximate The Shakespearean ideals
han any produced during the long years
intervening.