The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-17
THEWEEK'S ADJUSTMENTS
BERNHARDT AM COQUELIN IN
.L,AIGLON- At ESGLIsH's.
Peter Il. DALEY i'm Hodge, Podge a
co-at the same House-Mrs. Fiske
i'm .Becky Sharpr-Other Houses.

Nine. Sarah Bernhardt. the greatest liv-
ing actress. and her distinguished associate
Beneit Constant Coquelin. who is acknowl-
edged to be the most brilliant actor on the
French stage. with their large supporting
company, will give a single performance
of Edmund Rostand's widely discussed
romantic drama, "LAiglon," at English's
Opera House Tuesday night Of the present
week. Nothing need be said in the way
of praise Of either Nine. Bernhardt or M.
Coquelin. They are known in practically
all Of the civilized countries of the globe.
The play which these distinguished artists
are TO present is one OF the dramatic SEN
sations Of the decade. 1t tells the pathetic.
intensely tragic story of Napoleon's son,
the little Duke of Reiehstadt, who was
compelled to go out of life at the early
age of twenty-one. with his brain seething
with unattained ambitions. Victor Hugo
was the first TO call the little duke "LAig
ion," or 'The Eaglet." This name was
given to him because he died with all his
hopes disappointed. his ambitions una
chieved. There is no figure in all history
more sad. more pathetic than this one.
In Rostand's superb play one sees in the
first act the frivolous court of the little
dukes mother. Maria Louisa, who has re-
turned to her early affiliations in Austria
and almost forgotten the immortal genius
of her husband, the dead Emperor. The
boy Is reciting history to his two tutors;
that is, such history as they have been told
20 teach him-history which travesties his
fathers deeds as far as possible. But the
little duke knows better; he has learned
differently from books carefully hidden in
the mattress, and later in the act, after
ne has frightened the two professors away
by breaking into a passionate recital OF
the great Victories OF Wagram and Austen
litz, he listens with deep earnestneSs 10
Fanny Ellsler, the celebrated dancer, who,
standing on a table, proclaims the list OF
the great EmperOrS victories. In the next
act the duke is in mis- study, and about TO
take his lesson in the art of war. He Is
astOnished and delighted, when the toy
soldiers are unpacked, TO find them painted
in all the gay cOlcrS of the Grand Armee,
instead of the white Of Austria, as they
were the day before. Metternich, the crafty
prime minister, rs enraged TO find drawn
up the mimic grenadiers, chasSeurS, cuiras-
Eiers and lanciers of the empire. and orders
that the soldiers shall be painted white
again, but a man whispers in the little
dukes ear, II VIII recolor them for your
Highness." This man is F1ambeau IN.
Coquelin), who was at one time grenadier
of the Guard, and now a representative or
fhe Countess of Camerata's conspiracy TO
place the "Eaglet" on the throne of France.
Flambeau urges the boy on to action, begs
him 10 overcome MS IedTS ana SHAKE OIL
his lethargy and so back TO France 10
claim his own. The Marshal MarmOnt-the
very one who betrayed the great Napoleon,
by the way, but now repentant-Joins MS
prayers to those of Flambeau, and, working
10 the same end, the marshal of France
and the old sergeant beg the boy TO arouse
himself. Finally the lad agrees and prom
Uses TO meet the conspirators. appointing
the historic field of Wagram as the trysting
place. But Metternich smells a rat, and
with cold. cruel art endeavors to dissuade
the lad from such hopes. Placing the youth
before a mirror, he mocks at his slight,
wasted frame and pale face, and asks him
how he, such a physical weakling, can
aspire to a throne. Yet the lad does not
give way, and later meets his supporters
on the battlefield, where they are sur
rounded by emiSSaries or Mettern1ch. They
only seek 10 arrest one, however-the vet
eran hero Flambeau. who, rather than fall
into their hands,, deals himself a mortal
stroke. As he lay dying he imagined, in
his delirium, that he was participating In
one OF the great Emperor's battles, and
then died as he had lived, a soldier of the
Legion in every sense of the word. In the
last act the little duke is seen on his death
bed. Behind him. his little wasted hand
resting on il, is the silver cradle given him
by tire city of Paris. and he has read to
him the ceremonial OF his own baptism.
Then he directs General Hartmann TO re-
count the list of his fathers victories. and,
with a sigh OF defeated hopes and amDi-
fions. turns away from the world that had
given him so little-he had a right to de-
mand so much. Metternich, cold TO the
last. looks at the body without emotion.
and, turning away, says simply, Bury
him in the little white uniform of an Aus
TRAN colonel" Not even as a winding
sheet were the colors OF France allotted to
this most pathetic figure IN history.
The company supporting Nine. Bernhardt
and M. CoQuelin is said TO number seventy
people and to be made up of capable play
ers-