THE ENGLISH DUKE AND THE FRENCH ACTRESS.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2094, 21 January 1870, Page 2

THE ENGLISH DUKE AND THE FRENCH ACTRESS.

One of the Paris correspondents of the Belgian Independence tells the following romantic story • It is this dull time that ft very rich Englishman has chosen in which to display some of the most silly eccentricities that ever an islander could hav* imagined. They say that this Englishman, who wears a great and what is still more important, an historical name, for a long time wished to be behind the scenes of a great theatre, but not like an ordinary visitor, or from curiosity ; he wished to study for himsel artistic life as followed by actors., actresses, and “ figurantes,” In a word, to do for pleasure what stage heroes have to do by necessity. It is stated, and this is the simple truth, that this Englishman, in order to satisfy his strange caprice, took a situation as a buffoon, and for eight day* exposed himself to the laughter of the public in the character of an ostrich. My fellow members of the Press have stated the case, which, in fact, is not to be denied. They have, however, been mistaken in the motives which induced this rich gentleman to appear on the stage. It was not for studying artistic habits that he consented to make himself ridiculous ; it was simply this, he was head over ears in love with a young person who played in the piece. Ho loved like Englishmen can love—■ it was fierce and uncontrollable. Ho wished to guard his incognito, make the acquaintance of the young lady, and see if she was worthy of him—in fact, that she could love him for himself alone. This is why he dhfl tinguished himself as an ostrich. What woman, no matter how intelligent, would ever suppose that the wings of an ostrich ever concealed a millionaire, and the bearer of an historical name. My fellow-members of the Press' have not only been mistaken as to the reasons of the Englishman, they have also been mistaken as to the denouement of this strange and fantastic adventure. They say he has returned quietly to England, his eccentricity accomplished. This is not the case ; the Englishman has not returned the same as he came, and his valet de chambre has been the cause of this. “ One is never betrayed but by one’s own.” Imagine to yourself that this gentleman could not entirely do away with all his aristocratic habits oven when on the stage, and although wishing to pass as a poor actor, he gave orders to his servant to come and dress him every night, and put on his “bird uniform.” On the very first evening the servant was met by the loved one of his master, who questioned him closely. She asked him who this new actor was, and how it came to pass that he had servants. Tho valet, feeling embarrassed, tried to answer evasively. At last he uttered this awkward sentence ; “ I cannot tell you anything positively, but you may feel quite certain it is an ostrich of rank.” Nothing more was required. The beautiful child (1) understood it all, and resolved to completely turn the head of her adorer. I need hardly tell you that she succeeded admirably. She enacted the shy and modest girl, gave it out that she came of good family reduced in circumstances, and that she had taken to the career of an actress for the love of her father, whom an unfortunate speculation had ruined. All this inflamed the gentleman. The fancy of the moment changed for a serious passion,—Eufin, the ostrich, proposed to the little actress <jn Saturday, 2nd October. The marriage is to be celebrated in eight days. Tho trousseau has been purchased, the banns published, and the future looms with joy. Everything tends to predict that in a shert time the little actress will be presented to the Queen of England under tho title of a duchess.