THE ENGLISH DUKE AND THE FRENCH ACTRESS.

Southland Times, Issue 1210, 15 February 1870, Page 3

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 a very rich Eniiish-nan has chosen in which to display some of the most silly eccentricities that ever an islander couM hiiue imagined. They say that: this Englishman, who wears a great and what is still more important, an historicil name, for a long time wished to he behind the scenes of a great theatre, but n^t like an ordinary visitor, or from curiosity; he wished to study for himself artistic life as followed by actors, actresses, and " figurantes." I n a word, to do for pleasure what stage heroes have to do by ne^ssifcy. It ii stated, that this is the simple truth, that this Englishman, in order to satisfy' his strange caprice, took a situation ai a buffoon, and for eight diys exposed himself to the laughter of the public in the character of an ostrich. My fellow* members of the Press havj 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 to study artistic habits that he consented to make himself ridiculous ; it was simply this, he was head over ears in love with a yoausj person' who played in the piece. He loved like Englishmen can love — it was fierce and uncontrollable. He 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 did distinguish 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 Pres* have not only be.°n 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 as he came, and hia valet de ehambre has been the cause of /this. " One is never betrayed but by one's own.'* Imagine to youri»elf that this gentleman could not entirely do away with all hia aristocratic habits even when on the stage, and altho ugh wishing to pass a s a poor actor, he gave ordera to his servant to come and dress him every night, and put on hia " 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. The 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 (?) understood it all, and resolved to completely turn the hsad 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 in reduced circumstances, and that she had taken to the career of an actress from 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/ — Enfin, the ostrich, proposed to the little actress on Saturday, 2nd October. The marriage is to be celebrated in eight days. The trousseau has been purchased, the banns published, and the future looms with joy. Everything tends to predictthat in a short time the little actress will be presented to the Queen of England under the title of a duchesg.