The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-01 00:00:00

MADLLE. RACHEL AT NEW YORK•

THE MARSEILLAISE.
The Rachel speculation which was stated to be rapidly
failing appears to have received a new impetus by her
"Marseillaise," which it will be recollected, she declined
to sing when first applied to by• her countrymen in
Ameriea. We find the following enthusiastic notices
of her performances of this republican hymn in the New
York papers :
On the night of the 9th, the combined attractions of
" Les Horaces," and the " Marseilla;ee" filled the me-
tropolitan theatre, New York, to suffocation. Long
before the commencement of the tragedy, the sale of
tickets for the cheaper parts of the house had to be
stopped. Seats were sold by thespeculators in the street
for 8 and 10 dole.
The New York Times says :—"The Marseillaise '
followed the tragedy, which, for some managerial rea-
son, followed the farce. As every one went to hear the
hymn, a different arrangement, if practicable, might be
desirable. If the hymn had preceded the tragedy,
Madlle. Rachel would have had time' to recruit her ener-
gies in the earlier scenes, where little passion is required.
But coming, as it did, after the immense physical and
mental strain of the fourth act, we can only wonder that
Madlle. Rachel's strength held out as it did. What shall
we say of the hymn itself? Imagine a pale, beautiful
woman, quivering with excitement, clasping the trio.
colour in her nervous band and crouched in weakness
beneath its sacred folds. Imagine this woman delivering
a word picture. Every suggestion of language is re-
flected in her countenance, or visibly telegraphed by her
hands. Imagine this in connection with the words of
the Marseillaise,' and you have the best idea we can
give you of the performance. Madlle. Rachel sings the
music of the hymn thoroughly. The effort appeared to
cost her some labour, and, doubtless, much of the enthu-
siasm that would have been elicited under other circum-
stances was damped by the palpable fatigue of the great
tragedienne. At times it was almost painful to witness."
The New York Courier says :—" La Marseillaise'
crowned the evening. What was it? Singing A
hoarse voice, broken, incapable of sustaining the melody
of the simplest romance, and utter want of skill in vocal,
ism--such are Rachel's gifts as a songstress. But what
could melody have added to that inspired chant of
liberty ? Melody would have made it a different thing ;
but how far from being a better ! She quivered and
cried out as the spirit worked its will with her, and made
her utter its fierce hatred and fiercer hopes. Death
flamed from her eye, and the frantic wave of her band
was like a call to vengeance. The house was alternately
bushed and in an uproar.

•
FATAL ACCIDENT.—A man named Baudry, employed
in a sugar manufactory at St. Quentin, was sent on Sa-
turday with a cart load of goods ta the village of Seran-
court. On arriving at the level crossing of the northern
railway at that place, be found that a train was ex-
pected, and that the gates were closed. He imprudently
left his horse in the middle of the road, and went into
an adjacent public-house, to wait until the train should
pass. The shrill whistle of the locomotive, which was
presently heard, caused the horse to take fright, and,
turning sharply round, it ran into the court-yard of the
railway station. Baudry rushed after the animal, but,
in endeavouring to seize it by the head, he was pressed
by the shaft against a wall with such violence that he
fell dead.