Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-25
MRS. JORDAN.

! Z" 1t was not by cursory acquaintance that
| Mrs Jordan could be known; unreserved con-
fidoncc alone could develop her qualities, and
none Of them escaped my observation. ! have
| known her when in tic busy bustling exercise
| of her profession: have knoan hex when in
the Tranquil lap OF ease. Of luxury, and OF nag
! nifcence. / haze seen ncr in Theatre, sur-
| rounded by a crowd oi ij.lltir9 drdmsiists.
I have seen her in ra'l"". surrounded by
numerous, interesting, ana nelo'.d ohspring.
have seen her h,ppv: | have seen her, alas!
, miserable: and | cogu not help participating
| in all her feelings. At the po,it of time whon
l first saw Mrs. Jordan, she could not be much
more THINK than sixteen years OF age; and
was making hor debut as Miss Frances, at the
Dublin theatre. " is torihy Of observation,
that her early appearances IN Dublin were not
in any of those characters (s,vo one) wherein
she afterwards go eminenily c,cc.lcd; but such
as, being more girlish, were better suited 10
her spirits and her age. was then, Of course
less competent than now 10 exercise the crit
zeal art yet could not but observe, that IN
these parts she was perfect even on her first
appearance: she had no art, in fact, TO study;
Nature was her sole instructrcss. Youthful,
joyous, animated, and droll, her laugh bubbled
up from her heart, and her tears welied out
ingcnUously from the deep spring of feeling.
Her countenance was all expression, without
being all beauty; her form, then light and
elastic; her flexible limbs; the juvenile but in
descr,bablo graces of her every movement.
Impressed themselves, as percoii ed, indolIbly
upon all who attended even her earliest per-
formanccs. Her expressive features and elo-
qucnt actions a all periods, harmonsed bland
" with each other; not by artiiicc, however
skiliul, bi by intellectual sympaihy and
when her figure was adapted to the part size
assumed, she had only 10 speak the words of
an author to become the very person she de-
Gneated. Her voice was clear and distinct,
modulaiing itself with natural and winning
ease; and when cXerted in song, IFS gentle
futc-like melody formed tho most captivating
contrast to the convulsod and thundering bra
vurn. She was, throughout, the untutorcd
child Of Nature: she sang without effort, and
generally without the accompaniment of m
s,rdlnents; and whoever heard her DcGG Of
the Mint, and her Sued Bird, either in pub
lie or private, if they had any soul, must have
surrendered al discretion "
The last scene Is a sad contrast. On the
Continent, " cstrapgcd from those she loved,
as also from that profession the resort to wtIch
had never failed to restore hcr animation and
amlise her fancy; mental maladv soon COM
mrnicaied It's contagion TO the physical organ
na' ION, and sickness began TO make visible m
roads on the heretofore healthy person Of that
lamcnted lady. We have seen that she cs-
tsblshcd herself, in the first place, at Bo!og-
ncsdr-NIer. a cottage was selected by her al
Marquctra, about quarter of mile from The
cato of the fortress. Often have | since, as II
on classic ground, strolled down the little gar
den which had been there her creates. source.
The cottage is very small, but noat, conino-
dous, and Of cheerful aspect. A flower aud
fruit garden of corresponding diurnsions and
a little paddock Comprising less than hall an
acrc,) formed her demcsnc. In an adjoining |
cottage resided her old landady, Madame Dr- !
ramp, who was in II state OF competence, and |
altogether an original. She had married |
gardener, much younger and of humber birth |
'han herself I think slo had been once !
handsome; her story povcr heard falls; bui 4
II appeared that she had ilcurishcd during tie ?