Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-01-01
FORREST IN PARIS.


We find In the New York Evening Post,
the subjoined letter from Paris. which seems
TO have been written BY Mr.. Forrest, Of the
American Theatre;
ITO say that l am pleased with what
| have thus far seen Of Paris would be
u phrase Of very inadequate meaning :
] am surprised and delighted. have
been to the Louvre, the Tu;lleries,
Place Vendome, st. Cloud-here, there,
and every where; and have not yet
seen = twentieth part Of the objects
which claim n strangers attention.
One cannot 60 into the streets for q
moment. indeed. but something new
attracts his curiosity; and il seems to
me that my senses. which have here
tofore considered adequate to the usual
purposes Of life. ought now to be en-
larged and quickened for the full en-
joyment Of the objects which surround
me. have, OF course, visited some Of
the theatres, of which there are upwards
Of twenty now open. A number Of the
best actors, however, are absent from
the city, fulfilling provincial engage
ments. and may not be expected back
for a month or more. / went to
see Mademoiselle Georges, who is
here, the queen Of tragedy. l saw
her perform the part of Lucrace Bor-
gia, in Victor Hugo's drama Of that
name. Her personation was truly beau
tiful-nay, that is too cold word: il
was grand and even terrible! Though
woman more than fifty years old, ne
yer can / forget the dignity Of her
manner, the flexible and expressive
character Of her yet fine face, and the
rich, full, stirring, and well modulated
tones of her voice. How different is
hers and natures style. from the sickly,
puerile abortions of the present Eng
lish school Of acting, lately introduced
upon the American stage-the snake
like writing and contortion Of body,
the rolling and straining of the eye
balls till they squirt, the shutting gait,
and the whining affected monotone
how different, l say, from all this is the
natural and easy style Of Mademoiselle
Georges. In her you trace no servile
limitations Of bad model but you be-
hold that sort of excellence which
makes you forget you are in theatre
that perfection Of art by which art is
wholly concealed-the lofty and the
thrilling. the subdued and the graceful,
harmoniously mingling, the spirit being
caught from the living pages of INA
lures infallible volume" Ihad been
led TO believe that, in France, the
highest order of tragic excellence had
died with Talma. II is not so. Icon.
slider Mademoiselle Georges the very
incarnation Of the tragic muse"
1.-THE French, IT must be allowed,
understand and practise the art of liv-
ing independently. They find you
furnished apartments according to your
own taste and means-comfortable
handsome, or gorgeous--in any par
Of the city or its environs. In your
room you may either breakfast, dine
and sup. or take only your coffee there
and dine at q restaurant. This is TO me
bird Of passage, and DESTROYS of taking
birds eye view Of things, a delight.
full mode Of living. Eat when you
are hungry and drink when you are
dry" seems TO be the rule of conduct
in such matters here. Paris is filed
with restaurants and Cafes of all sort
and sizes, where you may obtain your
"provant," as Captain Dalgetty would
style it, at what price you please, from
the humble sum of few sous, up e
the emptying Of a well lined purse
Ladies, gentlemen, and whole families
may be seen at these places, enjoying
their repast, and the utmost order anc
decorum prevail.