Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-07-29

her equal, and will probably never see
another so completely formed to command
all its influences. Yet her beauty, her
acting, even her movement, were charac-
terislc, and their character was noble
melancholy. never saw so mournful a
counienance combined with so much beau
ty. Her voice, though grand, was mean-
cholv-her step, though superb was mel
aEcholy; her very smile was melancholy;
and yet there was so much OF living intel
lect in her expression, such vast variety of
passion in her look and gesture; she so
deeply awoke the feelings, or so awfully
impressed the mind; THUG it was impossi.
BILE to escape the spell, while she moved
upon The stage.
In this language there is not the slight
est exaggeration. have seen a whole
audience burst into tears at single tone
Of her voice. Her natural conception was
so fine, that the merest commonplace often
received living spirit from her lips. |
have seen a single glance from her pow
erful eye hush an audience--I have seen
her acting sometimes even startle and
bewider The actors beside her. There is
perhaps genius for every art, and hers
was the genius Of the stage-a faculty of
instant communication between the spea-
ker and the nearer, some unaccountable
sympathy, the power TO create which be-
longs to but one in millions, and which,
where it exists, lifts its pos,essor to the
height of the Art at once, and constitutes
perfection.
1t may be presumed that ! saw this ex-
traordnary being whenever it was posi-
bic. But her chcfd'9urre, in my eyes,
was the "wfe of Macbeth" The char
acier seemed made for her, by something
of that instinct which in olden times COM
bined the poet and the prophet in one. 1t
had the ardour and boldness mingled with
the solcmnity and mystery that belonged
TO the character her beauty.
Her entrance was hurried, as if she had
but Just glanced over the letter, and had
been eager to escape from the crowd of at
tendants TO reperu3e it alone She then
read on, in a strong calm voice, until she
came TO the passage which proved the pre-
ternatural character of the prediction
"Thev lave more in them Than mortal
knowledge. When burnt with desire to
question them further, they made them
selves into air and-rdnishcd." AS she
was about to pronounce the last word, she
paused, drew a short breath, her whole
frame was disturbed, she threw her fine
eyes upwards, and exclaimed "Vdnished"
with a wild force, which showed that the
whole spirit of The temptation had shrunk
into her soul. The "HaiI, king that shall
be!' was the winding up OF the SPELL
1t was pronounced with the grandeur Of
one already by anticipation Queen.
Her solitary summons to her distant lord
followed, like an Invocation
"Hie thee hlher,
That | my pour my spirit in thine ear;
And chasiise with the valour of my tongue
All that impcdcs thee from the golden
round"
The murder scene was the next Fri.
umph: her acting was that of u triumphant
fiend. must follow these recoIlections
no further, but the most admirable piece
of dumb shaw that perhaps ever was con.
ceived, was her Banquet scene" ThaI
scene, from the terrible business on the
stage--the entrance of Banquo's ghost,
the horrors of Macbeth, stricken IN the
moment of his royal exultation, and the
establishment and alarm OF the courtiers--
is one of the most thrilling and tumultu.
Gus. Yet Siddons, sitting at the cXtremi'
ty of the royal hall, not having a syllable
to utter, and simply occupied with cour
tesics to her guests made her silence 81
expressive, that she more than divided the
interest with the powerful action going on
in front. And when at last, indignant a,
Macbeth's terrors, stung by conscience
and alarmed at the result Of an upbreaking
of the banquet with such rumours in theil
lips, she rushed towards her unhappy hus
band, and burst out with the words, still
though but whispered, yet intensely pour
ed into his passive ear
"Are you man?
This is the very painting Of your fear!
This is the air-drawn dagger, which, you
said,
Led you to Duncan
Why do you make such faces2 When ALI:
done,
You look but on a Stoolp'
In those accents all else was forgotten.
But her sleep. walking scene! When
shall we see lis "second or its simlarr'-
Nothing so solemn, nothing so awful, wa:
ever seen upon the stage. Yet it had one
fault-it was too awful. She more resem
bed majestic shade rising from the tomb
han living woman, however disturbed
by wild fear and lofty passion. 1t is a