Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-10-27
RACHEL IN THE MARSEILLAISE.

We have been accused, and perhaps naturally y,
by some few who had not seen Rachel. or who
were unable to appreciate her genius, of having
pictured her presentations in too exaggerated colors.
We rather fancy those who witnessed her pertor-
nance of last night, will believe that no penciling
of ours had done or was capable of doing justice
to the genius of the greatest actress upon whom
il HIS been given to our times to look.
Last night was indeed n night memorable both
for Rachel and those who saw her. The one was
more inspired, the other more enthusiastic than
on any previous occasion. There can be no doub,
that a crowd surging and swelling from parquei
to ceiling by sending a thrilling influence on the
heart of an actress and rejecting the electric touch
back upon the audience, creates in a great degree
that wondrous grandeur in conception, and periec
ton in execution, which made the Camille of las
night more sublime in her bursts Of indignation GnC
more thrilling in her paugs of agony than thu
Camille of any former evening. But from what
ever cause it sprang, Rachel was never more CLIO
rious. She clothed what was certainly to tn,
greater number the dead bones of Frencl
tragedy with flesh, and breathed into them a liv
ing spirit. She peopied the vacant halls of imagi
nation with forms Of most excelling beauty. Tn,
placid dignity with which she personated the Ro
man virgin in the early scenes, before she know
aught has come to pass to make the woman dom
nate the Roman, reached the summit cf classi
beauty. But the beautiful sadness of her sorroN
scene, and the concentrated energy displayed with
out any of the usual false spasms of defamation
or parOxysms Of actions, when she uttered the in
precation against Rome, were still more intensel
and, terribly true. 1t was nature, but nature unde
the acquisitions of the severest art. As has BEE
said by the greatest Of her national critics, Ssh
is without knowing it a perfect logician." lie
acting is the perfection of art, and can only b
the result of the most laboriOus study, chastenin
and bringing cut the beauties of q rich natiy
genius. She is SO penetrated with the meaning
her part and SO filled with its significance, thi
even when she is in repose she produces some
her greatest effects. What could be more exqu
site than her pantomime of last night, even to tn
most delicate shade. for pantomime has its shade,
1t would be impossible to describe the fnrore. A
the close a storm swept the house, and she wa
twice painting and triumphant Defor
the audience to receive the enthusiastic homae
of those over whom for a moment she exercised
power near TO supernatural. One Of the olde'
and most distinguished eitizens of the Unite
States near us was SO carried away as TO becon
between sobbing and cheering, almost q child i
rapture of emotion. and we could not but call
mind the words Of another old man, Chateaubr
and, who after seeing this very PRESERVATION said
Rachel in tones of touching melancholy. at
sad, Mademoiselle, to know that things like thes
are born at the moment one is aboat to die"
The FIRE of enthusiasm had scarcely subsidet
when the curtain rose and Rachel slowly advance
&c TIE fa0ilights. The ~tJicoior ftooa on the ftag'