New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-10-09
RACHEL IN THE MARSELLAISE.

w n'fr brru att-srC H0C perhaps ~
some few who bad not seen Rachel, or who were una
beto appreciate her genius, Of having pictured her
IeTsonstions in too exaggerated colors. We rather
fsrey those who witnessed her performance Of last
night, will believe that pencihng Of ours had done
WAS capable Of doing justice TO the genius OF the
greatest actress upon whom it has been given 10
times 20 look
Last night was indeed night memorable both for
Rachel and those who saw her TIE one was more
Inspired the Other enthusis than ogsny previ
ous occasion. There can be no doubt that crowd
surgDg and swelling from psrquet 70 ceiling, by send
ing thrilling influence on tie heat Of actress
snd refe citing the electric touch back upon the
audience, creates in great degree that wondrous
grandeur in conception, aud perfection in execu-
ton, which made the Camille Of lss night
nole sublime in her bursts Of indignation and
more thrilling in her pangs Of agony thsn the
Camille Of any former evening. But from whatever
cause il sprang Racial was lever more glorious.
SIZE clothed what certainly TO the greater number
the dead bones of French tragedy with Aesh, and
bresthed into them living spiHt. She peopled the
vacant halls Of imagination with forms Of most
ceiling beauty. The placid dignity with which she
personated the Roman virgin in the early scenes,
before he know, sught has come to pass to make the
woman dominate the Roman, reached the summit Of
essic beauty But the beautiful sadness Of her sor-
row scene, ard the concentrated energy displayed,
whou. any OF the usual false spasms Of defamation
paroxy SINS Of action when she uttered the mprecation
sgaipst Rome were still more intensely and terribly
true. 1t was nature, but nature under the requisi-
tons Of the severest art AS has teen said BY the
greatest Of her national critics, She is, githoui
knowing it, pc feet logician" Her acting is the
perfection Of at, and only be the result Of the
most laboiious study clustering and bringing out tie
beauties Of rich native genius. She is so pene-
trated with the meaning Of her part and so filed with
its significance, that when she is in repose
she produces so1e Of her greatest effects. What
could be more exquisite than her pantomime
Of last night, even to the most delicate
shade, for pantomne has IFS shades. 1t would be i'm
possible to describe the furore AT the close storm
swept the house, and she was twice summoned pant
ing and triumphant before the audience to receive the
enthusiastic homage of those over whom for moment
she exercised power near to supernatural. One of
the Oldest and most distinguished citizens of the
United States near Us was so carried away to be-
come between sobbipg ard cheering, almost child in
rapture Of emotion and we could not but call to mind
the words Of another old man, Chateaubriand who
after seeirg this very personaton said TO Rachel in
tones oftouching melancholy, Ii sad Mademosele,
"to krow that things like these are born at the mo-
" ment ore il about to die
The fire of enthusiasm had scarcely subsidized, when
tie curtain rose and Rachel slowly advanced to the
footlights. The trcoor stood on the stage. Silence
pervaded IL house In Rachels simple white classic
dress and modesty Of attitude there was touching
solemnity' She gazed silently on the audience for
some minutes, DUNG which her countensnce changed
gradually from en- expression Of melancholy to one OF
whitening scon Then suddenly the face was Lit up
with look Of terrific wrath. A glowing fire Of
revenge burned fercey in her dark eyes. From the
modest maiden she had sprung into the inspired
goddess Of liberty, melting enslaved men to
noble deeds. The opening words "Allons enians de
la patre, che sung with deep intensity of passion
and beautiful was the touching change in the express
sion Of her countenance from scoIn to compassion
as with one hand pointing to the far distance, she
chanted in slow, measured tone" lis viennent
"iuscue dams vos bras egorger vos fills, &C.
But Ter stature seemed to grow her veins to u with
blood as she addressed the imaginary tyrants loudly
and boldly in the words:
Trsmbls5, yo: prof rS,sst tsp R, a,is
She reached still higher degrees Of confidence as 81
went on NIT, she expressed the most unlimited scorn
of the enemy both in word and look and she again
sums up her fiery inyectves with the soul-stirng
appeal
Aux armes e!toyens,
"FoTnes yos bhtaliors
The enthusiasm reached its hight. She then walked to
ard fro for a moment as if overcome with terrible
sorrow, but turning round she seized the tri-color
fac. and holding il hiih in the air. she fell on her
knees addressing II with veneration in the words;
Amour sacre de Ia p.tIie,
Ccnduis soutiens bras yenseurs
Libere libeTte eheIie
Combsis avec ties defsnseurs'
No power Of language can do justice to the enrap'
tured alteration with which she pronounced;
Liberte liberte cherie.
We can fancy the madness Of passion which such an
ode cbanted by such woman must have reused IN the
hearts of the Paris population in the days OF revolution
Here it lacked the occasion TO give il effect and did
not create 30 high an enthusiasm as the closing scenes
Of Horace. Il can scarcely be called song. ltisa
scere Of musical defamation in which the meaning is
CONVEYED less by power of voice than by intensity OF
feeling and eloquence Of gesture. But wnetner we COLL
il song OF defamation, it Is Raehels sculptura grace
and concentrated power Of utterance which keeps "
spell bound
Let US not forget but acknowledge with gratitude,
that this song was last night homage paid 10 Ameri
can feeling. With keen perception Of her own
powers Mile Rachel declined TO sing the Marseiase.
When. however che was asked in the name OF La
favette. name round which are gathered the memo-
,ies of 90 many French struggles and American III.
umpbs for freedom she could no longer Hesitate, ana
exhausted as she was after an arduous personatop,
threw her whole soul into the song.
THE SPANISH DANCERS AT MBLOS.
A. ;rr,ar,e crowd assembled al Nibo's last night