Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-02-02
MAD'LLE. RACHEL.

This fair stranger is no ordinary woman
Her reputation has been established for years,
and in the very heart of European refinement
Paris. She has indeed for a long time been re-
garded as the very impersonation of the French
tragic muse. She is accompanied by her bro
ther and three sisters. Also by troupe of
talented artists. The story of her life is full
of incidents, as the following brief outline
will sufficiently illustrate:
On cold evening in January about the year
1880, Choron, the founder of the Academy for
Music in Paris, was charmed by the silver voice
of child singing out the most delightful ca
dences upon the keen wintry air. 1t was little
Rachel singing for her supper" Choron pres
sed through .the crowd who were gathered
around her, and in utter amazement gazed upon
delicate little girl of ten summers, thinly
clad and standing in the snow, the very image
of desolation. With her benumbed fingers
she held out wooden bowl for sou and in
it Choron dropped silver coin. His heart
was touched, and the deepest feelings Of ip-
terest for the little warbler were awakened.
"My chid,' he asked, "who taught you to
sing so well!"
Nobody, sir, said the girl, while her teeth
chartered Il have learnt just as could.'
"Bnt where did you learn those beautiful airs
which you sing and which l do not know!"
"Indeed, sir, have learnt little of them
everywhere, When go about the streets, l
listen under the windows TO those ladies and
gentlemen that sing. try to catch the airs
and words, and afterwards arrange them the
best way can.' .=.
"You are cold and hungry, come with me and
will give you food and clothing" said the good
Choron; the crowd clapped their hands. But
they ,lsst their little Rachel-she never again
sang on the BouIevards. Choron obtained per.
mission of her parents to give ker musical
education, and under his tuition her wonder
fu vocal powers rapidly developed. Death
took away her benefaetor, and she returned
awhile 10 her miserable parents.
The little girl was then just budding into
the bloom of graceful and fascinating wo.
man. She lookedfo the stage as the means of
obtaining bread, and succeeded making an eu-
gagemnt at the Gymnase, one of the minor
theatres of Paris. She made no impression:
the audience refused ID applaud. She was
disappointed, but not d5eom6ted. From an
old clothes merchant Of her own race she bor-
rs%ed an odd volume of Racine and was
charmed with the tragedy of Andronsache. She
rected the part of the daughter Helene; her
eyes filed with tears~of deep emotion, but she
said to her mother,,"I know my destny-I
will perform tragedy
Through the influence of retired actor she
obtained an engagement at the Theatre Fran
caise, and her appearance in this character of
Racine was greeted with immense applause.
The Parisians were in extacies The singing.
girl of the Boulevards was apostrophized as
the "Tragc Muse" Her salary was fixed at
1000 francs; the second season it was raised
at $4,000 francs. The courts of France and
England soon delighted to pay her homage;
and within ten years from that hour, when
Choron took her half frozen from the streets
of Paris, she wore gorgeous diamond neck
lace with the words "Victoria to Rachel" EN-.
bazoned upon it!