Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-11-19
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 10, 1855
THE ACTRESS RACHEL.

THE ACTRESS RACHEL.
In sketch Of the life of this remarkable
woman whose memoirs have been published
by Eugene de Mirecourt, it is remarked that
her histrionic talent was not distinguished
by originality, but her great power, her pre-
eminent gifts were her voice aud her memo
~. 1t was the wonderful and unequalled
depth, tone, cadence, and compass of her
voice which attracted the notice Of Samson,
the eminent artist, and caused him TO ex-
claim, "Hesvens! were gifted With such a
voice, what miracles would not accomplish -
And, said Rachel, ip reply, why not lend
your genius to nv voice!" Samson consen-
ted to govern that voice, and to him may be
mainly attributed her success.
Under Samson did Rachel study every
intouation of love, rage, irony, vengeance
command, vehement passion, he cou-
GENERATED agony, her convuisive despair ner
sublime devotion, her classic coioness'-"oi1
all reeited and practised with samson un''l
the precise tone was acquired, suu tnen ner
faithful memory retained II forever. l"o
Qualities there were which che could never
learn-tenderness and tears. Rachel has
no tears her teacher would often say; nor
had she, for her heart knew no sottness, tears
are the offspring of gentle heart and quick
sympathies. Our trdgedienne possessed heith-
or. A proof Of the necessity she was under
TO study with Samson is found in the fact,
that when she appeared in characters not IN
toned for her-ss "Agrippina," in "Britan-
nicus"-sbe signalIy failed.
Her rendering of her roles was simply a
COPY. She had not the talent OF the sympa-
thy to intuitively feel the depth of the pas
sion she represented: but when this was once
pointed out, then her genius instantly seized
the idea, and stamped the rendering with
perfect truth. Rachel was never herself excI-
ted on the stage; BIER whole mind became then
q memory, her energies were ell concentra
ted within, to bring forth, from the storehouse
of her mem cries, the ton. or the gesture
which was to embody that certain idea. She
retired from that stage, where she bad caused
each listeners blood to thrill and each heart
to msdly tbrob, with her own pulse quietly
beating at only sixty pulsations the minute
Rachel is described as being OF classic
grace; her head faultless; her dark eyes
blazing with volcanic passions: her figure
graceful in every proportion. She bad nc
tenderness of soul; she was incapable Of pity
Jealous 10 the extreme of her rivals for public
favor, and so ill-teRpered and passionate that
she would stamp and scream with temper
like child, and be terror to ell her family
But avarice and meanness were her ruling
passions. Mammon, Mammon alone, was
her supreme god. 1t is said that "she was
once so debilitated from oeVere illness thai
nothing could arouse her from the lethargi'
stupor she was ip. Her physician was II
despair-the great tragedienne would die CT
his hands! Suddenly her mother proposed
that her strong box, containing her Je"ei
and gold, should be brought to her bedside
No sooner did the musical clink OF these
differing gems strike ber ear than her eyes
sparkled, she rose up. and leaning over bel
couch, seized the precious articles In her ice
BILE hands, weighed them, csressed them, re
yelled in them! What spectacle! But the
remedy was successful, and che recovered
From her lovers she extracted immense
sums. Many rich man left her pauper
If she found them growing economical, she
would devise some fresh stimulus to extor
money. The story of the old guitar is an In
stance of her talents in this line. She asked
lady friend to give her worn out guitar
which bad been long consigned to dus, and
oblivion. This she hung on her own walls
where it speedily attracted the attention OF
Count Walewski, who enquired, "why the
old rubbish held such post of hopor?" cab
that is souvenir of my poor young dsys,
when sang to its notesin the streets OF Paris. .
"Let it be mine, Rachel" said the Count
''and you shall have the diamond bracelet
and ruby necklace l refused you lately;"--
kho I'm.
sgine his despair, when few days after,
upon relating bis good fortune to Madame
S., che exclaimed, "Ah now | understand
why Rachel would have my old guitar"
Rachel, however, had one redeeWipg trait
her love for her family. She was respect
ful, kind and liberal to her parents, and io-
dulgent and generous TO her brother and sis
tiers. Many Of her faults are attributable to
her early vagrant life, when the Little, ugly,
ragged Jewess," wandered with her family,
up and down upon the earth for some ten
years, singing with her sister Sarah in the
streets of the cities. Rich. DIS.