The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-12
MEIROPOLIIAN MUSINGS.
Rachel "A HomiIy for the Aspiring.


Rachel "A HomiIy for the Aspiring.
GREATNESS is often associated with garing faults of
character that its attachments only perpetual
monitors of the failty of nature What mcrciful
dspensation it isark as it scens-whch arranges the
counterpoe Of weakness to adjust the true glory of
strength 1t is this wise provision which enables
behold great genius wonderful talent mighty achieve
ments without being maddened by the of own
inferiority, made by contemplating the
mingled happiness of those who while they tower above
U.S. have their heartaches, passions vices, and tears
scorpion whips to chastise their arrogancy and to silence
en,y. Every revelation of the hidden life of the
prominent people Of own times or of any other pc
rod, illustrates the prevalence of the law have here
stated As If to give fresh confirmation to this notion
aud to keep alive in hearts the acknowledgment of
it's TRUTH there has recently been published biography
Of whom fortune raised from actual beggary the
most gddy heights Of aluence and who, surrounded by
admirers, caressed hattered and almost idozcd was
cursed with greed OF money, afflicted with relations
who made merchandise of her talent and repsid her kind
by harsh treatment and who herself not hestatrg
TO carter for filthy lucrc wonans hoiest attribute of
virtue yielded honor where she did not love- and when
at last the flame Of pure affection kinded in her
heart it was only to funeral torch for her who
died unwilling and unhappy
In the review last week the suspicion that the author
the masculine gender was playfuy suggested but as
that statement might do injustice to very excellent and
highly talented lady, it is proper it here The
accomplished editor of Grahams illustrated Magazine
Charles e. Leland. ESQ., has called my attention to
Jaileon OF the C5nshtHionra, in which the writer M
Florentno, gives the full of the authorcss as
Madame dc Barrera formerly Madame Gcorges) lady
Of high social standing Mr. Leland in remarhing upon
her personal appearance, quotes the statement OF lead
ing London review, that she "beautul enough to
redeem whole generation Of literary women from the
charge of uglincss " The 'Memoirs of Rachel, as we
suspected is not the first literary production Of Madame
de B.; she has also written the "Annas of the Queens
fspain, and in addition to her private WORTH has
right to respectful treatment for her attachments 1t
would be matter Of deep regret to the reviewer a
pleasantly at the expense of an anonymous writer should
be deemed all intentional dipaagement of acknowledged
TALENT aftont to q lady of high social position
With this explanation, let turn from the auholess
to her work. Rachel the child of poverty in one of
its saddest forms her parents homeless wanderers
and the place Of her BIRTH though believed be Munf
in Switzerland IL doubtful. Brought into the world
during the peddng excursions Of her parents the first
ten years of Pche life years Of ceaseloss wander
ing, and it great step in the scale of prosperity
which at last enabled the Felix family to open an old
clothes shop in tho city Of Lyons But even then the
amy finances were ckcd out BY the aching of German
0y the father and the performance in public of Sarah
and Rachel so graphically described by Madame dc Bar
eia III the following passage "Sarah the eldest child
went from one cafe to another singing accompanied by
he Youngest sister Bachcl who collected the copper do
nations, and the children not unrequenty trundled be-
tween thcm on barrow, third child-thu adding to
The interest they excited and relieving their mother of
'he care OF the baby for short time From Lyons
ne parents OF Rachel removed to Paris and here the
10 a t.eZ 2 -,
IN cafes and Rachel varied the entertainment by rccita
TONS Here it that tho door was opened for
uae career in which she afterwards became SO fa
nous gentleman named NORM, who heard the
SISTERS IN cafe in obscure street gave them let
r 10 NJ Choron the leader of the Conservative of sa
'en music At this period of her life the great tc H.
7hs was little selfish parsonage whom no one seems
70 nave loved and in this sad school of neglect " IN
nome IN which avarice and contention were the house
noa gods this poor child consumed by the fire of an
u'expressibc genius allowed no rest Taught only
Suive tor money and to guage all things by their
"'" Faiue, who shall wonder If in rifle she priced
"O' genius and even hocr things only for their market
rates Her poverty great that In order to pur-
enase volume of Racine she sold an umbrella and
Soy stated she had lost it deceit was thus early IN
planted in her bosom
vi all persons she probably most indebted TO Jules
S Tor ever rising above The ranks of ,paid actors
'"s her perform at the Thufre Fqroa, Janin set the
s IN motion to announce to the world the appearance
worthy successor Of Mars and Talma The feaReon
'' Deoas did for the little fright what in America
"on as IN other countries the newspaper press very
, ooes-it created for her that reputation without
"~" genius may pine in poverty aud worth 90 supper
'' J." oea From this time her history is only record
p'osperops success attended by an ever-ncreasng
o'''' Ior money-a passion which was stimulated ly
~ snSping demands of her family In the height of |
" 'ne she stopped TO many deeds which bamablc rs
"ere' ought still to be charged TO the account of
Nv, early training Thus she resortcd TO numerous ex
pVeh's which are only redeemed from pettiness y their
'"hess She was repeating grander scale her old