The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1858-02-04

MADAME RACHEL.

That stern monarch whose football is alike
heard before the cabin Of the peasant and
the hall of the sceptred ruler, has been busy
amongst the celebrities Of this microcosm
since our last intelligence from Europe
RACHEL, HAvEocK, REscrnD PAcHA and
Marshal RADErsKy have gone to their long
homes, and their places know them no
more"
Young in mere years, having lived but to
the age Of 3S, RACHEL whose light has for
some time been ackering before its final eX
tinction, has left the busy stage Of life. If
events and intensity Of feeling. however, are
the proper measures OF our existence. the
subject Of the present memoir has seen more
days than the patriarchs Of antiquity. R,.
Chill is another scion Of that peculiar race
that has furnished such wonderful genuses
Of every description, from the days Of the
great Lawgiver downwards.
RACHEL. was the daughter of Swiss
Jew. who picked up scanty livelihood in
Germany and Switzerland by pcddling his
wares about, and in the days of her child
hood sang about from tavern to tavern in
one town and then another OF France, until
at last, when only ten years Of age. her pure
tones, borne on thc cold air of winter, struck
the ear Of an enthusiast. named CnoRoN,
the founder of the Institute OF Music, who
took her by the hand, and from that mo
ment dated the upward rise of ber fortune,
that eliminated, fortunately for her, in
death. Those who are acquainted with the
history Of the principal musical celebrities
who have been cotemporars with US. will
hardly need to be reminded Of q parallel in
stance in the case Of the celebrated BRa
HAN, whose wonderful voice, as he was cry
ing oranges in the street, attracted the at
tention of an old gentleman, who gave him
musical education and started him on the
career that he sustained, without biemsh or
failure, until death BRAmAs, Whose prop
er name, by the way, was ABRAHAM was
also Of Mr.. DIsRAHIs fayorte race,
although neither We. nor othnologists in
general, allow them TO be the pure Caucas'
SLAMS OF the statesman The following
sketch of her character il from the N. }.
Hrold. and is highly characteristic Of the
great rlgeiienne
Like Mrs. Sdions, Rachel was usually ira
gedy queen of the stage. sydney Smith 10 ght
have said Of her with Justice, she " stabs the
po,stoes." she studied hard. ale seldom, and
then inordinately drank great deal Of wine.
and slept little. sometimes not going 10 bed
before three OF -four la the morning, and getting
up at nine. she was always thin T; she bad
beautiful hands and feet clear, well cut. elias.
sicai features. more CrecaB than Hebrew. and
an eve which Ia not easily described. The pre-
sent writer declines the ta-k. We do not deem
i, necessary, either, 20 20 into an elaborate re
view Of her dramatic powers. We believe, and
IL ia the general impression abroad that she
was the greatest actress that has ever lived.
Histori, who ia called her rival Ia nothing like
her comparison IL out Of the question; bot
this we can say, that Tis,ori never strs the au.
be her psIallel She had the hgbes, admira
ton for the British poets, and once attempted
to learn English In order 70 play Lady Macbeth.
In q letter in the possession Of ihe winter. sbe
ssys that the highest triumph OF her lie was
that she made the French tragedies interesting
10 people who were acquainted with the
works Of the first dramatic author Of the world
| the great Shskspefe,
The death Of Rachel leaves only one great
actress In the world, and she speaks language
almost unknown In England, France and the
United Staie-, the only countries where the
drama il properly supported. Those who have
seen Rachel, And followed her through her su.
perb representations. will Join with ns In lay
ing wreath o. ,nnort,l,s upon her tomb, and
sincerely regret the loss o' 20 great an artist
before her ~ofk was hall completed
Perhaps one Of the most curious phasc.
in the lives Of great public characters. Is
that in which they have. al an early prod
Of life. eLtirsly misconcsiyed the Toi, oi life
they are intended TO play. RscHEf., in her
first start in life, mign ned she va. intended
by nature to b. q comedian Lsros, 90 the
other hand, who for years kept England IN
one .HextIngushable roar Of laughter, ui.d
hard for tie tragic mask, and was hypG-
chondrac for life because h. could only
coava.se people with mirth. when be woald
have had them bathed IN tear, In fact. ia
a broad fars, be Wa the only melancholy
maa 10 the house
oxs. SIR y uAyg>DcE sAgr. 4. G. n.
We feel CERTAIN ,hs. wherever the Eng-
ish language s read and understood. ihA,
the death Of the gallsu, II.yytocE. stricken