The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-11-16
Tho Actress Rachel

In sketch of the life of this remarkable WON an
whose memoirs have been lately published by
Eugene de Mireoourt, it is remarked that her is.
tronic talent not disting by originality
but her great power, her preeminent gifts were
her voice and her memory. 1t was the wonderful
and unequaled depth, tone, cadence, and Compass
of her voice which attracted the notice of Samson
the eminent artist, and caused him to excIaim
'"Hsavens were gifted with such a voice, what
miracles would not accomplish" And, said Ra-
chel, in reply, why not lend your genius to my
voices" Samson consented to govern that voice.
and to him may be mainly attributed her suc-
cess.
Under Samson did Rachel study every information
of love, rage, irony, vengeance commaud;-her
vehement passion, her concenterated agony, her
convnisive despair, her sublime devotion. her
classic coldness,-were all recited and prsctise1
with Samson, until the precise tone was acquired
and then her faithful memory retained it forever
Two qualities there were which she could never
lesru-tendernessa and tears. "Rachel has no tears
her teacher would often say nor had she, for her
heart knew softness tears are the offspring of
gentle heart and quick sympathies. Our traqedienne
possessed neither Aproof of the necessity she
under to study with Samson is found in the
tact, that when she appeared in characters not
sntoned for her-aH "Agrippina," in "Britanuicus
she signaliy failed
Her rendering OF her roles was simply a COW
She bad not the talent or the sympathy to intui.
lively feel tho depth of the passion she REPRESENT.
ed; but when this was once pointed out, then he,
genius instantly seized the idea, and stamped the
rendering with perfect truth. Rachel was never
herself excited on the stage her hold mind became
'hen memory her energies we're all concentrated
within, to bring forth, from the storekouse of he,
memor les, the tone or the gesture which was ia
smbody that certain idea. She retired frcm that
stage. where she had caused each listeners blood
to thrill and each heart to madly throb, with her
tall kna ttnr,
the minute"
Rachel lie described as being of classic grace
her head faultie's; her dark eyes blazing with
volcanic passions; her figure graceful in every
proportion. She had no tenderness of soul; she
was incapable of pity or sympathy. She was de.
ceitfai, dissolute, Jealous in the extreme Of her
rivals for public favor and i'll ten pered and pas-
sionate that she would stamp and scream with
temper like q child and be terror to all her fam
lily. But srarico aud meanness were her ruling
passions. Mammon, and Mammon alone, was her
supreme god. 1t Is said that "she was once so de-
bliitated from severe illness that nothing could
arouse hor from the lethargic stupor she was in.
Her ply sician was in despair-the great tragedi.
enue would die On his hands7 Suddenly her
mother proposed that her strong box, containing
her jewels aud gid, should be brought to her bed.
side. No sooner did the musical cliak of these
gli,tering gems strike her than her eyes spar.
killed., she rose up, and leaning over her couch,
seized the precious articles in her feeble hands
weighed them, caressed them, revelled in them
What spectacle! But the remedy was successful
and she 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 stimulu, to extort money. The story of the
old guitar 10 instance of her talents In this line
She asked lady friend to give her worn ont
guitar, which had been long consigned to dust and
oblivion. This she hung GU her own walls, where
il speedily attracted the attention OF Count Wsler-
Xxi, who enquired, "why the old rubbish held such
! post Of honcri" "Ahi that is a souvenir Of my
poor young days, when / sang to its notes u the
,treets of Paris" HLet il be mine, Rachel said
he Count, sand you shall have the diamond brace
ct aad ruby necklace refused you lately,"-and
70 tho guitar passed to the Count. Imagfae his
Iespair, when, few days after, upon relating his
God f,rtuue to Madame g., shs exclaimed, "Ah,
low understand Why Rachel would have my old
,uitAr"
Rachel, however, had one rsdeeming trait--her
ovo for her family. She was respectful, kind and
Ibersl to her parents, nd!qdulgsnt and generous
0 her brother aud sisters. Many Of her faults
re attributable to her early vagrant life. when the
little, ugly, ragged Jewess," wandered with her
smily, up and down upon the earth for some ten
ears, singing with her sister Sarah In the streets
the cities.