The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-25

French version Of that play. saw her "a A's p'' @
she gave the last act especially with such ~ s ~
and trsgc feeling that che might have becom> on this
best at German actresses; but it was precisely ,rw
very set that the French liked her least "My 'ouA ~,
men" SAID she, are not accustomed to this NANNY. al
in this manner alone can the pat be given No one
should be rsvng when the heart Is almost broken WI
sorrow and when he is about 70 take an everlasting
farewell Of his friends" Her drawing room was for
the most part decorated with books which were spen
ddy bound and arranged in handsome bookcases behind
ass A painting hung on the wall, which represented
ward the stage and flowers and garands thrown
10 her acroee the orchestra. Below this picture hung
pretty little book shell holding what ica the high no
SHAKESPEARE She asked me many questions respecting
Germany and Denmark, art and the theatre and she
coursged with kind smile around her grave mouth
when stumbled in French, and stopped for moment to
collect myself that might not stick quite fast Only
speak said she. 1t is true that you do not speak
French WE'LL have heard many foreigners speak my
language better but their conversation has not been
nearly interesting az yours understand the sense
your words perfectly and that Is the principal thing
which interests me In you"
This charming hotel crammed with objects OF uer,
art and b chiefly gifts aa ns % , ona stage
SALE and is now in New York ID valued at $l26 900,
and she possessed set of diamonds worth $i00O She
alleged have been very mean sordid and avsricous
and many anecdotes given TO prove this but are
good enough 10 quote. Like Mrs. Siddons Rachel was
usually tragedy queen on a the stage s sta
toes" She studied hard, ate seldom and then inordi'
naely drank great deal Of wne and slept ttle some
and getting up at nine. She was always thin;
she had beautiful hands and foe clear well cut classical
features recan than Hebrew and an eye which Is
easily described. The present writer declines the
task We do not deem necessary EITHER to go into an
elaborate review Of her dramatic powers We believe,
and il is the general impression abroad that she was the
greatest actress that lived Rs.or who is call
ed her rival is nothing like her. comparison out OF the
question: but this say that Rstor never srs the
audience did Rachel None but herself could be her
parallel She had the highest admiration for the British
poets and once attempted to learn English in
order to play Lady Macbeth. In letter
in the possession of the writer, she says that the
highest triumph of her life that che made the French
tragedies interesting to people who were acquainted
with the works of the first dramatic author Of the world
the great Shakspere.
The death Of Rachel leaves only great actress in the
world and she speaks language almost unknown in Eng
land France and the United States, the only countries
where the drama properly supported Those who have
Rachel and followed her through her sdpeb repre-
sensations will join with US in laying wreath OF tmoetes
artist before her work was half completed.
Thou shalt not lack
The flower that's like thy face, pale primrose; nor
The azurd harebell, like thy veins no, nor
The leaf Of egantine, whom not 70 SANDER,
Outsweatened not thy breath"
The life Of Rachel was nominally short one, but in
the last twenty years she lived q common place
exsences in her struggle for fame her fierce passions
her loves hates joys and jeaiousies for she
was great perfectOns of her SEX also she
remarkable for her disdan Of conventonaites and her
utter dsrespect of forms Her courage devo
ton her intense study continued nearly 10
the time of her death, afford the brightest examples to
the intellectual toer in path and other parts of her
life not without valuable lessons She needs no Cpl
taphno crying cherubs her tomb No grave that
of Napoleon will be held In such high honor by the Par
slams that Of Elizabeth Rachel Felix.