The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-18

SDAY'l, FEBRUARY l
to leasnsthe part of Dorine. Lisette, and Mari
nette, o. Moliere and it took ell the persuasive
powers pf the preceptor, to crush her passion,
ate love for comedy, for which she was but lit
Upon one occasion, when Rachel was to per.
form IN Andromaque, directed by Saint Au.
laire, N saloon he had rented for the use OF
one OF ne pupils, Rachel went to Mr.. Vedel,
then cashier OF the Theatre Franeais and re-
guessed nm to come to see her perform. He
peom,ssa, And, for wonder, kept his word. Mr.
Veoei wss 90 much surprised at the marked
talent OF the little girl that he suddenly left the
theatre, Jumped into the first hackney coach at
hand, and drove in all haste to the director of
the 1he6$rs FFancais. Mr.. Jouslin de Lasalle
begged him to return with him to witness the
little theatrical performances, which they reach.
ed betofp the third act had begun. The di.
rector shared the cashiers admiration, and
pronied 10 allow her to enter the Conserva-
teire. WA Pc lat6cstion of $40. The follow
ing DAY, she entered the Conservatoire; bot,
unfortunately for her, Mr.. Jouslin de Lasalle
ceased to be director, and his successor, Mr..
Vedel, was 30 much taken up with his own
troublesome affairs, that he never again thought
OF the sum of $l20 promised by his predecessor.
The Felix family was numerous, being COM
posed OF father, mother, one son, Raphael, and
i've danghters-Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, and
Liza. Dinah was born in 1910. The parents
feit Obliged TO rely on the talent of their little
daughter tor aid, and determined to accept the
hrst offer made. 1t was not long before an en-.
IA H. Al IL
Theatre Gynanase, with salary $500, and q
promise of an increase of one.t6ird the second
year. This was most greedily accepted, and
Rachel's studies we're interrupted By the prep.
arafions to be made for her first appearance
before the public. On the Oath of April, 1887,
she made her debut in a piece written expressly
for herseif by Paul Dupont, called La Yen
deenne. The piece was studied and performed
IN very few days, but Rachel did not meet
with success. The director was discouraged
by this failure, and Rachel was consigned to
secondary parts !; she was in despair, and tried
In vain to enter the Theatre Francais Mich.
eliot, her professor, put every obstacle in the
way, and Provost went 80 far as to advise her
TO abandon the stage. Rachel then went to
samson, who, with his great perspicacity, soon
became aware of the worth of her talent, and
consented to give her lessons. These lessons
she followed most earnestly, and they completed
her course of studies. Rachel never forgot
how much she was indebted to Samson. Fl.
naly, Mr.. Vedel recalled Rachel to mind, and
requested to see her finding her worthy of the
boaads Of the Theatre Francois, he cancelled
her engagement with the Gymnase, and made
an engagement with her for the Theatre Fran.
CATS, with salary of $500. 1t was not until
the 18th June, 1888, that she again prominent
ly appeared before the public. The programme
OF the Theatre FrGncais for the 18th of June,
1888, announced Rachel's first performance of
Camille, in Les Horaccs. The next day, Rachel
was already celebrated; the Parisian critics
were startled by her powerful acting, by the
originality of her conception, and, above all, by
certain concentrated power of expression,
thrilling to the very soul of the nearer
Rachel always held in great affection the
part Of Camille, and it was, perhaps, the char.
acter in which the great actress produced the
deepest impression. In the fourth act, her
mute performance, whilst listening to the death
OF her lover, was probably one of the grandest
exhieisions OF intense agony ever presented to
tbs sSphtsis. s 9 niiauce of Rachel in that scene
was more terrible than her most pc werful decla-
nations; her symmetrical form was here thrown
IN one OF those glorious attitudes which would
have made the fortune of a sculptor. As to
the electric burst of impassioned fury with
which she concluded that scene, An attempt to
describe its effects would be vain. 1t was in
the character of Camille that she resumed the
continuation of her triumphs at the Theatre
Francais, after her long leave of absence, to
travel. In this prediction, there was more
than simple preference there existed in it
personal weakness for this character, which was
creation OF her own, as no other tragedienne
a 4
conception that she loved in Camille.
Her popularity sprang almost internationally
to its highest point, and no better proof of it
can be adduced than the circumstance of her
salary, which was eight hundred dollars in the
first year, being raised to four thousand dollars
the second year.
In after years, her income varied from sixty
thousand dollars to eighty thousand dollars,
according to the number of times she appeared
before the public, during her annual conqe,
which, IN her case, was of several months du
ration.
Rachel, up to the close of her career, contin.
ued regularly to study; and the strongest
proofs OF her progress were to be seen in the
decided improvement which took place in her
performance Of the part of Phedre. Never of
strong constitution, Rachel gradually found
the arduous duties of her profession too great
for her feeble frame, and they at length led to
the illness she contracted in the United States,
to which may be ascribed the loss of this great
actress, so prematurely cut off in the thirty
seventh year of her age.
Rachel made her will on the 2lst of last
month, and it has been sest to a notary at
Paris She leaves q fortune of three hundred
thousand dollars to her two sons-one, who il
at Geneva, thirteen years of age; the other,
somewhat younger, is at the College of Saint
Barbe.
The funeral took place in Paris, Monday,
January IL. At twelve o'clock, the coffin (by
the side of which two females had spent the
night, praying) was placed in hearse, drawn
by six horses. 1t was covered, in place Of a
pail, by white sheet ornamented with silver
stars; and on it was placed crown of imm.or.
tclles. Immediately behind the hearse was
the Grand Rabbi, Isidor, of the Israelite Con.
sistory of Paris, wearing long black robe, fast.
ened by belt round the waist, black three
cornered hat, and white bands The father,
brother, and youngest SOB, of the deceased,
acted as chief mourners. The cords of the pail
were held by Alexander Dumas, sen., Baron
Taylor, Mr.. A. Maquet, President of the Soci-
ETY. of Dramatic Authors, and Mr.. Geoffroy,
actor of the Theatre Francois. Fifteen mourn.
ing coaches, great number of private coaches,
and vast crowd of persons, followed. In the
crowd there were grea. number of literary and
theatrical persons, among which were to be
seen, Mr.. Scribe, Alfred de Vigny, and many
other distinguished members of the French
Academy; Messrs. Emile de Girardin, Alex.
ander Dumas, jun, Leon Gozlau, Theophila
Gautier. Fisrentino, Mario Orchard, Monselet,
&c.-all writers Messrs. Alphonse Roger,
ROqueplan, De Beaufort, and others, directors
Of Partisan theatres; Messrs. Duprez, Roger,
Mario, Bonnahee, and most of the great singers
of the operas all the artists of the Theatre
Eranc1is, including Mesdames Plessx A Bro.