The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-21
4 Great Actress.


his memoirs, description Of an actress be
saw in Spain, and in a piece which we should
Judge 10 be founded on the legend of Medea
" was not often tempted to the theatrac, .
lie writes, switch was small, dark, iii fur
nshed and attended vet, when the ceIe-
brated tragic actress, known b. the tile of The
Tiranna, played, it was treat, which should
suppose no other stage then in Europe could
compare with.
That extraordinary woman, whose real
name do not remember, and whose real origin
cannot be traced til it is settled from what
particular nation or people we are to derive
The outcast race Of Gjpsies, was not less formed
10 strike beholders with the beauty and com
handing majesty Of her person, than to as
onish all lhat heard her by the powers that
nature and art had combined 10 give her. Nv
friend count Petra Santa, who had honorable
access to this great stage heorne minated to
He! the very high expectations had formed
Of her performances, and the eager desire
had to see her in one Of her capital characters,
telling her at the same time that hid been a
writer for the stage in my own country. In
consequence of this intimation, she sent me
word that | should have notice from her
when she wished me to come to the theatre,
till then, She desired [ would not present my
self in my box upon any night, though her
name might be in the bill +; for it was only
when she liked her part, and was in the humor
TO play well, that she wished ne to be pres
ent. In obedience to her message, | waited
several days, and at last received the looked
for summons.
| aor M ba,11 r,,Ft = 10,
Ire before She sent a mandate to ne to 90
home, for she was in no disposition that even
ing for playing well, and should neither do
justice to her own talents, nor my expectations
I instantly obeyed this whimsical injunction,
knowing it to be SO perfectly in character
with the capriciouS humor of her tribe. When
something more than week had passed, |
was again invited TO the theatre, and permit
ted to sit out the whole representation. l had
not then enough Of the language to under
stand much more than the incidents and the
action Of the play, which was of the deepest
cast Of tragedy, for, in the course of tie plot,
She murdered her infant children and eAhib-
tied them dead on the stage, lying on each
side Of her. whilst she, sitting on the bare
floor between them, cher attitude, action, tca-
tOtiSc, NiCSCi JJiOll, plCSt
such a high wrought picture OF hysteric
phrenzy, laughing wild amidst scverest woe,
as placed her in my judgment, at the moment,
at the very summit OF Der art. In fact,
have 10 conception that the powers Of acting
can G3rcarried higher and such was the effect
upon the Audience thai, whilst the spectators
in the pit, having caught a kind Of phrenzy
from the scene, were rising up in a tumultuous
manner the word was given out by Authority
for letting fall The curtain, and catastrophe
probably too strong for exhibition was not
allowed to be completed. A few minutes had
passed when this wonderful creature, led in
by Pietra Santa. entered my box, the artificial
paleHess Of her checks, which she had dyed
Of bright vermillion round the edges Of the
lids, her fine arms, bare to the shoulders, the
wild magnihcence Of Der attire, and the pro-
fusion OF her di>heycled locks, glossy black
as the pIumage Of the raven, gave her the ap-
pearance Of something SO more than human,
such a sybi, such an imaginary being SO aw-
full, so impressive, that my blood chilled as
she approached me-not to ask-but TO claim
ny applause, demanding Of me if had ever
seen an actress that could be compared with
her, in my own country, or any other! /
was determined she said, to exert myself
for you this NIGHT, and if the sensibiIity Of tie
audience would have suffered me to have con-
Guided the scene. should have convinced
you that | do not boast OF my own perform
.ura vi inut reason -