The New York herald., 1866-09-19
TIE THREE QUEENS OF TRAGEDY.
Sketches OF Siddons, Rachel and
RistOri.
English, French and italian Ira
gediennes.
Mrs. SIddous,

The queen OF English irsgedy-she whose fame stands
As unryaed on the stage OF England that Of Rachel
in France. Ristor Italy Mrs siddons the sister
OF John and Charles Kcmbs and daughter Of thestr
cal manager. She belonged TO family in which drs-
matte genius may be said 70 have been incsrnated
Sarah Kembe appeared early her fathers stage and
went through the usual round Of juvenile characters,
without exciting much expectation. Az the age OF
eighteen she married Mr. siddons, actor In her
fathers company. Her irst appearance tho London
stage was have been those OF many OF the leading
actors, failure aud she returned 10 the provinces
mortified and dlshoartoned. Her reappearancc in Lon
don, which took place October, 17s2-as Isabella
''The Fatal Marriage was, however signal triumph
Tho effect Of that performance Ia described being
trnordinary and unparalleled II gave shock OF wonder
and delight 10 tho public nind like the Of
great and unexpected victory On that night Mrs sid
dons at once took possession Of the tragic throne
which, for thirty year,, sho rcigned without iva.
Her line of characters Included Lady Macbeth, Con
stance, Isabella, Queen Katharine, Desdcmona youn-
mia, Pota, Herniono and Imogsne. Her Queen knthn-
rine 4 said d hsys been the most chasto beautiful
and perfect performance tnat drew tors from
audience She was also good IN comedv ant she mover
seemed 70 gye much satsfac,'r u that line IN
hor natural spbore or tragedy ss Sscnme a favorfo
at Court and in The habit OF reading plays 90 George
Ill and his queen she relred from The stage 1872,
having real zcd costume equal 10 hcr wlshea Her
dssh took place nearly lveoy years afterwards the
sti Of June 1851 her aevcnly sixth ycar
The symmetry Of Mrs Siddons person Is said 70 have
been most captivating. Her features strongly
marked, but finely hamon.4ed The feasibility Of nor
countenance extraordinary, Welding usantaneously
70 every change Of passion Her voice paintiye,
yet capable OF Gnnnes ami exeriion Her articulation
was clear penetrs ling and distinct Above All, she was
completely mistress nf her powers possessed tint
Ifl. .uh har n1rr
qualifications 10 tbs greatest advantage One Of her
highest cndowmcnts tho power Of identifying her
self with tho character which she prrsonated. The
scenes Ia which she acted were her Car from be ng
mere mimic show 90 powerfully did hoe mag,na
ton conjuro Up the reality that the toa- which sne
shed these OF bitterness fclt At tie moment Prom
her frown of proud iisdain and 'hc actors
themselves shank with something hkc terror. Her
grea,c2t characters katharine Henry ViIi aud
Lady Macbeth, Ia which she manifested dignity and
sonsisny, power and pathos eqnallod by any
female performer She truly orignal-copying
no living dead but acting from nature and her
conception OF the character Lord Byron, whose
scnsbliiiss wrought upon night D.
Edmund Kcan the character o sr Giles oserccach,
tia. hc Lad 10 be- carried Of Drury Lane theatre,
said OF Hrp Sdions and tho other great hiors of tho
day, "Kcmble II The most supernatural actor have
seen. Cooke Is the most natural kean Is between The
two. Mrs. sddons exccls them ALL And another poet,
Campboli, sad Of her sbo tlian woman Of
genius for the additional benevoloncs Of her heart made
her an honor 10 hor sex ana to human nature
A French writer describes her having been gifted
with . real gonus and having entered. moro than
her famous John. tbs sentirnoh, of
Her tragic beauty surpassed ysgythins that had been
aeon the English ssagc. When she appeared, her
black hair and eyebrows her eagle glance, hor donina
tns gesture gave her a OF grandeur and o. heroic
majesty Not only did aho Illustrate the stage by me
spl,ndor Of her talent but she raised the esrlcs pro
| fession b. the dignity of her Inanhers She born
at Brecon ia South ws,es Ia tavern which stH keeps
tho mgn OF ihe Shoulder OF Mutton; and . bsrn II
pointed Ia the Of stourbridss where. - fifteen,
she payed the heroine in estrcals got mp by the ON
or the garrison II in her part 70 .ln IN The
arms OF her lover but instead of doing she bufs ont
laughing and away 70 the great confuSon Of the
Officer who Afterwards declared that lie could hsvs
stabbed her on the spot.
Il Little more than centary before MTs -iidous
shed such as,rs The English stage tia, tho
and tastes OF the day had excluded actresses from alto
geher Tho quaint Pepys In his diary, records how, y
January i6ol he saw, Cor ihe grst time actress
,hs sts e, although they hsd had nolsbe snd exalted
exam pie in tie person of the Queen Fngisnd her,sf
the Nle q James 4, who 10 ths habit d ec,Ing in
mps.s snd pssors- 70 ,ho gres, delight Of TIE
audience who invited 70 be present oae " tho
Puritan vrilsu OF the time. Pynne sssailed sortstef
IN the srossss terms and !, found - bs sctaaiiy
uecessary when Mr. ssuderson appeared Desdemous
- mako wits ~ The 81 Charles II apoog
for tie Innovation, which don" in ,hc r. ow ing
Ines
our woiaes sIe dsfes i've AMI - Eirod
You'd fbink they h1me cs the guard a. ufFt
Ior. 70 -pesk tsntb fnaa 80 that sre between
Fotty ana atty we.chss ~ rreeu,
with br0w iarze aud lertc ~ unepmplispt
Wien yon ctli OesdegA0na, enter giant
The English stage hss not JAILED gIaa,
either before since W.. riddons Il hiss hsf IN TIE
generations before her ,be lair snd troll Nc G~ynne
lhe lllu s.rons NrS barry the no famous NJ OA
neli srs. Bracegirde, aiA Roger. wuo objected y
plsyus snythins 81 good lades, and ufs Mornl
fort on whom Gay enc celebrated bslisi Bls,k
Eyed "a an, shd of whom uie following ahcrdO,e ].
related .--Hsvng hsd ne misfortune 70 become the
inuis,s q On Insane ssyium learned 81 ,hsi
Hauie va = be played ~ ,hs theatre -he founa :
means ~ eludDg the vigilance .. her .e-,s of ge,iteg
INTO thesre and 4 aca'ias herself 10 10 ,oul.es
Shs tHor waited for me moment ~hsn the scuss ~ho
pi,ysi be psr % opheia . appear l.,s MAD
scene ard tho audience electrified ~ strhE no
the scltes. who va performing the r.cee 14ts rssl
opheis msd from love proceed sfs ~. rar 4 80
,ls lsst .5ort % uslnis AZ shs We an.nln. 'hs
iheaim she e1csimed "Sow ~ over snd
In = iew d,Y. Il 81 over w.h h.
-irce Mrs -iddons um. thtfe hsvs b.su Tau-
actresses who hsrs son blsh distinction. sponE tara
we're si- 0.ssh sn.rsrd, lsdy ssca-u, sho 'osds
her nj .Ipssanos 10 1910 asd retired u i.ls ~
chss3ss R.sn, vhn sdi vsiks u. b sra'; fis Hsiss
gsuc.u snd he Ameriesn Mss chsfieits ,esLmsu ~ho
row enJoys bsr wealthy f.fftw~r ~ hsH.s n 80
Ibsr ~ 81 me Arn0.
Hat our srtcs ~ss'dergnsd ,sA,1n 'a@gsv II ~
,hrc. sresi ,Fas.dy queen, Nts -via.as hlis Rsrhs
snd nsd'ms Ristou ~ nfs = e"' = 'sett,