The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-20
TIE STORY or AN ACTRESS.


the GALAXY will be read with great interest,
even by those who were not before aware Of
her prominence on the French stage. Although
now seventy-fve years of age, only half CEN
tury of which time she has been on the stage,
she is still received with the greatest kindness
by the Parisians, who make of her an especial
pet. This popularity is somewhat due to her
amiability, her liberal charities, and her strict
professional integrity.
She is the founder of a special type of char
acter on the French stage, known as the
Dejazet souJrette. The writer in the Galaxy
says:-
"Tbe French sou6rette is very different and
a very superior being under any circumstances
but it was Dejazet who FIRST conceived the idea
of elevating her considerably above the French
standard, as she found it fifty years ago. At
the outset of her career IL was evident that she
had resolved to relieve at least her own roles
from their weight of heavy humor, and to deco
rate them with all the delicacy and lightness
which they could properly receive. She was so
already accepted by and familiar to the public
that in short time she had persuaded many of
the best authors of the day TO remodel their
works to harmonize with her new lnterpreta-
tons, and, presently, to write with exclusive
view TO the development of the new and capti-
waiting style she had established.
"Deiazet's first appearance (as an infant phe-
nomenonC was at q little theatre in the BouIe-
ward des Capucnes, the existence of which Is
now almost forgotten. Intelligent fore1gners,
lOuDglng inert IN J0e court yarQ OF the GranQ
Hotel, absorb their indifferent fine champagne
at exorbitant prices upon almost the precise
spot where the debUdrte of five years received
her first applause. At that period there were
theatres in Paris exclusively devoted to the
training of children, and into one of these the
little Virginie was presently admitted. One
year later she attracted notice by her piquant
imitation of Madame Belmonts acting in
Fdnchon la VieleuSe (the popular vaudeville of
the hour, and so pleasantly recommended
herself to that influential lady's favor,
that she was, without much delay, trans
the Vaudeville. Here ishe achieved distinction
by her performance OF the chief of the fairies
in The Sleeping Beauty; and Paris was enjoying
to the utmost her lnfantile grace and intelli-
gence, and busying itself with predictions of
her future renown, when suddenly a violent
illness, the consequence OF over-eXertion, com.
PEELED her to relinquish her metropolitan en-
gagements, and content herself with occasional
duties in the less eXigent provinces.
The theatre loving populace is 6ckle, and
requires to have its memory perpetuallY probed.
Virginie, absent, soon lost the place she had SO
easily gained. Her name did not resume its
prominence in the capital until think, some
fifteen years later, when the Gymnase Theatre
was established"
Deiazet enjoyed successful career at this
theatre for a considerable time, but a new style
| of plays, untitled for her, was introduced, and
she withdrew to the old Theatre des Nouveau-
| ties, where she won fresh popularity. In 1882
she assisted at the infancy of the Palais Royal,
where for ten or twelve years she attained
most brilliant popularity. Her sway was un-
| limited The dramatic authors exhausted
| their invention and research in the effort to
provide for her new plays. She then trans
| ferred her services to the Varieties, alternating
! afterwards with the Vaudeville, maintaining
in spite of her advanced age-her incontes-
| table superiority in her own peculiar range of
| characters.
The writer in the GALAXY gives an account of
ip fpo4 s,oo,n &c noso
| ceived when he saw her several years ago.
She was then over sixty. He says:-
"0n the evening in question Dejazet's recep-
| ton was an event to be re membere Her first
step upon the scene was the signal for loud out
| cries of welcome, not only from orchestra and
parterre, but also from the more decorous
boxes, whence proceeded shrIl feminine tones,
agreeably diversifying the chorus. Hats and
handkerchiefs were waved, and for five minutes
the business of the stage was suspended in order
that the audience might have its jubilee out.
to observe how the house continued to beam
with silent, though not less expressive delight
at the reappeaIanCe of the dear old favorte. On
all sides, little phrases of compliment and en-.
dearment were murmured:-'What grace y
Younger than ever; We'll done, petite;' All, 10
mGii9ne.' Pleasantly conscious of the favor
lavished upon her, she glided through the repre-.
sentaton with truly astonishing elasticity and
buoyancy. Her attitudes and movements were
literally like those of a young girl. Her face,
closely viewed, betrayed ad Vanclng age-but by
no means to the extent that would have been
expected. Her eyes flashed as brilliantly as those
OF her youngest supporters upon the stage; and
l am sure that few of them could rival her 1.-the
and supple form. Altogether her appearance
was that OF woman about thirty-fve.
ut Is difficult to believe that her acting could
ever have been more thoroughly artistic. The
timid firtatons Of Bernard, his innocent wicked.
ness, his immature attempts at gallantry, the
affected bravery of his soldier life, the iaunty
endeavors to prove himself man of the world,
and the mischievous persistence of his last love
suit, were all expressed with inimitable grace
and humor. The faculty oflnventing impromptu
by-play,' always one of her best gifts, was
everywhere conspicuous, and was recognized at
each new point by bursts of laughter and APP
plause. OF course 1t was inevitable that at GER
tain moments some evidence of times changes
should assert itselt but even these were made
the occasion for demonstrations of encourage.
n ent and goodwill. When about to sing
rather difficult song. she would advance to the
rdnpe, nod sauclly, as If to say, You think
can't do it. but you shall see' then pluckIly
assail her brduurGs comically tripping among
the tortuous cadenzas, and at the end receive
her applause with an odd little air of pride, ndi-
eating entire indifference as to the lost notes,
or perhaps satisfied conviction that everything
had gone better than she had expected or the
public deserved | really believe the audience
cried 'Drava quite as heartily in jocose acknow-
ledgment of her pretty vanities as in apprecla-
tlon OF her innume1able charms and graces.
81 have since lost few opportunities of wit
Messing Deiazets performances, and, within my
own recollection, find no change in her. Her
exact age is nowhere recorded, but, Judging
from the date of her first appearance, she must
now be about seyentY-fve. Fancy that young
comedians of England and America, who fade
away and retire-either into obscurity or a new
line OF business at half her age And still
nirit ha