Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-08-16

dreamed of being; and today | recall
with strange longing those beautiful, bcau-
tifui hys.S So 40 A II
"And still, interrupted 4, twas per
shaps fortunate that you were compelled TO
break away from this quiet life. have
3nyself learne5 to know many promising
artists WHO have grown rusty amid such
pleasant Surroundings, and have permltted
themselves to slumber in comfortable ease.
1t is only in the struggle with destiny that
we learn our own strength and the scope
of our talents"
al must confess that you are right" con-
tinued NV friend. "Through the disci
pliue of sorrow | have attained what the
world calls excellence, in my art. You
shall hear how all this came about. Our
director, always bent upon the improve
ment Of his stage, engaged a new actress,
whose fame long preceded her arrival At
our theatre. "a Z saw her for the first time at
rehearsal, and the impression she made
upon. me decided, my whole life. TO the
greatest beauty, Augusta D with
whose name you must Certainly be TAMIL
iar,) united perfect grace of person and
manner, and the rarest mental gifts. She
belonged to those who are Gstlstes by the
grace of God tothose darlings Of Nature
to whom is lent all that can enrapture and
enchai1t. The first evening Of her appear
ance was an event for our theatre. The
public admired, and applauded,, but Ioged
the genial, beautiful woman, in whom
found my ideal realized! had many OPP
portunities off being near her, for we
Otter. played. in the same piece. She re.
ceived my homage kindly and permitted
me TO accompany her home from the thea
ire. soon became a frequent visitor to
her house, and our relations became more
intimate. Some weeks after our first
meeting, ! considered myself the .happiest
of men, for from her own sweet lips / had
received the first kiss of betrothal, and the
assurance of her love. To complete my
happiness only the blessing of the church
was wanting but under various pretexts,
Augusta delayed the longed for day that
was to unite my fate with hers forever.
Our engagement was no secret i re-
ceived the congratulations of my col
leagues, who almost envied me this splen-
did conquest. The director also expressed
his best wishes for my happiness, and re-
neWed my contract upon the most favor
able terms. Il But my noble old friend, the
manager, was, soon learned, not pleased
with my choice, although he showed me
ment had come between us, as now passed
every leisure moment with Augusta, and
seldom visited his family To my great
sorrow. there seemed mutual antipathy
between Augusta and the manager, which
all my efforts were .powerless to overcome.
"Daily felt myself more and more
drawn to my betrothed With every fibre
of my heart, every link of my soul, L was
bound 10 her. Lloved her vita a passion
ate ardor, with an entire selfabnegation,
an unlimited trust. To doubt her purity
would have appeared to me q crime, and
my belief in her innocence was as unshak-
en- as my belief in my God and my eternal
destiny. In fact Augusta's reputation was
unsullied, and even the usual prattling Cos
sip of the theatre ventured not to breathe
a word against her. She was by the unani-
NOUS judgement of the world, a pattern of
modesty and reserve, and her
gentle, dove-like eyes, her childlike laugh,
only confirmed the universal belief" IL
Over the expressive face of the TRACE
dian fiji led dark shadow, and he sighed
audibly. | could read from his speaking
features how much, even after the lapse of
years. these sad "reminiscences affected him,
still was in the highest degree interested
in his recital, and eagerly awaited its con-
tinuation. * 5 ES,B III IL. - 40
After melancholy pause, he said" At
my most urgent solicitation, Augusta at
length fixed our wedding day, and found
my highest happiness I'M arranging the
household hearth for her and me. Every
article of furniture | purchased brought
me a childish joy, and with rapture
i thought of the moment when l should
bring my wife to our mutual home While
conducting these simple arrangements, /
didsnot neglect my art but daily surprised
both the public and the director by my
progress. Imust thank love, or rather the
beloved one, for the higher inspiration, the
deeper feeling, which were manifested in
my roles at tins time. For this reason it
was that more important parts were given
me. zone day, when our leading tragedian
suddenly ielllsick, the chief role in Shak-
speare's Othello" was assigned to me. My
'betorthed was to play Desdemona.
Although 1 felt myself highly honored
by such q distinction, yet | undertook the
part with a certain repugnance, and only
to relieve the embarrassment Of the direczl
tor. The character of the Moor at that
time lay far removed from me, and agreed
neither with my inclination nor my indi-
for l had never known the de-
mon of Jealousy, nor experienced the tor
lures of betrayed love. In fact, at the
Il was asfhttle pleased with my
performance as was our Sensible manager,
and I feared an entire failure in the eve
ming.
"The more enchantingly Augusta played
her role of DesdemOna, the more dull and
passionless l became. During the course
of the rehearsal, she tried several times to
enliyen me, and recommended more fire
and passion, especially in the celebrated
death scene. She laughingly advised me
even to believe her false, 50 that could
fully sympathize with Othello. Her man.
ner and the thought that she could say this
even in sport, only disconnected me the
more.
"Upon the evening of the representation,
filed with gloomy foreboding, played my
part in the first scene with visible embar-
rassment, and without receiving the slight.I
est applause. stepped upon the stage
with the greatest reluctance, keeping my
self as much as possible behind the scenes,
and marking without interest the progress
Of the play, whose end fOresaw The
patience, and, at its close, Augusta came to
Whisper few encouraging words to me;
While she was speaking so sweetly and
kindly, she laid her written role near mine
upon a table standing before us. When
he signal was given, she left me quickly,
. dress for. the death scene, and, in her
haste exchanged the rolls. / noticed the
mistake, and was hurrying after her, when
: paper, falling from her role, detained me.
picked it UP from the floor and threw a
@ rrln Ao.1 IL