Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-27
Rachel, ,he Great Actress.

Mile Rachel, who enjoyed such de-
gree of public favor, was in her youth 30
thin and sickly-looking that when she
solicited some lessons from M. Provost,
one of the company of the Theatre Fran
cais, he advised her to go and sell flowers.
On one of the evenings of her later tri-
umphs, when she was enthusiastically
called for, and bouquets in profusion
flung to her, as soon as the curtain was
down she collected number of them in
her Greek tunic, approached her master
that should have been, and gracefully
kneeling before him and holding out her
collection, thus addressed him: II have
followed your advice, M. Provost, and
am fl tlower.seller; will you buy ?" The
professor, Of course, acknowledged his
want Of foresight And paid her due COM
pliments. When Rachel entered the
Theatre Francais in the year 1888, she
was a well exercised comedian, though
young in years. Her first studies we're
directed to singing, under certain M.
Choron, whose school of religious music
was subventioned by the Government of
the Restoration. He requested her to
take the name Eliza as more befitting a
Christian school. She gave up the local
study, and entered class of defamation
kept by NJ. St. Aulaire, and was very
glad to get occasionally two francs per
night for assisting in juvenile perform
ances. She performed at the Theatre
Moiers. under the pet name of La
Petite Eliza" and then entered the Gym
nase under M. Poirson.
Have you any other name besides
Eliza p said he.
"Yes, my name is Elizabeth Rachel"
"Then Rachel you shall be; Eliza is
not good name on plsy-bill."
Previous to this she had filled yarie.
ty of characters. In La Vandeeme she
made her debut at the Gymnase. Por-
son, after some study of her abilities,
counseled her to adopt the serious bust
ness of tragedy. She followed his ad-
vice, and put herself under the instruc-
ton of NJ. Samson, one of the company
of the Theater Francsis. Being received
at that theater, she attracted little notice
at first, but soon won her way to public
favor in few months, by the possession
of genuine talent and perseverance.
Sprung from people of low condition,
spending her youth ia state of penury,
and in society far from ediiying, she
found herself admitted to the tables and
salons of the nobility, yet stranger
meeting her there would scarcely suspect
that she had not been ITO the. manner
born"
Without education, she was always |
ready to be INSTRUCTED by competent au-
thorities in literary matters. As an ar
tist she was unrivalled in the expression
of the stronger and iereest passions and
feelings, but she was deficient in exhibit
ing the tenderer emotions of our nature.
She attempted comedy, like other emf.
nent tragedians, but failed of success.
Where she felt at ease in society, she
gave way to all her lively, cheerful and
impulses, and charmed her COM
pany. She could act the fine lady to
the entire appreciation of any reunion in
high society in which she might happen
to be, but, like Tony Lumkin, frequently
preferred company of the Three Pig
cons " to the people of the great house"
Haying read before her Majesty at Wind
sor, and won royal appreciation by her
delivery az well as by her easy, unaffected
demeanor, she entered the family circle
much fatigued, and throwing herself on
a sofa, cried out in tone of relief, 10,
how love to vulgsrize myself I'm encan-
naider)." That she was grasping as
we'll as generous, tickle, eager to take
,ack to-day what she literally geve away
yesterday, that she by no means appreci-
ated good Yoman's best gift, cannot be
denied. She was only thirtv-eieht years
old at her death in lS58.-Dubln Uni
persity Magazine.