South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-08-11
An Anecdote of TaIma.

TALMA, the celebrated French TRACE
dian, possessed a country seat in Brunoy
"a village in the ~neighborhood of Paris,
where he spent his leasure time. One
evening, while walking in the surround
ing country, it suddenly occurred to him,
that it would be better to go Immediately
to Paris, and stay over night there, as he
had much to do on the morrow, and on
the following evening was to play "Orest."
While occupied with this thought, he per
ceived the sound of an approaching car
rage. The ringing of bells on the horses
announced n of those modest convey
ances which preceded the invention of
the railroad. 1t was a so-called kukuk;
which, having set down it passenger on
the way, was returning empty to Mont
geron, also a village near Paris.
Twill you take me to Paris?" asked
Talma of the driver.
"That depends upon;circumstance."
al understand; it depends upon how
much 1 will pay you. Well name your
price,"
This was satisfactory and Talma seat
ed himself in the kukuk, which he had
the pleasure of occupying alone. To re-
lieve the tediousness of the journey, he
commenced, in a loud tone, to recite his
role for the next evening. The driver
started, although the rafting of wheels
and the jingling of bells prevented his
quite understanding what his passenger
was talking about. Finally he distin-
guished the words
with blood will 1 pollute the feast to
which you call mel"
"What will you dol" cried he driver,
turning suddenly around.
Talma took no notice of the interruption
but continued his recitation; while, by
the glare of his lantern, the driver watched
with fear and establishment the distorted
features, and the melancholy fire which
CLEANED from the eyes of the tragedian.
who, unconscious of his surroundings, was
wholly absorbed in his role. All that he
said wsa calculated to inspire terror.
open, o earthI" he cried; and then o n
tinued, "Ignominious tool of wrath, ban
ished from my country for the murder of
my father, an outcast from the world for
the murder of my mother, an object OF
adherence to all who approach me ! 1
have lost all,-all that I held dear on
earth Z"
what a shameless fellow !" murmured
the driver, as he heard the first words of
the frightful confession. "But it isn't pos
sible that he can have committed all these
crimes |" he added; "for, if he had, he
wouldn't proclaim it upon the highway.
He is more likely a ~lunatic, who has es-
capped from the insane asylum"
Meanwhile the tragedian continued his
monologue.
90 SUM that Illuminated that day of ter
Tor, thou hidest not thy face, but shinest
ever |"
Worse and worse ! Now he sees the
sun set at ten in the evening, and even the
moon isn't in sight Now / know my
duty. Fortunately 1 shall only have to go
a little roundabout way to carry him
where, without doubt, he belongs" At
the same time, he whipped up his horses,
turned off into a by-road, and soon drew
up before an insane asylum. The stop
ping of the carriage brought Talma back
to the reality; he interrupted his decla-
nation with, Where have you brought
me ?"
"Be quiet, dear sir; you are at home"
replied the driver, as he got down from
his box.
"But," said Talma, looking out of the
carriage, eve are in Charentonl You are
a fool"
"Ah, SOL 1 am a foolI Yes, dear sir
yesi'
With this he knocked at the house door,
and, when the porter appeared, said to
him, You have probably missed one of
your inmates whom l found on the high
way, not far from here"
mo one is missing that 1 know of"
answered the porter.
Just then the superintendent came out
of the yard. The driver turned to him
with, at is surely one of the occupants of
your house that l have here. You will
Immediately recognize him. In his insanity
he thinks himself a great criminal; says
he has murdered his father and his mother,
and done a heap of other disgraceful
things"
Talma now burst into loud laughter,