The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1872-01-10

I Lord Bruce had praised nar hl4niy -eil
King down to see her. lie reported
favorably; and Garrick. just then nearly
worried to death by Mrs. Yates, Mrs
Abingdon and Miss Younge, offered Der
an engagement at Is a week She was
delighted. and confident ofsuccess. though
she did not admit that she felt 80 uatil
long afterward She made her first ap-
pearance in a spectacular piece, represent
ing Shakespearean characters, called the
Jubilee, and Garrick indamed the wrath
of the rival actresses against her BY giy-
ing her the part of TsH'S Little Thomas
Dibdin played Cupid; and it was charae-
teristic of her collectedness and strict at-
tention to her business, that she kept hin
smiling by whispered promises ofbon-bous.
Garrick paid her marked attention, and
shielded her with all his power from the
histrionic viragoes, her position among
whom was enough TO chill any heart
They tried to prevent the audience seeing
her, by getting before her on the stage.
but Garrick took care 20 bring her vel
down TO the 'front.' It is not possible 70
impute blame to Garrick in the events
which ensued, OF to hold Mrs. SUidous
guiltless of unmerited bitterness and spite
toward him. She played Porfia, was
nervous, awkward, inaudible, ami fl-
dressed, and was not success. She
played J,tlia, and was a decided failure.
Garrick seems to have been ignorant of
her tragic powers, and persisted in put
ting her into comedy parts. She never
was a comedian. Garrick was now giving
his farewell performances, and be gave
her an opening in a tragic part-La,iy
Ipne-a selection which was indeed au
honor On this occasion the great actor
surpassed himself Il was admitted to be
a performance almost awful for its savage
intensity. The FIRE Of his eve struck ter
ror into the young actress She forgot
his important direction-that she should
keep her back TO the stage, So that he
face might be presented 90 the audierce
she thought she must have tainted on the
and received such a look Of rebuke that
spot. She was passed over in silence By
all the critics except one, who pronounced
her lameutable.'" This was her last ap-
pearance; and the unfortunate ciTcum-
stances of the brief engagement fIied her
with misplaced aud unmerited wrath and
bitterness toward Garrick, unworthy of
her, and injurious to her memory.
Mrs. Siddons has told the story of her
reappearancc on the scene Of her former
failure with much simplicity and modestv.
She had set herself 90 coniute the verdict
she knew to be unjust by sheer drudzery.
and she did it, at the cost Of tremendous
DAYS and nights Of terror
and suspense. She had much 10 depress.
and little to encourage her, but one cir
offered a good omen She was
to play Lsabclka and her little boy. who
was to be her child in the piece, was sd
affected by her acting at rehearsal. that be-
took the whole for reality, and burst into
the most passionate floods Of tears, think-
ing he was about to loose his mamma.
This satisfactory proof Of effect deeply i'm
pressed the actors and managers, and
had the story conveyed to friend
" newspapers.
Her first appearance was on the 10th Of
October, 1882 Roger Kemble came 70
town to be, as she says, a witness of her
trial" He accompanied her Co her dress
ing-roOm at the theatre, and there LETT her
50 / was" she says, s. in one Of what eau
my desperate tranquiliitIes, which usually
impress me under terrific circumstance.
and completed my dress, 70 the astonish-
ment Of my attendants, without uttering
one word, though often signing most pro
All the world knows the story
Of that great triumph, how she took entire
possession Of her vast audience, how the
exquisite sweetness Of her tones went %
every heart, how men wept, and women
went into Mysteries, and how The passion
ate bursts Of applause interrupted every
speech Of hers in the last act. Her seven
years training had had its fruit and the
hard-working woman, With her intense
sense of duty, her deep-Footed maternal
Instincts, and her matter-of-fact industry.
deserved it well This is her own ac-
count of the home-seene that night Il
reached my own quiet freside, 0nretiring
from the scene Of reiterated shouts and
plaudits. / was haf dead, and my joy
and thankfulaess were Of too solemn aud
overpowering a nature 70 admit Of words,
or even tears. My father, my husband,
and myself sat down 70 a frugal. neat sup
per, in silence uninterrupted, except by
exclamations Of gladness from Mr.. sid
lons Ny father enjoyed his refreshments,
but occasionally stepped short, and, lay
ing down his knife and fork. lifted up his
face, and throwing back bis sil-
very hair, gave way to tears Of happiness.
We soon parted for the night; and L
worn out with continually broken rest
and laborious exertion, after An hours re-
(whO can conceive the in
of that reverie O. fell into
sweet and profound sleep, wiich lasted to
The middle Of the next day. Iarose, alert
in mind and body" The letters the great
lctress wrote at this time do her disposi-
lion as much honor as all the world Of
London was doing her genius. Fame and
money came TO her rapidly. Her first
short season brought her Fl 500. Alt
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