Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-10-01
TALMA AND KEMBLE.

TALMA AND KEMBLE.
a Great Actor's Appreciation of Great
Actress.
Talma was announced to play, for the
first time, the chicf.priest in Racine's
Atkalie. The intelligence, however,
reached Kemble, In London, 60 late
that. by the time he lad made up lis
mind to go over TO see his great French
colleague. he was in doubt whether he
had time to reach Paris by the evening
of the performance. d He set;out, never
theless, and, on arriving on the French
side of the Channel, he took a post
coach, paying treble fare in order to
treble the speed. It was already night
fall when he reached Paris. In all the
uncombed and unwashed disorder inci-
dent to his journey, he had himself ses
down before the door of the then Gas
now famous theatre Francois, and hast
ened to the tickeeroffice. mot q, seat
was to be had in any part of the house
he was compelled, therefore, to take q
simple admission ticket. But now he
was SO far from the stage and ia, suoh a
crowd that he could hear very little,
and could see less. Familiar as he was
with the French language, he was not
sufficiently accustomed to hearing it
spoken to be able to underestimate it satis-i
factorily under such unsoward circum-
stances. After 30 long journey, to
miss q syllable or q gesture was enough
to almost drive him to despair.
And how near to him there was a box
containing seats for people, only two of,
which were occupied, and from which
one could see and hear 30 admirably 4
He did not consider long, but went into
the lobby, had the owner of the box
called out, and told him how he had
come all the way from London TO see
Talma that evening, and now, being
unable to get an eligible place, would
fail in the object of his journey unless
he would give him seat in his box.
In Kemble's manner of preferring his
request there was something 30 distt,,-,
que and earnest that the gentleman,
who was no other than tho Duke de
Rochefoucauld, unmindful of the stran-
gers extraordinary appearance, opened
the door of his box and bade him enter.
The case was explained TO the duchess.
who, of course, could not remonstrate;
but, after glancing ut the intruder she
moved as far away from him as possible
toward the duke. 9# f5aii5l I
The performance began, and, from
act tn act, the enthusiasm withs which
the Paris public were wont to receive
their fayorite increased. .Kemble sat
d1Fqfing the whole time without moving
hand or saying word the satisfac-
tion, however, that was pictured in his
face seemed to reconcile the national
pride of the duke and duchess to the
strangers outlandish appearance.
The enthusiasm rose to the culminat-
ing point in the fourth act, when the
high-priest utters his prophecy concern
ing Jerusalem. The effect produced
on the Englishman was equally as great
as it was on the other auditors. Little
by little he rose from his seat, and. Mt
an opportune moment, he involuntrily
cried out, " Beautiful ! most beautiful 10
Il In an instant all eyes turned toward
the Duke de Rochefoucauld's box. and.
as the curtain fell, nothing was heard
throughout the house but the cry.
Put him outl put him out na The
duke and duchess were naturally ex-
ceedingly mortified, and the duke was
debating with himself whether he had
not better request the stranger to re-
tire, when suddely the mcod of the au-
dience underwent radical change.
An Englishman had recognized his
distinguished countryman, aud had in
formed the audience who he was. and
what he had said.9 The merourial
Frenohman now, applauded lKembIe
louder than they had applauded Talma.
and, when Kemble finally rose and
bowed his thanks and pointed to the
stage, intimating that ali their plauditsl
were due to their gifted countrynnan,
the enthusiasm became unbounded. b
How differently the ducal pair looked
upon the stranger now! 5iAfter the
play was over they insisted on his driv-
ing home with them, and refused to 40.
oept his excuses only on condition that
he would dine with them the following
day. Kemble promised what they
asked, and hastened round to the stage
of the theatre TO congratulate his dis
tinguished friend and colleague. a! >
a Parisian Marvels. .,ltfti "a
The Paris correspondent of the Phil
adelphia Press says, in describing the
display of iewelry as the exhibition Of
fine arts applied to industry: .MAmong
the prettiest desipns for eerrinns ora q