The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-10-02
TALMA AND KEMBLE.
A Great Actors Appreciation of Grea

Actress.
Talma was announced to play, for the
first time, the chief-priest in Racine's
Athaiie." The intelligence, however,
reached Kemble, in London, so late
that, by the time he had made up his
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. 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 Incl
dent to his journey, he had himself set
down before the door of the then Gas
now famous thu atre Francois, and hast
ened to the ticket-offics. Not a seat
was to be had in any part of the house
he was compelled, therefore, to take
simple admission-ticket. But now he
was so far from the stage and in such
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 fable to understand it salts
factorily under such untoward circum-
stances. After so long a journey, to
miss a syllable or gesture was enough
to almost drive him TO despair.
And how near to him there was box
containing seats for people, only two of
which were occupied, and from which
one could see and hear so admirably
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 a seat in his box.
In Kemble's manner of preferring his
request there was something so diStira
1,,Ge and earnest that the gentleman,
who was no other than the Duke de
Rochefoucauld, unmindful of the stran
gers extraordinary appearance, opened
the door of his box and babe him enter.
The case was explained to the duchess,
who, of course, could not demonstrate
but, after CHANGING at the intruder, she
moved as far away from him as possible
toward the duke.
The performance began, and, from
act to act, the enthusiasm with which
the Paris public were wont to receive
their favorite increased. Kemble sat
during the whole time without moving
hand or saying word the satisfac-
ton, 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 culm1nat-
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, at
an opportune moment, he involuntary
cried out, beautiful most beautiful y
In an instant all eyes turned toward
the Duke de Rochefoucauld's box, aud,
as the curtain fell, nothing was heard
throughout the house but the cry,
"Put him outl put him out 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 mood Of the au-
dience underwent radical change.
An Englishman had recognized his
distinguished countryman, and had in
formed the audience who he was, and
what he had said. The mercurial
Frenchman now applauded Kemble
louder than they had applauded Talma,
and, when Kemble finally rose and
bowed his thanks and pointed to the
stage, intimating that all their plaudits
were due to their gifted countryman,
the enthusiasm became unbounded.
How differently the ducal pair looked
upon the stranger now After the
play was over they insisted on his driv-
ing home with them, and refused to &C.
cept his excuses only on condition that
he would dine with them the following
day. Kemb1e promised what they
asked, and FASTENED round to the stage
of the theatre to congratulate his dis
tinguished friend and colleague.