Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-11-19
DEJAZET.
The q reat French Actress--A ak etch
of Her Career-SOme Anecdotes.

|
morning sprained her ankle and was un-
able to leave her chair. The actress
benefit was announced to take place the
same evening, and she had reckoned on
its receipts to pay her debts and to pro-
vide sufficiency for her support during
the coming summer vacation. Nj lie Deja-
yet saw that one of her pieces was an
nounced. She ran to the theater and
offered to play the part which the stroll
ing actress was announced to fill. No
body knew her at the theater, and the
manager replied: "Such a thing cannot
be thought of we should not take in one
cent" She rejoined you are mista-
ken. Put paper bar on the bills; write
on the bar that Mile Dejszet of the Pa
lais Royal Theater will take your actress
place" Six hundred dollars were the
receipts poured into the stroller s hands.
One evening she played at the Grand
Opera for somebody's benefit. She de-
sired to see who was in the theater, and,
attired in the costume of her part she
went to peer through hole in the cur
tain. The curtains Of nearly all theaters
here have two holes, about four feet six
inches from the floor, to enable people
on the stage to examine the audience,
and, at the same time, be themselves un-
seen. While she was peering at the
spectators, frequenter of the ballet
corps came up and put his arm around
her waist. She instantly, angrily turned
upon him, and said, in her peculiar tone
(which she can make the most insolent
ever heard): You are mistaken, sir,
81 DON'T BELONG HERE"
A dramatic critic called to see her, 10
ingratiate himself into her favor. She
turned deaf ear to all hs protestations
of love. he at last said: But do give
me at least the aims of one kiss" She
answered. No, no, no, sir. have my
own poor.
She is extremely fond of the theater,
and enjoys performances as much as
school girl who visits the play for the
first time. One evening at the Pslais
Royal Theater she failed to appear at
the proper time, and the actors who were
before the public we're extremely dis
concerted. The public began to murmur,
and then to hiss, and then to yell, kick,
and threaten to break The actors fed
behind the scenes. In the hight OF the
storm Mile Dejazet made her appear
ance. The tempest redoubled its fury.
| She walked quietly to the footlights,
smoking q cigar (her part required it),
and looked steadily at the audience, as
much as to say: What means this up-
roar2" The storms violence still in
creased. She stood as insolently cool
az ever, and puffed tobacco smoke irst
to the right, then to the left, as hisses
we're fiercer here or there. The battle
lasted tea minutes. AT last the public,
amused by Dejazets air and pertinacity,
laughed heartily and then applauded
her. When silence was restored, she
said, still smoking: May explain my
unpunctuality There was from all
sides of the house cries: Yes yesl"
She added: THE key of my dressing
room was lost A locksmith was sent
for. 1t is rare locksmiths are in their
shops at this time of evening, and it was
sometime before one could be found.
All this took time. The piece went on.
My turn to appear came, but, really, |
could not come on the stage until l was
decently dressed" !" The public ap.
plauded and treated her as spoild child
the rest of the evening.
1t is said Mile Dejazet attributes her
health and unfagging spirits to her
habit OF taking a Russian bath whenever
she plays. Mile Dejazet's son is an ex-
cellent musician. He once said to his
mother: you sing out of tune with
exquisite accuracy" This remark,
maybe, truly characterizes her talents.
Like Mile Theresa, she now enjoys great
popularity. Dejazet owed her success
to her accent, to
THE SOUL SHE THREW INTO EVERYTHING
she did, the soul which found channel to
the public in voice, eye, gesture, play OF
features. On one of her professional
tours in the provinces she was engaged
to play six nights at Caen. The man
ager filed the town and neigh5orhood
with advertisements which exaggerated
her peculiar style of acting The clergy
became alarmed, and all of them |
preached aaignst her the Sunday before |
her arrival. They declared that she was
the own daughter of the Evil One; that
her chief delight was to drag souls down |
to Hades, and that she appeared on the |
stage stark naked. The sermons had an |
effect contrary to that which was iu-
tended. Every man in town became
crazy to 90 to see the Evil Ones own
daughter who played stark naked
Every woman cried, horror but con-
trived some way of getting a sight at
this she-devil. The town was in q
blaze of excitement When Dejazet
reached there, a deputation OF the
older and more staid inhabitants
waited on her, and begged her not to
play in Caen as she was accustomed to
play in Paris, to remember that she was
in the provinces, and that q provincial
audience would not tolerate the appear
ance of an actress stark naked on the
stage. Mile Deiazet WAS at first, for
moment, confounded by this address.
She did not know whas to make of 1t.
Suddenly the truth flashed on her, and
she gravely answered; Receive my
hearty thanks, gentlemen, for your kind
warning. Paris is France, but, as you
saw. the provinces are not Paris. To
prove to you the value l place on your
considerate warning, promise you to
WEAR AT LEAST A SHIRT
when appear on the stage The dep
utation retired delighted DejaZet rolled
on her sofa, splitting her sides with
laughter The theater was crammed
from top To bottom. When Deiszet ap-
peared in the costume she wore at the
Palais Royal Theater there was muir
mur, almost a cry, Of disappointment
and disapprobation. There she was,
dressed up to the throat, and they had
paid 70 see an actress stark naked
A HOnkey Hunt I'm Paris.
The Paris correspondent OF the Lon
don Daily Telegraph writes that there