Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-29
A Iriumnh OF Art.

| On the Peacock Island in potsdan,
We tind among the white marbel statues
an image Of Rachel, the celebrated
French tragedienne, placed there in mem
CRY Of her triumph over a monarch VINO
had been by no means friendly disposed
towards her. We mean Nichols. en- per-
or Of Russia. whose dislike to her had
been cased By her republican sy1npatlies
and turbulent sentiments, which he ab-
hored, and on account Of which he had
| prohibited hlr entrance into Russia; he
IS even known TO have said that he wished
| never TO have set eyes OF her. This in
| clement verdict Of the powerful monarch
was no small stumbling block in the
great trageulenne's way, for Russia is a
mine Of gold; foreign artists and MANY a
Rachel and Patti Of our days might re-
late wonderful, almost fabulous tales OF
costly gems raining down upon them on
the stage annie the enthusiastic cheers Of
an enchanted audience.
Therefore, Mile. Rachel vas highly
pleased when in the summer Of 1852 rhe
received an invitation to act before the
court at postdam, when the Emperor
Nicholas was just then STAYING as the
king OF PtusSla's guest The famous
actress had been desired to recite several
scenes troal French plays, but neither in
costume nor In company Of other actors
She therefore, attired in black the most
costly lace covering her beautiful arms
and shoulders; but the gentleman who by
the kings orders, was at the station to-
receive her, expressed his doubts whether
the royal and imperial party would not
object TO so melancholy and moulnful an
apparel; and on reaching the place the
arustc was kindly invited by the late
Princess Charles (sister to the Empress
Augusta and wife Of the EN- peror's broth
err to wear few gayer- looking things Of
her own. Such an offer could not be re-
fuse;;- and Mile. Rachel appeared in the
garden adorned with roses On inQuiring
for the stage, she was told that there was
none erected, and that she was expected
tostand on grass plot in front of the seats
of her noble audience. This demand
reused her quick temper, SO that she was
on the point OF returning to Berlin, when
her official attendant, the above-men-
toned gentleman, pacifed her by re-
marking that she would be on the same
level with the audience; that her art
would prove the greater for the want of
| any stage apparatus and (iast, but not
leasD he reminded her of how much was
at stake-an enormous honorarium and
perhaps the repeal Of that fata! interdic-
ton. After moment hesitation and q
Struggle with herself, Mile Rachel took
her cicerone's arm and suffered him to
lead her to the spot destined for her per.
! Torrance.
The evening was lovely; the moon half
hidden behind q group OF Poplars, threw
her silvery light on the pond and the
gently murmuring fountain A few
torches and Lights Illuminated the face
of the artistic, while the court sat in the
shadow. Deep silence ensued upon her
appearance me could hear the cricket
chirp-and then she began her orations
The listeners seemed spell bound, that
was not human speech, il was music
dropping from her lips. She was deter
mined to be irresistible, and she succ ed
ed SO well that even the hitherto unfriend-
ly emperor himself won by her art, rose
from his seat when she had ended, and
meeting her half way, kissed her hand in
presence of the assembled court, assnr-
ing her that heuceforth she would be
welcome in Russia.
What were the praises, batteries and
congratulations of the others who were
crowding round the happy artistic, com
pared to the homage rendered to her bv
the mighty ruler Of Earope's wastes
country-the monarch from whom sigr
rdered thousands of his subjects to be
or not to be2
Thus was one of the greatest autocrat
in Europe won over by the acting anc
elocuUion ola woman.-CAambers j oar