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

Ou the IShCOCk 1St2GQ III fOTSQam
| We find among the white marbel statues
an image of Rachel, the celebrated
French tragedienne, placed there in mem
DRY of her triumph over a monarch Who
had been by no means friendly disposed
towards her. We mean Nicholas, en- per-
or of Russia, whose dislike to her had
been cased By her republican synpathies
| and turbulent sentiments, which be abb
hored, and on account of which he had
prohibited hsr entrance into Russia; ne
is even Known to have SAID that he wished
never TO have set eyes on her This in
clement verdict Of the powerful monarch
was no small stumbling block in the
great tragedienne'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 amid the enthusiastic cheers OF
an enchanted audience.
Therefore, Mile. Rachel was 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 Plussia's guest. The famous
actress had been desired to recite several
scenes frona 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 nou1nfu1 an
apparel; and on reaching the place the
artlste was kindly invited by the late
Princess Charles (sister to the Empress
Augusta and wife of the en- peror's broth
cry to wear few gayer-looking things Of
her own. Such an offer could not be re-
fused, 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
to stand on a 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, pacitied 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 (last, but not
leasD he reminded her of how much was
at stake-an enormous honorarium aud
perhaps the repeal of that fatal interdic-
ton. After moment hesitation and q
! struggle with herself, Mile Rachel took
her cicerones arm and suffered him to
lead her to the spot destined for her per
| Torrance.
The evening was lovely; the moon half
hidden behind a 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 cnsued upon her
appearances one could hear the cricket
chirp-and then she began her orations.
The listeners seemed spell bound, that
was not human speech, ii 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, assur-
ing her that henceforth 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 by
the mighty ruler of Earope's vastest
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
e!ocuIion ola woman.-Ch Chambers j our
nal.