The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1879-02-13
Talmn. the Greatest Of Frlrch Actors.

Fleury, who had been an eyewitness
of his early successes, and who, from the
political antagonism formerly existing
between them, can certainly not be
deemed an Over-partial Judge, thus
speaks of him in one of the concluding
chapters of his memoirs: "Ialma in
vests modern tragedy, which is in itself,
only a form of shadow, with reality; for
without him it would not exist. Nova
days, the tragedian is no longer the in
terpreter of the poet; the latter merely
furnishes the sketch which in the artists
hands becomes picture. With such IN
sufficient materials at his command,
Talma has, during the last twenty years,
IN my opinion, performed miracles" A
still more graphic description is that
given by MaCready, in a passage from
his diary dated 1922: "The genius Of
Talma rose above all the COnventionality
of schools. Every turn and movement
as he trOd the stage might have given a
model for the sCulptOr's art, and yet all
was effected with such apparent absence
Of preparation as made him seem utterly
unconscious of the dignifed and grace
ful attitudes he presented. His voice
was flexible and powerful, and his
delivery articulate to the finest point
without a trace of pedantry. x His
object was not to dazzle or surprise by
isolated effects the character was his
aim-he put on the man, and was atten-
tive to every minutest trait that might
distinguish him. To my judgment he
was the most finished artist of his time
not below Kean in his most energetic
DISPLAYS, and far above him in the re-
fnement of his taste, and extent Of his
research equaling Kemble in dignity,
unfettered by stiffness and fOrmalty."
This accomplished actor occasionally
visited London, and treated the amateurs
of that metropolis to a taste Of his
quality, by performing selections from
his most popular pieces in company with
Mile. Georges. He was an intimate
friend and great admirer Cf John Kem-
bic, and was present, not only at the
tragedian's farewell appearance, but also
at the dinner subsequently given in his
honor. He spoke English fuently, but
with strong accent; that he could write
it perfectly is evident from the letter
quoted in Mr.. RaymOnd's memoir of
EllistOn, in acknowledgment of a hand
some Roman sword sent to him by the
Drury Lane manager. This epistle was
highly interesting, and expressed with
equal elegance and correctness. In
private life he was thoroughly amiable,
fond of society, and entirely free from
pretensiOn. Once off the stage ne was
no longer the actor, but the polished
and genial man of the world, eager to
oblige others, and never happier than
when it was in his power to serve them.
Generous and open-handed to excess,
he was far more disposed to squander
than to hoard and through his reckless
ness in money matters, found himself
more than once in embarrassed circum-
stances. "If my tastes were as expen-
sive as yours" one day remarked his
wife; 'if I wished for diamonds and
brilliant equipages, what would you
sayF' 'In that case, my dear" coolly
replied Talma, II should say that we
were likely to be still more in debt than
we are now"