Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-27
A N ANNE KEMBLE.
Adelaide KsmbIsl sartorIs and The
Great SiddOns.

an actress who we'll deserved that tn.
word " great" should be applied Il
her delineation of dramatic roles, wa
the first to evince h%iStrionic talent
She it was who, when she studied
Lady Macbeth" heard the wine
signing in her dreams around thos,
battlements under which good Dun
car" met his doom. She it was who
when studying a character, secluded
herself for a week, at times even fol-
months, until her beautiful and noble
or somber and majestic ideal being
evolved from her inner consciousness
she then thought herself worthy t
give it to the public. Such is the con.
seriousness of the true artist.
1t is related of this great actress
and Superbly graceful and noble look
ing woman that under the stress OF
her mental preparation for the sleep
walking scene, she became sOmnam-
bulistie, and was met by her female
attendant walking with a lamp in her
hand, and wearing a c%ountenance so
expressive of horror and remorse, that
the worthy maiden almost swooned at
sight of the actress. This effect, it
appears, was afterward equaled by
that of her performance-at least as
regarded a portion of the public-fOr
a lady tainted at sight of the tragedi-
enne's anguish stricken face, and had
to be carried out of the theater.
The story Of the CONSERVATION
which filled the manly breast of a dry
goods merchant of whom, when pur-
chasing of him a calico print, Mrs.
SiddOns demanded, in tones suited to
the blacklist of tragedies, "Will it
wash 2" is not unknown but that of
the effect of her Queen Katharine ("
upon the minds of some prominent
persOnages of her time is comparative
ly new and very interesting. One
lady who was studying for the stage
and with great encouragement to
appear-renounced forever her inten-
ton on seeing the Queen of the
Eighth Henry" IS played by the
queen of tragediennes, saying:
u can never equal this acting, and
it would kill me to do less before a
public that has seen this representa-
ton"
A real actor, who had travelled far
to see the performance, remarked that
up to that time it had never been
dreamt of"
Poets and public actors were alike
exceptionally impressed by her novel
and astounding conception of the
part.
Charles Kemble, like Mrs. Siddons,
was fitted by nature to depict TRACE
dy. In Mrs. Siddons all the features
were especially suited to tragic expires,
The nose, though bold, was del
cut; the lips somewhat thin
though not deficient in fullness; the
eyes, superb in the character of their
regard, if not very large; and the
figure of rare and noble symmetry.
Mrs. Siddons was, however, a little
less tall than she liked to be-though
of medium hight for tragedy, and
wore high but fat heels to her shoes.
In Charles Kemble nature had given
eyes, a high, broad brow, a fine
a classically curling head of
aud a s~ingularly expressive
mouth. The chin, too, was noble as
hat of a Greek statue. All the fea-
lures were grave in character and ex-
preston.
Some one who welded the pen Of
the critic in those dayssaid of Charles
Kemble's Hamlet "
He did not play Hamlet; he was
Hamlet"
This talented gentleman and fine
artist was father of the famous Fran
ces Anne Kemble, who has so singu-
lar a career and history.
But before relating that history. let
Us speak Of Adelaide Kemble-Mrs.
Sartoris-the mother Of the husband
Of Nellie Grant.
Mrs. Kemble Sartoris was probably
as fine a Norma" as ever graced the
operate stage. Her majestic profile.
fine arms, splendid carriage and her
voice were all in her favor. 1t was
certainly not any want Of success that
her to retire into private life.
Mrs. Sartoris is the aunt Of Fanny
Kemble.
Fanny Kemble. who retired from
the dramatic stage at the time of her
marriage with Mr.. Pierce Butler. of
Philadelphia, was at one time one of
the most remarkable Of actresses and
Of women.
l. is probable that she prided her
self upon a certain reckless eccen-
which she considered excused
by her exceptional talent. She was
great in every role that she ATTEMPTED
great as Juliet, great as Julia f"
the Hunchback, and, in a word.
in nothing that she ATTEMPTED.
A lady who called upon Fanny
Kemble when she (the LADY, was a
girl was shocked to find the
actress drinking beer but this she
did merely to sustain her strength
while acting, not being In any way ad-
70 the free use Of stimutants.
Asa horsewoman she was perfectly
fearless, aud would ride miles on
horseback when living on her hus-
plantation In tho South. That
she could have adopted a blouse and
the neither garments Of the opposite
sex 70 do this was merely in imitation
Of George Sand--Fanny Kemble SUI
IN genius, for Madame sand's
was the creative, not the initiative
power.
After her marriage with Mr.. Butler.
Kemble had much unhappiness
IN private lifo. sho did not agree
her husband went abroad. and
wrote a book called "A Year Of Con
ISOLATION a very clever work. The
final result Of the marriage was a
m-.aH- d.