The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-01
A Triumph OF Art.

On the Peacock Island il Potsdam
We find among the white marble: statues
an image of Rachel, the celebrated
French tragedienne, placed there ~ mem
DRY of her triumph over a monarc.. who
had been By no means friendly u..pn sed
towards her. We mean Nicholas. I'D per-
or of Russia. whose dislike to hec Lad
been cased by her republican syn puhi
and turbulent sentiments. which be abb
hcred, and on account Of which be had
prohibited her entrance into Russia; he
is even known to have said that he wished
never to have set eyes on her. THIS in
clement verdict OF the powerful ,nonarch
was no small stumbling block n the
great trageoienne's wsy, for Russia IS q
mine Of gold; foreign artists and many q
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 Rache! was highly
pleased when II the summer o! 1852 she
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 recits several
scenes from French plays, bnt neither in
costume ntor in company Of other .ctrs.
She therefore, attired in slack. tie most
costly lace covering her beautiful arms
and shoulders; but the gentleman Who by
the kings orders, was at the station to-
receive hsr. expressed his doubts whether
the royal and imperial party would not
object to so melancholy and E,ouIniui All
apparel; and on reaching the place the
artistic was kindly invited by the late
Princess Charles (sister 70 the Empress
Augusts and wife Of the emp eroc'- broth
err to wear q few gayer-lcoking things OF
. her own. Such an offer could no. be re-
fused, and Mile. Rachel appeared in the
garden adorned with roses. Or i1tririn9
for the stage, she was told that there Was
,, none erected. ana that she was expected
, to stand on grass plot in front of III, seats
Of her noble audience. This demand
reused her quick temper, 90 thst she Was
on the point OF returning to berlin, when
}, her official attendant, the ab>vc u2eR-
! toned gentleman. pacitied hcI by re-
- marking that she would be ,>r ~: same
| level with the audience; that her arr
y would prove the greater for the want
:; any stage apparatus and CAST, hat moi
= LEAST he reminded her Of how m9l;,h was
st stake-an enormous honOraIi:gn and
r perhaps the repeal Of that fatal i-teciie>
= tion. After moment hesitstinr and s
=. struggle with herself, Mile. Rac4ai took
, her ciCeronc's arm and suffered him tc
lead her 70 the spot destined Tor her per.
formance.
): The evening was lovely; the moon hall
hidden behind 8 group of poplars, threw
her silvery light on the pond and tn.
[ gently murmurins fountain 4 few
; torches and lights illuminated the fac'
o of the artistic, while the court sat in tn,
6 shadow. Deep silence cnsued uGon he
9 appearance-,ne could hear the cricke
q chirp-and then she began her orations
The listeners seemed spell bound, tina
Is was not human speech, il was lnusi,
dropping from her lips She was deter
;" mined to be irresistible, and she succeed
L. ed SD we'll that even the hitherto unf1iend
~ emperor himself, won by her art, rds
= from his scat when she hal cnde:', an,
meeting her half way. kissed her hand Il
% presence OF the assembled court, assur
ing her that henceforth sh, would b
welcome in Russia.
a What were the praises, batteries sn'
IT congratulations of the others who wer
crowding round the happy artiste, com
is pared to the homage rendered to her b,
the mighty ruler Of Europe's wastes
e Countrywide monarch from whom sig1
IS ordered thousands of his subjects 20 b,
e or not to be2
+ Thus was one of the greatest autocrat
in Europe won over by the acting ant
g elocution of-a woman Chambers jour
nal. .. n