New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-14
ANECDOTES OF SALVISL.
From The Theatre.

dAECDOlEo UT odLt lNl.
From The Theatre.
Tomnraso SalvInI il of Milanese parentage. ana
was born in the Lombard capital on January I,
1880. fits father as have already SAID. an
able actor and his mother a popular actress named
GuGiIelmina Zoechi. When quite boy he showed
a rare talent Tor acting. aud performed IN certain
PLAYS given during the Easter HOLIDAYS, In the
school where he educated, with such rare
ability that his father determined TO devote him TO
the stage. For this purpose he placed him under
the tuition of the great Modena, who conceived
much affection for him. The training received thus
early from such able hands soon bore fruits.
and before he was thirteen savini bad already
q kind of renOwD IN juvenile Characters. At fifteen
he lost both bis parents, and the bereavement 50
prey ed upon his spirits that he Obliged to aban-
don his career for two years, and returned once
more under the tuition OF Modena. When be again
emerged from retirement he joined the l.stori
troupe and shared with that great actress
triumph In 1S49 Salyini entered the army of Ital-
ian independence, and fought vallantly for the de-
ferse OF bis Try, receiving IN recognition OF his
services several medals of honor. Peace being pro-
claimed he again appeared upon the stage He pla ed
in "The Edipo" ofNicOn-a tragedy item
pressy for him, and achieved great success Next ne
appeared in Alheris SAUL" aud then all ally de-
clared that MOdena's mantle had fallen on worthy
shoulders. His fame was now prOdlgous and
wherever be went be was received with boundless
enthusiasm.
know of nothing more remarkable than the diff
ference which exists between the Salvini Of the
stage and the Salvni of private life the one So i'm
posing, mpetuOus and fiery: the other so gentle,
urbane and even retiring. He Is a gentleman pos
sessing the manners OF the good old schoo-conrtly
and sonew has ceremoniOus, reminding one OF those
Italian mobiles of the sixteenth century OF whom
We read in the novels OF Giraldo CIntbIo and
Fiorentino-uonsini hhStri. d. eir'l costam'
versaton delightful full of anecdote, and
marked with enthusiasm for his art When first
became acquainted with him was OF opinion that
his Interpretation of Hamlet was based only upon
the translated text ; but. IN the course OF very
long conversation the subject. discovered that
he was well acquainted Through literal transla-
To- .if,, Ia huf
notes and comments of our leading critics. In
speaking of the part in which he s altogether un-
rivslled ne sac La, am OF opinion nat shake,
some other part of NOrrh Africa. of whom there
were many IN Italy during the sixteenth century.
have met several. and tnink Initiate their WAYS
and manners pretty well. You are aware, however,
that the historical Othello was not black at all:
He a white man, and Venetian general named
Mora. HIS history resembles that of Shakespearc's
hero IN many particulars. GiraldO Cinthio. prob
ably for better effect, made out of the name Mora,
moro, blackamOor; aud Shakespeare, unacquainted
with the true story followed this old novellsts lead
and IL was well he did so, tor have we not III con-
sequence the most perfect delineatOn OF the pecn-
iarities Of Moorish temperament ever conceyedp
The costumes by Salvini In this play are
copied fr those depicted IN certain Venetian pic
OF the fifteen century IN which several Moor
Ish officers appear. IL took him many years to
this role. and be assured me that ne could not play
it more than three times III succession without ex-
perIencing terrible fatigue " Ii Is matter Of Won
der to me,p he observed. that English actors can
play a great character like this many nights IN
succession, and, above all. that they retain SELF
possess while the fdgety noise OF scene-saliting
is gong on behind them. To avoid this | have
been obliged TO cut 'Othello' into six acts aud to
make MANY changes in Hamlet.W
/ he intensity of feeling with which he
throws himself into the part ne represent ting
especially evident on the OCCASION of his playing
Saul. After tue performance was invited TO go
prised as we'll as PANIED to find hm utterly ex-
hausted. cOnld not help saying. How can von
exert yourself thus to please so few people r.
here We're scarcely four hundred persons
semi -d to witness this sublime performance. He
answered with honest simplicity, They have paid
their money. aud are entitled to the best can do
for them; besides that, when am on the stage,
forget the world and all that Is III u, and 1--we the
character represent" You Will SAID make
crauG Lear -" Yes" ne replied - | hlnk shall be
able 10 make something out OF the Old king have
been reading the tragedy for time hut IL VIII
sill take me two years TO study It thoroughly"
SalyinI related to me several anecGo - which
show how IA ok he Is TO mister any dlHcultles
a cdcnt throws IN his way. Once | bought" he
SAID. " a play OF young writer. winch thought l.
coull make something of but when W. came to re-
nist II for the last time before representation g
seemed utterly Improbable. no
piece was called La Suonatrce PArpa" e. The
last act was so stupid that should make dascO.
/ III lest h.t upon an idea. We had however. only
few hours to execute II IN. changed the story;
instead OF tile Dliy ending happily. made tue
father Kill his daughter accidentally and thee die
Of gri.t Allthr dialogue had 20 be mpr0vised by
tn leading actress ana myself played the Gather.
success OF our invention that the piece
was played eight nights IN succession;
and rival actor, hearing of the triumph
Tchleved by The Harp Girl! bought from the
author tor Il handsome sum the puylie-e Oh acting
j. ia CERTAIN districts which were not included IA
INV uurcLa 81 of the drama. Not beng aware OF the
Alterations ye had made. and performing 10 accord
sing 60 tie letter OF tie text, he made aa ttdsc0
iOieuRe-a dead failure"
After thr h,st performance of "Zarr.' took tho
liberty OF observing 90 Sllvnl that "A superb piece
OF business winch marks hls astIug 10 the last
act was not u Dc found IA tue text. "OA," he re-
piled, " / Will tell YOU the origin OF 10. | was
PLAYING al Naples aud one night when | Threw
the body OF MY murdered wife uDon the ottoman IN
tie a-t act ms buru0use fell cd and fixed itself TO
my waist like a tan. | saw az once that If ] was
not care al should provoke laughter, and instantly
imagined that would pretend 10 believe the cling
ing drapery the wounded Zlire grasping NE
bsnInd appeared 80 dread even 10 look round,
lest should encounter her pallld face. lesItare'i.
| emoed and wnen with supreme Ell n | at
last grasptd lhe ouruOuse Jnd cast At from IN, lstil
lacked the courage 10 ascertain what II really was.
and stood shlverlug before the white heap IL made
upon the floor. Finally, just a. | though, pablo
curiosity 10 know what was gong 20 do began to
gfOW weary, SitOpru down, ana sclzlBg the white
by the gesture that had discovered what 70 was,
and cit anger tina such trde should thus alarm
= bold man who had committed murder This pam
tomime obtained for SalvinI ~ the New-lOrk Acad-
envy OF Music Of hIs greatest Oydti0ns:
When asked Why he did not learn English, "AhP
he replied, " am TOO Old; and even II | mas cred
it, | could not control my know ledge of It. When
excited | shOull be lapsIng mro Italian which
would be very absurd. You asked me the other
day why do not play Orcsts shDdli maze
queer young Greek Wi an ApoO-like figure now
adayl The time was when l looked the part and
acted II we'll. and then liked TO play It. | must
leave il, with many other good things to Younger
men, Speaking about dramatic eOcutIon. he
said: The best method is obtained by close obser-
walton of Nature. and above all by earnestness Ii
YOU can impress people with the nyieon that you
feel What you say, they will pardon many short
comlngs. And, above all study, study, sudyl All
the genius In the world will not help yen along
with any art unless You become a hard student. lie
uas taken me years To master q single part.n
RICHARD SURrr l75s-1sO5.-Suett having
offended certain coffee house lounger the latter
waited at the stage-door OF Drury Lane to punish