Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-09
How the Great Italian Began
Life and Rose 10 be the
Foremost Actor of
His Day.

TomassO Salyini, cur late visitor, Is
of Milanese parentage, and was bora
ia the Lombard capital on January !
1880. His father, as / have already
said. was an able actor, and bis mother
e popular actress, named Gulgiemina
Zocchi. When quite a boy he showed
a rare talent for acting, aud performed
in certain plays during the Easter
holidays in the school where he was
eduested with such rare ability that
his father determined to devote him
10 the stage. For this purpose be
placed him under the tuition Of the
great Modena, who conoe we'd much
Affection for him. The training re-
ceiyed thus early from such able
hands soon bore fruits. and before be
was thirteen Salvini had already won
a kind Of renown in juvenile charac-
tiers. At fifteen he lost both his
parents, and the bereavement so prey
ed upon bic spirits that be vas obliged
70 abandon his career for two years
and returned once more uHdsF lhe
tuition Of Modena. When be again
emerged from retirement, he Joined
the Ristori troupe, and shared with
that great actress many a tRumph.
In 1919 Salgini entered the army O.
Italian independence aud fought
valiantly for the defense Of his
country, receiving in recognition o.
his services several medals Of honor.
Peace being proclaimed, he again APP
peared upon the stage in o COMPANY
directed by Signor Cesars Dondini
He played il the "Edipo" Of Nicolini.
a tragedy written expressly for bin.
and achieved a great success. Next
be appeared 10 Alfen's Saul, and
then all Italy declared that Moicna's
mantle had fallen on worthy shout
ders. His fame was now prodigous.
and wherever he went be was received
with boundless enthusiasm lie Wis
tied Paris, yhere be played Orasmane.
Orestes. saul aad Uthello. On his
return 70 Florence he was Hospitality
entertained by tie marquis Of Nor
mandy, then English embas ador to
tao court Of Tuscany, and this enllght.
ened noblemsu strongly encouraged
him 10 extend bis rcperioryof Shakes
perean characters. In 1865 occurred
the sixth centenary Of Dants's birth
day, and the four greatest Italian
actors were invited to perform il
Silyio Pellieos tragedy Of Francesca
d Rimihi, which is founded on az
episode IN the "Divina Commedia.
The cast originally stood on the plai
bills thus: Francesca. Sign6Fs Ristori
L~anceletto, Signor Rossi. Paulo. SIG.
nor SalYini, and Guido, Signor Majer-
oni 1t happened, however, that Rossi
who F2s unaccdstymed 10 play sh'
part Of Lancelst.e, felt timid az ap.
pearingin a character 50 little suited r
him. Hearing this, Signor Salvini
With exquisite politeness and good
nature, volunteered 70 take the IN.
significant part, rciinquishing the
grand role Of "Paule to his junior il
the profession. lie created by tn,
force Of his genius an impression il
the minor part which is still vivid II
the minds Of all who witnessed IN,
performance. The movement o
Florence. grateful for his urbanity
presented him with a statuette o
Dante, AID King Victor Emmanue
re garded him with the title Of Knieh.
Of the Order OF tho Saints Mauric.
and Lazarus. Later he received from
the same monarch a diamond ring
with the rank Of oficeri in the 0rde
Of the Crown Of Italy. In 1863 Sig
nor Salyioi visited Madrid, wher
his acting Of the death Of Conrad.
10 La Morte Cayille," produce,
such an impression that the easil
excited Madrilese rushed upon III
stage to ascertain whether the deaf.
was actual or fictitious. The queen
Isabella ii. had conferred upon tn
great actor many marks Of favor, an
50 shortly aftergard did King Loui.
Of Portugal, who frequently cnte,
tanned him at the royal palace {
Lisbon.
Signor Salvini married. a few yea,
since, a beautiful English girl, VII
died only last year. 1t was for IA
that the famous italian artist. Oaua
lere F%rascheri, painted the magnii
E cent portrait OF Salyini now on exh
B bttion at his studio in Manrisa rosl
Kings road, Chelsea.
G Signor Salyini's recent visit TO Lor
don need scarcely mention; its tr
umphs are still fresh in the memo
OF the public, aud the only drawbac
TO its complete success was the n.
happy fact that the eminent arti
did not appeal to his audience in the
own langutg'.
h / know OF nothing NOR remarkal
than the difference which exists b
tween the Sslyini Of the stage and h
Salyini Of private life-the one so l.
d posing, lmpatuous and fiery; the 9th
so gentle, urbane and even r~etirin
@ lie Is o gentleman POSSESSING the ma
ners OF the good old school-court
aud somewhat ceremonious, remip
r ing one OF those Italian noblemen
the Sixteenth century, Of whom ,
read 10 the novels of Giraldo Cinth
g and Florentino-nomins illustri 0