New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-23
Up; br npil
Vanquish fatigue by energy u mlLdI
For not OH plumN or rahOpled IN statc
TIC soul4 wis laldC -

TIC souls wills iaIc -
How often since. in lifc's hard struggles and
troubles, have these lines helped me.
NY books were indeed "A strange medley, nut .ley
were all that were within my Ica"ll and louht
them satisfying. They filled my young heart ana
mind with what fascinated me most the gni geoliS'
the wonderful, the grand, the heroic. tho sc-dcny-
ing the sclfdeI 0tlng.
like all children, kept, as rule, my greatest
delight to myself. | remember on some occasions,
after had returned homo &c my usual Studies;
when q doubt arose about some passage whlch hau
happened to he III my little st0rehOuso, being able
to repeat whole chapters and scenes OF my lavo1
rites to the amused ears OF those about me. But
never revealed how much my lie was wrapt up IN
therh even TO my only sister, dear as shc was 10
me- She was many years older than myself ana
too fond of fun to share i'll my day-and-night
dreams l knew l should only DO laughed ut or
THUS | had lived again and again through the
whole childhood and lives of many OF ShakcspeareS
hcroncs long before it was my happy privilege TO
impcrsonat and mako them, III my fashion, my
own During the few years acted under MI: MAC
rcadys management, almost the FIRST us you know,
i'm nv theatrical life, never called upon 10 ACT
the character of Ophelia,-l suppose because tho
little snatches Of song merely what we can the
hurnmng OF u Jnncl kept still alive the tradition
that an accomplished singer was required i0r the
part. | had INV wish, however, when IN rams;
little later. was asked, as favor to support Mr.
Macrcady in Hamlet by acting Ophelia need not
say now nervous | felt-all the moro because ot
this singing tradition. The performances were
given in the Sale Ventadour Oh the "oii'nl9hts
of the Italian Opera
Oh how difficult it is, however much you have
lived in a thing to make real your own laeal, ana
give it an utterance and u form! 10 aud 10 my
fright was told Just before entering ON the scene,
that Grisi, and many others OF the Italian group,
were sitting in private boX on the stage. Bnt l
believe sang in tune. aud soon forgot her and all.
/ could not help feeling that somehow drew my
audience with me. And what an audience IT was!
No obtrusiye noisy applause for there was no
organized cldoque Tor the English plays; but what an
Understandable atmosphere Of sympathy surrounded
YOU Every tone was heard every look VAS
watched. felt, appreciated. seemed nitcu mo .h.
~ az her "a IiyInpr X
were 40 in Desdemvna, III Ophcila: what IL must
have been to act Juliet to them! Twas III per
feet ecstasy of delight. | remember that, because
of tn, cnrtailment OF some Of the scenes III komc9
aud Juliet" the brilliant Mrrcutio was cut OUT,
had to change my dress very nnlchiy nnu came 10
the side scene breathcss. l said something To Mr:
Serle the acting manager, about the not haste oi
il all pause to gather ONES self mp for the great
eXcrtiOn that WAS to follow. lie replied Never
mind YOU will feel 10 fatigue after this" And lie
was right. The inspiration OF the scene Is ut all
times tho best an0dyne TO pain AMI bodily fatigue.
Bn who could think of either before an audience so
senstivey alive oevery touch OF the artists hand
But TO return 10 poor Ophela. | learned alter
ward that, among tho audience, when nIayed her
fist were many of the finest minds in PARIS and
these found most pretty things" to say of tho
Ophclia to which had introduced them. Many
camo after the play 10 my dresslng-room IN tho
French fBshiOn,--to say thon, suppose; but nav
ting u pumpkin into strips for pies and there snt
venerable gentleman grayoly pairing tho strips TO
the accompaniment OF brilliant conversation was
asked TO guess who this gentleman was. ana alter
several frutless attempts, was told That IL was the
poet LOngtcllOw. Wnllo tho puinpkin-UNrihS was
In process another distinguished poet callud. aud
he also insisted upon being impressed into the ser
vice. 1t was areary day outside, and no one
cared TO leave the pleasant cottage. so they all
stayed to lunch ono CT tho pies forming the pic dc
| resytdnee OF the occasion.
Speaking of this incident afterwnrd, the lady
| said: My friends are kind enough to come to see
| me, though they know l cannot leave my
work to entertain them. Visiting and work
must proceed together, and when set my callers at
| work with me we are sure to have an agreeable
timer
| To be sure, some would say this is not So
cety, understa nding by the tcrm prctentious draw
| ing-rooms and elaborate entertainments; but II