New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-10
stage before its excitement became necessary to me-
And she adds in q letier to Lady Dacrc;

I q
| am nngrateful to it is it because owe many or
| my friends yourself among the number) to 1t that
you say so do you think that forget that cir
| cumstance But to value 1t as an art, simply Tor
the personal advantages pleasures that II was the
means of affording me- would be surely quite rs alb
sird as to forget that IL did procure such for me-
| Then upon reflection. few things have puzzled
ne more than the fact of people liking me because
| pretended to he q pack OF Jullets and Belylderas
| and creatures wh no not me- Perhaps rds jedt-
Gus Of nv pdjts certainly the good Will my assump-
ton of them obtained for me always seemed to me
quite as curious as flattering or indeed rather
! more so. / did not think III an un-
becoming comment my fathers acting again at
the Queens request, when / said that the excite
mcnt TO " hich lac had been habituated for so many
y,ars had still charms for him. it would be very
strange indeed if il had not. II Is chiefly from thlS
| point OF view and one or two others bearing on tno
moral health, that deprccate for those love inc
exercise OF that profession the claims OF which TO
be considered as art | cannot at all determine
| Satisfactorily in my own mind. mat we nave
Shakesp"Ires plays, written expressly LOT the III
tcrpretatiOn OF acting IL strong argument Ior tue
existence of a positive art of acting; neVertheiesS-
| but, If you please. We viii settle that point wheh
| have the pleasure OF seeing YOU
To Theodore Sedgwlck she expresses herself WIN
still more emphasis;
am anxious to close tins letter before go out,
and snail only add, IN replying 20 your next queS-
| ton of whether ever feel any desire to return 10
| the stage, AerCr My very nature seems 10
me dramatic. | cannot speak without gcsuculating
and making faces. any more than an Italian can
| pcrsonatng interesting characters in interesting
situations, GIVING vivid expression TO VIVID emo
| uOn. realizing In my own person noble ana Ocauli-
| ful imaginary beings and Wtcrn0 me poetry o.
bhdkcSptdre. But the stage Is not only TINS, Dut
nlucn more that is not this and that much more Is
not only hy 10 means equally agreeable, put posi-
| uYeiy O,lOus 10 lie, and always was.
She saw Dejazet in London, and pronounces her
n marvellous actress, and. without exception. the
mos, blazen-faccd woman / ever behcld, and that
is saying a great deal" She acted with Macready,
and tells some remarkable stories OF ms
rudene.s his violence, and his disre-
gard Of Others nor does she rate his ambition very
high; LIt she Processes cordial esteem ana respect
ior his character. She writes much OF the opera,
PARTICULAR, OF the singing eff her sister Adelaide
(,lrs SaItorsl, and Of Pasta, and of Grlsl and al
though her enthusiasm over the first of these artists
| is 10 doubt heightened by sisterly affection, the
description of her STYLE and of the effect OF heI per-
fo1manccs and of the differences between her and
other singers, are distinguished by great critical
acumen and rcrspcuity. She wrote thus TO Lady
DacTe when Adelaide kcmbc had retired from the
stage:
| In brilliancy of execution, | do not think
she equals oontag, AlalIDran or Grsi; but
there Is in other respects no pos
| them and herself rs lyrical dramatic artist and
Pasta IS The ohly great singer VINO, l tank, COM
pares with her IN the qualities OF that noble ana
| commanding Oricr hen distinguished them botD
IN both Madame Pasta and my sister the dramatic
power Is s. great az almost occasionally to throw
| their musical achievements IN some degree, INTO
the shade But in their lyrical defamation there Is
grandeur and breadth of style, ana tragic depth
0i passion, far beyond that OF any other musical
| performers have KNOWN In one respect Adelaide
had ,hc promise of greater excellence than Pasta
the versatility OF her powers and her great talent
| 4OT comedy.
| by her vocal efforts you have seen: and noted,
| know that power of appealing 10 heaven at ouce
with her srous eyes and her soaring voice; ending
| =, AK lee
highest notes with that gentle quiyer OF the
lids which hardly disturbed the expression
OF tn rapt soul sitting IN her eyes" She had
| musical stnNlblhty winch comprcheudS, IN both
senses OF the word, every species OF musical COM
position and almost the whole j. real literature OF
Europe; Ii shOit she belongs, by organization aud
education, to the highest Orer OF artists. But why
--0n, why ASH | giving you Il dissertation on ner
and her gifts, loi purpose winch viii never again
challenge efforts or their exercised iQuIte
lately, one who hLew aud loved her we'll told me
hat Ho- SIM had said of her; To sing she does
three things aIe cd: thIs'-tOucElng ais tore
head" ms touching his throat. and this
laying his hand on ms heart. " She had them
sometimes think, when reflect upon the lives
of theatrical artists. tnat they are altogether un
natural cNi,ichCcS, and prOduCc-pardun the bull
arAdiai natures, which are misplaced anywhere
but III Ihc.T own unreal and make believe sphere.
hey are the anOmH Gus growth Of our diseased
civilizations. and, removed ron Their 0wn ficu-
! nous soil flourish half believe, in none other. DO
no laugh al me- bat really GO ihnk that creatures
with rhc temperament necessary tor making good
acton, and actresses are unit tOr ans thing else III
me- and IL iOr marry ing anu htN.hB chiidreli,
think crossing wholesome English farm stock with
my biological cattle would furnish our heidS Win
less uncauuy breed of ANNALS
| wish some laws were male shu uu5 M all the
theatres. aud only allowing two dramatic entertain
meuls every year: one Of >hakeSpcarc's plays and
ONE Of slozdr,'s operas AT the cost Ol Government
and a. a national tcsuvlty. Now, know you tnInA
| am quite mad, wherefore adcu.
We have left ourselves little space for copying any
of the miscellaneous good things scattered through
he book but here "a story of the little humbugs
called " Panchctte." once popular among American
lovers of the mysterious. for which we must spare
room; aud with it wc close orr notice of One of the
brightest and most distinctly intellectual volume
of personal Renaissance which our times have pro-
duced:
The strangest experience, however, that / met
with in connection with this absurd delusiun
90 CURED during a visit that | received from Mrs
B-S-. Tn lady was, staying with her
daughter in iOckb bridge, and did me the honor to
call ON me at LcroX with that young lazy Among
other things spoken OF | asked my distinguished
visitor some questions about this supersttiOuS folly
Fianchette, nothing doubling THAT shoald hear
from her eloquent condemnation OF all tho
alb urd proceedings gong on III the two villages.
The lady'5 face assumed decided expression OF
grave Misrepresentation, Cer,aInly and sne spoke 10
thIs ciicct: Pianchettc! On dear. yes, we are
perfectly familiar with Pianchctte, and indeed.
have been in the habit OF consulting Ii quite oitcn'
" Oh, indeed qu0th /, "and | felt my tace
growing longer win amazement as spoke Yes"
continued my celebrated visitor, with much de-
hberauon We have; but think it will no longer
be- possible for Us TO do So No. We must certainly
give up having anything to do with H."
" Dear me r. said |, almost GREATNESS, aud
with queer quayer in my voice.
that / could hardly command, may
1 ask why. pray I" The language 1t Uses,
" fl the language 10 uses ~ calculated /. Yes"
she pursued with increasing solemnity, the Ian
guage Is reprchenslbie that twill be quite
Impossible Tor to consult or have anything fur
thcr 10 do with it," Really" said |, hardly able
to utter for suppressed laughter; aud may | ask.
may inquire what language ltdoes use ~" Why"
returned Mr.. $, with some decorOus hesitation
fl...f f.Ii..,