St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-17

za Interesting Biographical sketch Of the
Great italian TragedseaHe.


Great italian Tra9edSenHe.
RIstoril She is tragedy herself. She is
comedy itself. She is the drama. What
Shakespeare Is among dranatists Ristori Is
among actors Both are universal Re-
viewing the career Of the great players Of the
world we have no knowledge Of another
woman so exalfed--Jules Jznin.
OF very recent years there has been no
performance upon the American stage more
entirely impressive than the -sMorte CIvilei'
by the Italian actor, Salvini, the true brother
IN art Of Ristori, nurt1red BY the same in
stincis, developed under the same conditions
OF art aud severe training, filed with the
same fire OF individual and national genius
and born to the same passion, which Is Of
itself tragedy in its elemental form. Ameri-
can play-gOers will never forget the yielding
OF their hearts 70 him as in action and in
voice, understood only as music is, he gave
the tragic destiny Of the outcast. II was art
in It's truest form, great in its simplicity, de-
void Of mere theatrical effort and free OF
stage device. Speaking in the Italian, he
yet found his way to hearts armed against
him. Had English been the medium what
depth OF sorrow aud sympathy he would
have wrought The same Limitation was felt
when Ristor visited US before and again in
the noble and brilliant performances Of her
great couptryman, Rossi-
But Ristori is now to speak to Us in our
own tongue. She comes not now as a stran-
ger and her coming Is an important event In
the history Of our stage and not a mere Incl
dent To see her viii be the experience Of a
lifetime, for that she Is incomparably the
queen Of the universal stage admits of no
question. The recital Of her career Is his
tory OF the most triumphant woman that
ever trod the boards.
RIsToRI's YOUTH.
The life Of the tragedienne is so nearly the
history Of spirit born to the stage that II is
difficult 70 dIsassociate her inner self and her
personal experiences from their relations to
art Her parents were strolling players, who
knew the sharp sOrrows of poverty and who
felt that close companionship with their
children which is incident 10 humble lives.
That its heart has its sabre in such an exist
ence is one Of the compensations
of ungenerous fortune. Adelaide
was born, 1t may be almost literally
said, upon the stage. Antonio Ristori and
his wife were attached 10 celebrated travel
ing company. 1t was In the little Venetian
town OF FriuM that the infant was added 10
the cast, for, indeed, when but few days
old she appeared in play, held in the arms
Of one OF the actors, aud looked out upon
the world before the footlights. At the age
of four she had part OF her own; at twelve
she was engaged for soubrette characters.
l.. n
that in a triumphant appearance In Fran
aesca da Rimiui'' she achieved tue promises
of her birth. firing of a wandering life she
excepted an engagement in the royal com
pany of the King Of Sardinia. Thence she
went 10 Parma, and II was 10 conquer. To
have experienced the first sensations OF the
discovery OF her genius was, as Keats
writes:
Then felt ike some watcher OF the skies
When a new planet sWims into his ken
Or Ike stout COrtez. when with eager eyes
lie stared AZ the Pscifc-and all his men
Looked at each other with Il wild sarmise-
Silent upon peak in Darien.
The physical beauty of the young woman
was matched By a sweet purity of character
II is remembered that her ga-b was always
simple, vet she was arrayed in a garment of
light. She walked through The ranks Of her
admirers in a corrupt court like a saint. The
humble people gave her their hearts and
with uncovered head and the sign of the
cross did honor, say what we may, 10 their
own ignorance and superstition II Is only
in Italy, where religion owes some OF its out
ward form to the picturesque, the beautiful
aud the artistic, that such things could hap
pen. This reverence Of the common people
came about through q singular circumstance.
At Faenza in those DAYS il was her habit TO
visit the Cathedral at an early hour. OWN e
10 the press OF her duties. The priest OBJ
served her and always began hfs services
sooner than otherwise he would have done.
This unusual Difference had its share in the
popular superstition.
In her youth Adelaide possessed a rare
voice; her ear Was perfect aud the faculty Of
song was natural, although never developed
IN later life. Thus, az a child, she was
wonder and delight. AS a maiden, grow
ing in all grace, she added to her beauty by
the loving care OF all her family. She was
lut little more than child when her power
secured her better returns than the united
forts Of her father, mother, brother and
sister. And thus she was ripened with the
best Of true emotions, the domestic and a
cheerful sense OF duty. Who will say that
the hidden life OF those days was not event
uit A rare Dclue, n uramatlc gypsy, VIII
the ennobling circumstances of flial love,
blessing and blessed. An ideal training
this for one whose whole nature was 10 turn
10 art
ROMANCE OF LOVE.
Soon or late the heart must be given into
ither keeping and the romance OF Ristori
came about in a way fitting well into her
career. Kate Field, who has written well
and warmly about her, thus tells It IN Hdr-
per's Magazine.
Destiny willed that the coincidence should
be gradually fitted for the grAndest tragic
roles BY such dramatic stations in real life as
lall TO the lot Of few mortals. The year 1916.
which was so memorable 10 Italy, was no less
vital an epoch 10 Adelaide Ristcri. Rome
which Witnessed her artistic triumphs, wit
essed also the dawning of passion whose
course ran no smoother than that Of many
another true love. The heroine of fictitious
sufferings became heroine in her own right
For to love and be loved by Gluliana del
Grillo, son Of Marelsese Caparnica, and
heir 20 the Del Grillo estates, was ar outrage
upon the cOnvenances of society not to be
tolerated by one Of Rone's oldest ducal fam
lilies.
To own theaters was legitimate, but, how
ever willing that one should bear their rsame,
the CapranieSs were not willing that the glory
of all theaters should be equally privil, sged.
Though Ristori-like her own beautiful ere
alton, Mary Stuart-wore a Triple
crown: though virtue beauty and