The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-09
A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY.

Her parents were In aiiluent circumstances, and
removed to Paris when the artistic was very young.
As the result of her early education and surround
ings, she Is bright. vlyacious and piquant, a
Parisienne to her gIove-ups. Five years OF her
life were spent in convent, where she displayed
a great taste In literature and remarkable pro-
fciency in music. She evinced a strong taste for
the drama, and occasionally appeared In amateur
recitals at the request Of friends among the no.
blllty. Ten years ago Charles Fechter heard her
recite. and urged her to adopt the stage as pro-
fessiOn. Acting upon his advice and recommends
ton, RHEA placed herself under Beauyallet In the
Paris COnseryatoire. she made her debut at
Brussels, in tie comedy Of " FAIRY Fingers" and
remained In hat city year. She then went To
Rouen. and from thence 10 Paris. being received
in both places with great ecidt Afterwards,
when starring France. she received letters from
Paris calling her to the Imperial Theatre After
ward, upon the request Of the Gar, she went 10
St. Petersburg, and remained five years a leading
lady at the Imperial Theatre. After the assassina-
tiOn st herpatron she left Russia account Of
Nihilstlc threats, and went 20 England. she
studied the English language but one month
before appearing in " Much Ado About Nothlng.'
Other parts were sdded 20 her repertoire, and
she at once became the attraction of the island.
October, Is. 1882, she reached America ~
steamer City of Rome.
The press throughout the country called atten-
ton TO this no ted French actress in several Of her
porirayals, and, therefore, we will devote the
space at our disposal this morning to our lady
readers-that Is, In giving them description Of
some Of her more beautiful costumes. In Adri-
enne her first dress is all red Turkish satin with
hand-brOcaded gold oyerdress, the skirt Is OF
white satin, embroidered with Turkish characters
In gold. The waist Is Of red velvet, hand-em-
broldered with crescents and Eastern characters
in gold, the front slsshed with gold and studded
with Jewels. The sleeves cut full, the Inside
portion dropping some twelve inches below the
hand, showing lining Of old gold and jewels. On
the head Is worn a Turkish cap with Mosaic tip.
and suspended from the crown are large number
Of Turkish bangles, each bunch being held In
place by cluster Of ametbysts and rubies. From
the left side Of the cap projects high plume.
Around thd shoulders hangs gold cord the tzsscis
falling gracefully In front A belt of precious
stones Is around the waist. meeting In front,
and joined by crescent-shaped buckle or dla-
mOnds and rubies. Suspended from The belt on
the left side Is a handsome jewcilcd dagger ex-
quisitely mounted. The feet are tncased in the
daintiest Of Turkish sandals Of red velvet,
Mile. RHEA wears a magnificent diamond star,
the last present given her by the late Car Alex
ander, of Russia, ON the termination Of her very
memorable engagement at 81. Petersburg. In the
villa scene In the third act MademOiselle wears
dress in blue satin br0cade, Watteau style, with
large paulors-by the mOdstes termed Rhes
panlers-Hademoisell having introduced that
style into this country. The front OF the skirt Is
of old-gold satin, with two sdeep fOunces Of lace
embroidered withibeads .of varied cOlors. The
bodice is high, diamond-shaped in front, and is
trimmed with Brussels lace. On the head Is worn
lace shawl The third dress Is worn At the recep-
ton of the Princess de Bouillon " In the fourth
act. The overdress is Of white gros-grain, bro
caded with faded flowers; the front is Of pinA
satin looped up by branch Of embroidered roses.
The corsage Is low Of the same material as the
oyerdrcss, and is trimmed with pOint-lace. In
the hair are worn several diamond ornaments Of
various shapes. In the last act Mile. KHEA wears
a WRAPPER of white cashmere, Watteau style, all
trimmed with Mechelin lace. The costumes
she will wear In "Much Ado About Nothing"
have the advantage. of being both handsome and
historically correct.a The !frst3dress is exact
copy OF the famous painting by kubens, repre-
senting his wife, the dress being from n descrip-
ton given by Bandello In an old edition Of his
great work, "Ariosto Furioso.' from the plot Of
This is the dress that attracted much attention
at the great Dramatic Festival at Cincinnati. aud
which was so highly praised by the critics there.
II is of black silk velvet with dark trimmings cut
en- frafns: the sleeves are full, cot in the If
teenth-century fashion, sashed from the shoulder
10 the elbow with pink satin corded with gold
lace Tie corsage Is low, squaTe-cut, with puf-
ings of rich satin and lace. Around the waist
hangs a large gold cord, suspended from which IL
a large handsome fan of pink ostrich plumes. A
high Medci collar Is worn. lined with punings of
satin and trimmed with alternate rows Of large
and small pearl beads. On the head Is worn
large black velvet bat with number Of pink
nlumes. In the secon I act Mademoisellc wears a
white satin skirt brocsded with lilacs; the front
ts IN waves Of lilacs In satin and gold lace. A
domino in lilac satin covers the figure; the domi-
no Is trimmed with gold and lace, parting suai-
ciently in front 10 show the satin skirt and give
good effect 10 the dress. In The hair are worn
diamond ornaments. The third dress i Of white
satin throughout, brocaded la lilies-Of.the-yaey.
The whole front Is embroidered with pearls, deep
nounces Of pearls covering the bottom o( the
dress The sleeves are cut In the fifteenth. century
style with pufings Of satin, Medici collar,
beautifully embroidered, completes tie dress. On
the breast Mile. RHEA wears handsome diamond
ornament, sOurenir from the members Of the
Comedic Francaise II Paris.
The washington Post says: scribo's absorbing
drama, Adrienne," was presented At Whitney's
last night with Mile. RHEA a. Adrleane Le-
eouyreur.r IL was an impersonaiion, the most
striking qualities in which were regal magnIh-
eence Of bearing. overwhelming traeic power,
and an almost unerripg application Of the players
art 10 the development OF Every phase OF this most
interesting character. While IL Is by no means a
: -, .oo,Is nlay- the costumes worn by Ali of The
,.,,eotis person0-anG especially Mite. RHEA-
,,aro more gorgeous than before seen In this
.,,y in connection with aRy theatrical event. The
,', ,rorn by her IA the third act Is n narye, OF
.t.,,r..s aud elabOrateness wholly indeseribable
-. ,h,. profane pen OF man. Throughout the pJ.y
~, ares.es were nearly all beautiful, and minntey
c,t,hf, TO tie period Of The action. In the char
- of " Adrienne~ Mile. RHEA treads with
'.,st.s,,e step a very wide dramatic ranze-now
'.n,ns tlme 10 the gentle rppllng OF the brook.
- ,zain beating desperately agsins, the tragic
,o,,.nf Her reading Of the love OF Psyehe 10 the
,,,.g,nary Maurice" WIS both startling and
a-,re,le-now sweetly musical and wooiag, ana
NV again, when her though, Is turned upon her
ruel rival rcm0rseless. passionate. terrible Htr
ery ~ life In the very moment OF dissolution a.
An ELF a ,ragedy--moIe appalling than the Lar
,oot Of "A drowning man who sinks forever under
,ha ,,a,ers: cry Ia which were blended f,,,nxx.
,oy. despair, aud terror. That cry Was RuN.,s
s.nwn,nv achievement as +" Adrieaue~ ~ N In
.ont ss,.hle evidence Of power that ma.t an
s,nne 10 win ,riamphs Tor this groat arts. wbs,s-
ever .he ln,s an app eciatye snl cultured rubl.e
II cannot leak upon star
Or eioad, whic, seelas serxphs ear.
| Or any form Of purity,
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