St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-21
ADELAIDE RISTORl.
She is Pleased With Everything in
Chicago, But the Theater
Dressing Rooms.
lspecial Telegran % DC Globe.

pressing Rooms
Especial Telegram to the Giobel
CHICAGO, Nov. 20.--A charming family Is
that Of Adelaide Ristori, the eminent Italian
queen Of tragedy, who is now paying her
third professional visit 10 our city. The family
occupies an elegant suite of apartments at
the Palmer house, overlooking the busiest
part Of State street 1t is composed Of the
distinguished tragedienne. the Marcries del
Grillo, her husband, Blanca del Grillo, her
lovely daughter, and Georgieo del GriIIo, her
son. Besides these members Of the family
there is Luioji Trojoui, the madame's private
secretary and three servants.
''You have been on the stage long time.
Your "reminiscences must be very interest
ing" said the GLOBE reporter, who was gra-
ciously received by Nine Ristori this after
noon.
''When was three months old" she
she answered in her charming broken English,
81 was taken on the stage in my native
country 70 play the part of a baby in a basket
in an old Italian comedy. Ny career on the
stage has been continuous since then. At
twelve years of age was engaged 70 play
children's soubrette parts and at fourteen
made my first appearance in the first part of
Francesca da Rimini.' That was st Navarro,
near Milan"
"Where were you bornP'
''At Croidale del Frioh, near Venice"
''when!r
''Ah, that makes me think of what one Of
your newspapers said about my age in speak
ing Of my appearance last night. It said my
age was seventy two, but that did not look
more than forty on the stage. II was very
kind. Hal Hal Hall was born in lS47.
That makes me old enough, to say nothing
Of seventy-two."
when did you make your first visit to
American
''First--let me see-in 1866, Just at the
close OF your great war. During that tour /
visited Chicago twice,> always playing in
Italian. Ny second appearance in your
country was in 1875, when ! played two en-
gagements in Chicago. So this, you see, is
my third visit"
''How long VIII your present season lastl''
Until next March. Then We return 10
Rome, which is our real home, though some
times We live in Paris
''When did you first begin the study Of the
English languagei"
II first began in real earnest four years
ago, though had previously PLAYED with an
English company in London, taking q part
in the sleep-walking scene in Macbeth. Then
L made attempts 10 recite in
English before some members of
the press in London. and ahey
told me my accent was good. and thus was
encouraged TO persevere. Little by little l
learned whole parts of Shakespeare. ] love
him so much"
'Do you find 1t very hard to play in Eng
Ishlr
Sometimes I find great difficulty because
my tongue is so accustomed to other sounds
and accents / am obliged 10 pay great at
tention. My teacher was an English lady in
Rome"
''Does your work fatigue you now more
than when you were youngerl'
''Not bit. 1 play now seven times a
week, whereas used to play in Italian and
in French but four. In Philadelphia 1 had
rehearsals four or five times a week and
sometimes every day. Really, when I do
nothing at all 1 am often very much more
fatigued than when act"
''How do you like our theatersp'
Every well, excellent. Philadelphia has
good houses, Chicago has good houses, but
the dressing rooms here are execrable. 1
quite despaired last evening when / found
myself in such n filthy little pen, where there
was no room for my costumes. Pahl its
terrible. The manager did his best to help
me. think the architect who built them
knew nothing about ventilation. AS for the
auditorium, it was very good-very fine
good for my voice-excellent. / was not at
all fatigued last night, because my voice
filled every part of the house so easily.
The acoustic properties are excellent. In
Philadelphia, where 1 opened, the theaters
are smaller but very elegant, and the dres-
sing rooms are better"
''Have YOU seen many of our actorsl''
''Very few. know aud like Mary Ander-
son. She called on me in Paris She is
beautiful lovely. Charlotte Cushman was
a very great friend of mine, and she was a
charming woman. saw Edwin Booth in
Richard Ill, in Boston. I admire his
dream scene so much. He's a
great artist. Poor Mccullough 1
never saw him. Is there no hope of his re-
covering his mindlr
''Mr. Barrett l never saw"
'Since you have watched its progress, has
the tendency Of the drama been elevatingp'
Sat this moment l think not Light
operas and comedy have claimed the public
attention too much, but think real art will
again be revived. never saw Henry Irving
act, but he is charming man to know.
Chicago has improved so much since was