Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-09-26

vain
time and 1855 all Europe was at her feet.
Her income is said to have been 600, 900
francs yearly; gold and precious stones were
s literally showered upon her. She was not
Elizabeth Rachel Felix, she was the great
Rachel.
" In September, 1855, she appeared for the
first time in America, playing at the Net
ropolitan theatre in New York as Camille in
Les Horace" On Nov. 10 of the sam year
she went to Philadelphia and played once.
That night she caught a cold from which
she never fully recovered. Only once more
did the curtain rise on the beautiful Ra-
5chel, although she lived until Jan. s, 1858.
She died at Cannes, having insisted on
being taken to her beloved France to pass
her last days on the earth which had known
her for only thirty-eight years.
~ America had known her for q few months
only, but in those few months she had
made more admirers than any other actress
= could have made in years. Among them
was Thomas Bailey Aldrich. who was at
that time just beginning to contribute short
prose and verse to newspapers n perl
odicals. Three years o. more ago Mr.. AID
rich, whose name is now better known
than is 'Rachels, was present at a little
, gathering in Detroit at which 17-year-old
Judith Berelde was one of the readers.
"She looks like Rachel" was Mr.. AID
Hich's instant comment; and after the read
ing was over he added, land she reads like
Rachel, too"
In less than a year the girl Of whom Mr..
A1drich had spoken SO kindly had begun a
life Of hard work on the stage. And Mr..
Aldrich's remark probably had much to do
with her shoice Of a career. Not that she
had not always dreamed Of becoming an
actress, but it is not always easy to get a
manager to notice you. Notwithstanding
b fact that almost every successful per-
son denies it, true talent does sometimes
20 a-begging. A word from one who is
already known is better than q bushel Of
ability when it comes to getting the first
trial. 4 After that the ability looms up and
the words dwindle. N
A curious coincidence is that long before
Miss Berelde knew that she looked like
R1chel, she had selected the latter's IA
vorite play "Phmdra" as her own ideal,
and had thoroughly learned its grand old
lines.
i It would be easy to mention a dozen
other points of similarity between the
great actress Of the past and the actress
who intends to be- great in the future, but
those who have seen both on the stage say
that the most noticeable dissimilarity lies
in stature. And in that Miss Berelde is
more fortunate than was Rachel. She is
tall and magnifcently formed, and all of
her movements give the impression Of
strength. Her prototype was rather slight,
and needed the inspiration of an audience
and the passion Of a fine part to make her
lose the frail appearance of her every day
life. a
To say that she is like Rachel is suR
ciept tribute to her beauty. Hers is a
hair and teeth. She is tall, graceful and
has a.pleasing stage presence. Whether
she will realize her ambition and become
another Rachel depends largely on herself,
but her progress SO far has certainly been
three years en- the stage, She isto play a
leading and difficult role.
EDWARD MARSHALL.