Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-26

eli in I'll to hsr. Shs yssId1 70 his pss-
sussaons snd REARED frozn ths profsssaon
she adorned
She Went % live with the grsss f~m-
ily. who were very kind 10 her. She
tasted al the sxeets Of idlens~ and lux
ury and was aaored by her husband
She Wa for awhile perfectly happy
But slowly. surely. nameiess long-
ing crept into her soul She felt hsr hfe
dull aud embarrassing. The artist with
In her got the better Of her. Her one
great longing wss To Act once more. %
tread the stage ss Of yore. ~ live the
life for which she Was born. She
dreamed of il 81 night, chs dreamed of
it by day, bat she never spoke Of it
Her word had been pledged end she
must keep it.
Society had ceased 10 charm hsr An
occupation was wearlsome. She turned
her attention 10 the poor and was boun-
tiful 10 them. Among other wretched
people. she gave alms 70 the poor orear
lures in the debtors prison II was in
the year l647. At that day. IN the place
where she abode, q creditor who chose
could cast his debtor into foul prison
aud let him rot there.
There was, believe, some Law which
made II compulsory 10 give tt man who
owed money which be could uot pay
bread and water. For all else hs I'D to
depend on charity. and there were bars
in his cage behind which he could sit
thrusting out his hand for whatever
pitifol strangers chose 70 give.
The Countess Adelaide had often
spoken 10 one unfortunate man, Q gem
tleman whose debt was very large. and
one day il came into her mind that there
was way In which he might be deliv-
cred from his bonds and restored 60 his
helpless wife and children. Accord
ingly. she spoke Of it to hes husband
Her idea was to give IN entertainment
to the public. the object being specified
in the public prints and in private lettArs.
The tickets sold ~ high prices; actors Of
position would be implored TO offer their
services, and she herself would take the
principal part.
To this the count gave his consent
His parents, after some demur. agreed
that acting for charity, and to such an
audience, was not Questionable. and
one night the play was put upon the
boards Of magnificent theater
Once more Adelaide, in all the splendor
of queenly costume, walked the stage.
Once more she was happy. And how
she acted!
Applause rent the air. Her wonder
full genius impressed all who listened.
The old delight in it returned to her
husband, and none was more enthusiastic
than his relatives. do not know what
the play was, or would give it, name
to my readers, but those who saw 10
that night never forgot il.
How often did they call the beautiful
countess before the curtaini how often
did she smile and courtesy and kiss her
hands to them! She was happy for the
first time for long, long months. A good
deed had been done. The poor debtor
was happy, too, for his debt had been
paid, and he had money besides to begin
the world with on his day Of freedom.
His wife knelt to kiss the hand of the
benevolent countess, and the poor man
himself, bewildered by his unexpected
good fortune. could only weep. Happi-
ness was restored to . home that had
been very miserable. As for Adelaids
herself, hope arose in her heart. The
sensation her acting had caused was 90
tremendous that the whole feeling Of
her husbands family changed. Italians
are all artists enough to feel pride in
genius like hers, and when she unbur-
dened her heart to them and told Of her
longing to return to the stage they gave
their consent. and so that greatest Of al
modern actresses, Adelaide Ristori, be-
gan the triumphant career that has
made her name known In every country
in the world as the greatest Of al mod
ern tragic actresses.
Surely no one can say that truth may
not be a. romantic - fictin.-Mary
Kyle Dallas in Fireside Companion