The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-06-28
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
The True Story of Adelaide Ristori's
Love Match and Career.

Love Match and Career.
1t is now a long while since the a
ager of a theatrical company, then re-
hearsing ''The New Years Present" in
the town of Cividale, near Udine, de-
clared that no stiff doll should be used
to represent the infant introduced into
the piece, but that a real baby must be
found at once.
Hasn't somebody a baby?" he cried.
A good looking actor who was stand
ing at one side of the stage instantly
hudged his wife with his elbow. She
laughed and blushed.
mime is only two months old, mon
sieur," she said. "But l can promise
you that she shall know her part, since
| can prompt her when it is time for her
to cry"
THAT matter is settled then," the
manager remarked, with a sigh of con-
tent; and the name of another actress
was placed upon the list, and its par
ents drew a tiny salary for its services
in addition to their WI Afterward
people said that the baby really cried
and cooed in the right places. and was
evidently a born actress.
There was after this no want of a
baby in the company with which its
parents were connected, and at the age
of five the little girl had a speaking part
of her own
Little Signorina Adelaide created quite
a furore in this part. She went to Ven
ice, to Milan, and to Rome; and at an
age when most young actresses are seek
ing an opportunity to appear was we'll
established in her profession.
1t was at the Royal theater of Turin
that a young nobleman, the Count Ca
pranica Della Grilla, first saw her.
The part she played was n that
called forth all the powers of her genius
and demanded the costliest and most
elegant costumes and the most bril-
liant display of jewels. Her dark
beauty, wonderful even in the simplest
dress. was enhanced by this magnifi-
cence, so that it seemed actually super
human.
The young count leaned from his box
with his eyes fixed upon her. His adj
miration was so evident that the whole
house remarked it.
The admiration Of a nobleman for a
beautiful actress was not uncommon. 1t
generally ended in one way. The noble
mar won the lady's smiles, surrounded
her with luxury and for awhile adored
her. Then they quarreled.
When the counts devotion became
manifest, as it did shortly, all the world
expected this history to be repeated.
They were disappointed. The Signorina
Adelaide had wise parents, and was a
dignifed as we'll as a beautiful girl.
The counts love was tinctured with re-
spect. Shortly he made IN offer of mar
rage to the fair Adelaide and was ac-
cepted.
After this he confided to his parents
the fact that he vas about to marry the
best, the loveliest and the greatest genius
non women-in fact, the most in
comparable creature upon earth-and
asked them to congratulate and bless
him
They did no such thing. Parents are
seldom to be calculated on in this par
ticular, and the young counts were no
exception to the general rule. Instead
of rejoicing, the ladies of the FAM
lily bemoaned themselves with the
energy only possible to Italians. The
father, instead of blessing, uttered
curses loud and deep. The daughter of
a poor nobodyi IAN actressl"
The son of their ancient family should
not so cast himself away. He might be-
troth himself as much as he pleased, but
he should never marry the girl.
The old count went to see Signorina
Adelaide's father, but was treated with
little reverence. He commanded his son
to give up his ma. idea, and set before
him the fact that he was about to dis
grace his family. The son declared that
the alliance he was about to make would
honor it.
The old count prayed his son to re-
member his mothers grief, his sisters
tears. The young count declared that
they were not to be pitied, since they
wept when they should rejoice.
Finally the indignant and terrified
father had his son seized upon and car
ried away in a fashion quite possible in
Italy and confined in an old castle which
he possessed in Campagna, there to re-
main until he promised to give up his
lovely Adelaide forever and take for a
wife some high born madame of his
mothers choosing. =
Thus parted from each other, the low
ers grieved and yearned, and watched
the moon, and counted the hours as low
ers always do under such circumstances,
but did not despair.
The guard set at the gates would
never have allowed the young count to
pass through them OF to climb the walls