The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-16

within her got the better Of her. Her
one great longing was TO act once more,
TO tread the stage as Of yore, to live the
life for which she was born. She
dreamed Of it at night, she dreamed Of
1t BY day, but she never spoke of IL
Her word had been pledged and she
must keepit.
Society had ceased to charm her. all
occupation was wcarisome. She turned
her attention to the poor and was boun-
tifuI to them. Among other wretched
people she gave aims to the poor crea-
lures in the debtors prison. 1t was in
the year lS47. AT that day in the place
where she abode creditor who chose
could cast his debtor into foul prison
and lot him rot there.
There was, | believe, some law which
made 1t compulsory tot give the man
who owed money which he could not
pay bread and water. For all else he
had to depend on charity, and there
were bars on his cage behind which he
could sit, thrusting ont his hand for
whatever pitiful strangers chose to
give.
The Countess Adelaide had often
spoken to one unfortunate man, a gen.
tleman whose debt was very large, and
one day it came into her mind that
there was a way in which he might BIO
delivered from his bonds and restored
to his helpless wife and children. Ac-
cordingly, she spoke OF it to her hus.
band.
Her idea was to give an entertainment
to the public, the object being specified
in the public prints aud in private let.
tiers. The tickets sold at high prices /;
actors Opposition would be implored 10
offer their services, and abe 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 theatre.
Once more Adelaide, in all the splen.
dor OF a queeniy 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, aud none was more enthusi-
astic than his relatives. do not know
what the play was, or would give its
name to my readers, but those who saw
it that night never forgot it.
: How often did they call the beautiful
Countess before the curtain! 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 beer DONE Tho poor debtor
was happy too, for his debt had been
paid, andhe 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 q home that had
been very miserable. As for Adelaide
herself, hope arose in her heart. The
sensation her acting had caused was so
tremendous that the whole feeling OF
her husbands family changed. Itali-
ans are all artists enough to feel pride
in genius like hers, and when she I'M
burdened her heart to them and told Of
her longing to return 10 the
stage, they gave their consent, and so
that greatest Of all modern actresses,
Adelaide Ristori, began the triumphant
career that has made her name known
in every CO uutry in the world as the
greatest OF all modern tragic actresses.
Surely no can say that truth may not
be as romantic as fiction.