The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-26
POWER BEHIND
THE SCREEN.
Jessie D'Arsie Jackson.
written for The TimesJ

Rachel was not greater. Siddons had
not more genius. Cvshr'an was not more
brilliant. And yet Gazette Oldlee Gazette).
had her fad Genius Is genius because
n is fadful Metropolitan Europe coEced-
ed Gazette peerless. she was.
Ia Petite Gazette made her debut at
the age of fifteen. II was as Lady Tea
zle." i'm school for Scandal Screens,
~ course in the school for Scandal,
but an extra one by La Petite Gazette's
orders. ,..
a oiimpsc behind the screen. There sat a
little. old woman, wearing faded black
knitting leisurely. and smiling whenever
fhe superb Juvenile actress looked her
way. which was very often.
The actors said:
ia Petite Gazette cannot act unless
her mother is behind that screen. She
bae mortal dread Of stage rights and
fights the devil CT terror VII" 'ei mum
The public knew nothing Of this Of
course They knew only that Ia Petite
Gazette was great. phenomenaily Sc
one night / sauniered into Drury Lane
| Theatre. London. Delicious was the mis-
~ odor of the furnishings I'm the old
MAY house. Memories Of century Turk
"a i'm the arcades, and festOonings that
we're dust-dingy and motionless with in
! nImity.
Macbeth was the play.
Mime. Gazette was Lady Macbeth
she had been ten years on the stage,
and had married. His name was Noleuu-
| ferre an Italian painter. Il was rove
| match. She sat for her portrait 10 please
| The Emperor Napoleon III Noleutiferre
was tine artist. Her mamma was along
| always along The artist painted ana ia
doing so glanced at La Petite Gazette
! nrobablv ten thousand times. Love will
| do its work in ten thousand glances.
| They were welded after the portrait was
| done and presented TO the Emperor. lie
| made Noleutiferre cheValier lhei
mamma died. Still screen was placed
on the stage whenever Ia erahde MA
| dame acted II was her command.
| When the curtain rose on Macbeth
| tho screen was there Bad taste. con
derirg the setting A friend Of minc in
the orchestra told me. after the play,
that a tall. athletic gentleman with piack
hair and dreamy, brown eyes sat j" /"
cane chair behind the screen every night
and thar In grande madame glanced be-
bt,5 tho screen often. The man was
madame's husband, Chevaiier Noieutl-
fcrre.
one afternoon / was walking through
the cemetery Of Les Morte Nobiesse'
that sequestered, hedged. beautiful STUN
herring plot where many great repoSe.
| A weeping widow. pressing a ran -halr-
ed bov IN her bosom. rocked 10 and fro
! in a PAINTED iron chair In the centre OF
a newly made lot Respect for poignant
| Grief forbade my near apr roach nut
the chiselling upon the shaft was bold
and / read the word:
"Voleutferre.'
BEFORE the name was an embossed en-
blem Of the Legion OF Honor
1 fingered at the gate
Renewed Nine. Gazette and her little
son passed mournfully out. The boy was
an epitomized Voleutiferre.
Two or three years later. I visited
Stockholm. Nine. Gazette was billed
10 play there l attended the opening
night. The screen was on the stage as
usual-the inevitable screen.
A friend obtained entree for me Dehihl
the scenes.
A fair-haired youth. epitomlzed No-
leutiferre. matured bit. sat smiling as
his doting mother electrified the vast au-
dlence as Joan Dare
Last year accompanied some friends
TO the cemetery Of Les Morte N0blesse."
There are people who delight 20 Visit
graveyarls. but ] am not one. sought
the Volcutiferre lot. There was another
grave and on the shaft these words had
been added: "Victor beloved son of Ne
lone and Gazette Noleutiferre; age twenty
years
A week later with a friend. / entered
the private Office of Monsieur Deblois. le
difectoire ropera. He was engaged with
a fair-haired lady, whose divine face be-
traved only tho ravishings of grief.
'.AIv friend" said Deblois. Il desire 10
present YOU to Madame Gazette
The famous tragedienne received us
with marked cordially, and bade me SIT
beside her.
.When will we have the honor Of well
coming your return, maddmey' asked.
she turned her wonderful violet eyes
upon me: and. as the tideless torrent OF
irrepressiDle memory sunused them, she
replied; A., H..
for acting are over Ny screen is vacant.
Rcmorseless Ceath fas taken them from
me. enc by one. Mother, husband, son.
| am left to face fear alone, and I've not
the courage. AT the grave OF my boy !
4 bade farewell TO fame, glory, gam. !
await the call Of the great proinpter TO
ioiu them. Such Mademciselle, Is life.
Won wonder? Every one does. For three
generations | have had a body guard
against my own faltering confidence.
And now God has not left me unguarded
without design. My powers are as yet
uniinpaired And interpret my bereaVe-
ments To mean that IL is Provldental |
should retire before those powers wane.
Am | right. Mademoist lleY'
|
Richmond Student Wius.