The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-12-01
AN ACTRESS TRIUMPH.

HI hUlnnDD lNlUWI u
The marchesa Capranica Del Grillo,
(Ristori) was the greatest actress OF
the Italian school, not only, but she
was, as we'll, the most beautiful woman
Of her day.
Her nair was dark as night Her Won
derful eyes so large and brilliant that
they reflected every passion of her
dramatic soul, while her every move
ment was eloquent with a natural dig
nifty that proclaimed her queen OF
tragedy. In the fury of emotion she
was simply sublime.
Lige Rachel, her great rival, sac pos
sessed a special art of identifying her.
self with the personages she repre-
sented whether it was the guilty
Myrrha, appalled, at her own sin, the
naughty Elizabeth, the unfortunate
Marie Antoinette, the pathetic Stuart.
the piteous Pia del Tolonei. done to
death in the poisonous Maremma. or
the di Rimini of Dante, whose con-
staney and love comes to us from an
other world.
Who that ever saw her, at the height
of her success as Medea in a peplum of
pale blue her dark tresses floating in
clouds about her lovely classic head
ous eyes flashing with fury,
eloquent with despair,
her as she seized the
en, about to wed her rival
sa by the shoulders and hissed into
MS ear the Words compiled siamai"
There was the intensity Of genius
There was a look, gesture to illus
trate a whole history. No syllable of
explanation was needed; all details
were therein embodied to be grasped
instantaneously by her audience.
Adelaide Ristori chow well I, as a
child then, recall her) may be said to
have been born upon the stage Her
parents were both actors, and her earh-
est triumpns were gained, when al
most child, she represented the prin-
cipal parts lin perambuIating compan-
ies) to the great astonishment of the
audience and her fellow actors
One OF the most romantic of attach
ments broke in upon these artistic tri-
umphs, when Giuliano del GriIIo, Mar
quis and Patrician of Rome. fell vio-
1ently in love with the young actress.
His suit was opposed by both families
ON account OF Adelaide's extreme youth
and there is a story of his confinement
IN q t<,uror in tha Maraunuao ond of
many moving chances by field and flood
while she was gathering fresh laurels
on toe stage, a further appeal to hither-
to obdurate parents and final union
in marriage which resulted in a per-
feet. unalloyed happiness, lasting half
a century. never diminishing, never
waning in its romantic sentiment.
For a time the scenes of theatrical
triumph paled in the light of extreme
domestic bliss, but the dramatic in
stinet, the genius within her, reasserted
itself, especially when the new Mar
chesa found herself in the midst of en-
thusiastic congratulations from Le-
gcuye and Scribe, at the Theatre Ven
dome in Paris.
After the compliment d'usage, Le-
gouve abruptly asked:
Why, Madame, will you not play
my Medea?"
1t will be interesting to note here
that Medea had been written for Rachel
who, for some unexplained reason,
would not appear in it.
For an excellent reason, Monsieur"
replied Ristori; Il am so fond of child
ren, that, even upon the stage it would
be utterly impossible for me to appear
to take the life of one. In Italy have
been requested again and again to act
in Medea, but for this reason would
never consent"
But, insisted Legouve, my Medea,
Madame, kills her children in a manner
which exonerates her from the crime
besides the public sees nothing Of the
act itself"
Pardon me, dear Monsieur Legouye,
can never believe that the public
should not revolt at such crime"
II assure you, Madame, it is not Sc
with me, only do me the honor to read
my play, and you will become con-
vinced."
II should be sorry, returned the
Marchesa, "to be so wanting in eour-
tesy as to refuse to do so, but you
must be persuaded beforehand of my
inability to add Medea to my reper-
toire."
aVery well, Madame, read my play;
st is all ask. :"
4 Ristori attached to this conversation
SO little importance, and so convinced
was shethat nothing would induce her
to appear to kill two children upon the
stage, that she carelessly took up the