New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-10-14
Anecdotes Of Adelaide Risforf.
Her Dramatic Career Began Age Three Months
Queens Were Her Friends-Row She Saved a MARIETTA

fessional jealousies, seems to have dreamed in a
Fonlahuc iashlon Of making her debut in the
oIalc capllaI as sort Of lesser sister of the
eIeat LeuSnWoman. Great was her disappoint-
I:lent, then, to find on reaching Paris +ba+
Rachel was in America 'i'0'
Ristori confessed IN later years with what
nervous dread she looked at the Ear,sia,, oos
On me streets-the crowd that was 70 make or
mar her prospective Continental tour The night
came. The audience, still under the spell of
the great Rachel, sat Indifferent and scantica1
through the first three acts OF Francesca ia
Rlinnl and then-then they began to lean
forward breathiess. electrified The curtain
Went down on flowers and bravas-Ristori had
won her Paris 'i'O
Then followed days of genuine triurnnh 1rban
AIRY ScheHer designed her dresses, LegoCve laid
ms Medee" at her feet, the great Dumas was
ger iervent adrnirer, and among her intimates
Scribe Guizot Halevy, Mile Georges and Ssr.
cey. Rachel returning to Paris found the beau
uIul Italian In possession of the field Actuated
by Jealous desire to see this rival of whom
public and press raved Rachel one night wenr
incognita TO see Ristori. After watching the
performance in growing excitement, she is said
TO have cried, "Cetta femme me fat mali" and
play N--1 - '4-e
Later Rachel tried to patch up the GOODNESS by
inviting Ristorf TO come and her.
she rejected my overtures when first came"
replied Ristori, substantially NOW let her come
TO see me If she wants to know me"
Rachels response to send Ristort box
Tor performance OF her "Phaedre" at the
Coincide Francois, with a card "A Nine Ris-
ceiving that the audience was interested In her
manifestations Of approval she was careful not
TO lavish them upon everything Rachel did" but
when the curtain fell she wrote her enthusiasm
hurredly on a calling card and sent II TO Ra-
chei in her dressing room. The sending of this
card was the last intercourse I ever had with
her" said Ristori, and great was Ristori's
success in Paris that the French government Of
fered her the position at the Theatre Francois
which Rachel had resigned going to America
The only condition was that Ristori should learn
10 act in French.
Ristori without hesitation. declined. az can
not renounce my nationality" she said, proudly,
nor Will honor permit me TO accept what be-
longs 10 another"
Having conquered Paris. Nine. Ristori entered
on uiumphal tour, which included London,
Vienna and St Petersburg. In London, where
she appeared In an Italian translation of Mac
beth" she weakened her eyesight by keeping
her eyes immoVabe in their sockets till the tears
came In Madrid she added TO her already great
popularity by saving the life Of Chapardo a
soldier, who, having nsulted his superior officer
was on the eve of being shot.
You are such faYorite with Queen sabelia, :"
they told her, "she won't refuse if you ask for
his pardon"
oh, don't care 10 ask such a favor of a
Queen" said the actress.
But finally, screwing up her courage at the
end Of the first act OF ''Afedea." she one night
sought Queen Isabellas box. Isabella lay on
sofa recovering from the emotion she had ex-
perienced. her ministers around her.