New-York tribune., 1907-11-09

y.
day, Page Co.
Madame RistorFs memoirs hold much Of In
terest for the general reader and much Of sug-
gestion and admonition for the budding actress
but they in no sense remarkable as a lit
erary performance. 1t was no doubt natural
and amiable vanity which led her to dwell
upon the public demonstrations which attended
her artistic triumphs but little Of such remi-
niscences goes long way and becomes tedious
enough in the end. The narrative suffers also
from a very bad translation. Some of the illus
trations are excellent; others could not well be
poorer than they are. Where this book is of
special value is in its lessons of persistent and
conscientious effort in the work Of the stage
Ristor who made her first appearance at the
age of three months thoroughly established her
self in the liking of Italian audiences while
still in her earliest teens, but she was never be-
gued into forgetfuness Of the necessity Of
constant study The girl had devouring pas
sion for the stage. when my manager" she
says granted me an evenings rest for the sake
of saving my strength and also with the cum
ming object of causing the public TO desire my
presence the more. I felt like a fish out Of
water" Try as hard she might she could
not keep away from the theatre when the hour
of performance arrived. A stern determination
TO make the best of her powers, at whatever
sacrifice, possessed her The cause OF her later
feebleness Of sight a significant testimony
to her devotion Those dark eyes never recov-
cred from the effect of several continuous per-
formances of Macbeth" She is quoted say
ing: In the sleep-waking scene for twenty
minutes I had to keep my eyes wide open
riveted on point, with the glare OF the
footlights before After the performance
tears would constantly flow from my poor eyes.
and this brought on their present condition"
Lar hiaFr ytyhiH arn
included in this volume. show with what intel
leent care she framed her representations OF
the characters she discusses.
She tells with much spirit many anecdotes.
amusing or pathetic. Of her experiences She
describes the fashion in which when in Spain
she won from Queen Isabella the pardon Of a
man condemned to death; she laughs over
remfniscence of her tour in Portugal, when she
was invited to give performance in the theatre
of the University OF Combra
was 10 play 'Medea." the production of which
Ire,taI rules of the university forbade the en-
Ploynent , oR we TO represent the scenes in which the
''C.anephores' women are TO appear! dere ,1 Ine
insgination They volunteered 10 disguise them,
girls THOUGH tine he P%SRers of tSe
stmdents which they would not be allowed TO shaVe
6neyer to cover their faces in the best possible
manner with a thick vel. =. 49,, o-naor,rca NJ
In order to aecnsuoI ~, had taken the pre-
sacn before beginning the play, 10 look at them
Closet but / could not foresee What p hapPeibeu be
,a Niedea and Creusa in the first act chanSea %
t"eelI - nv ewes TO n the proscenium What
20 IIin aaa ~ " the Canephore girls. VINO snort
1h1 .ae before had appeared on the stage WeaFls a
white 90 E' ~ nray in the temple of Diana; smoking
n dd The greatest nonchalance long Havana b
IN a7 the sight OF that ridiculous group p oI I 10
yer a1;a,, students I had very hard strusE-S "
queIaui,H,ss HssoiT from exploding with laughter 1o%-
Ser mastered myself and as soon a as e Si sye Vie
stage stagebores requesting them to keep to the rear OF
the box.
,,on.,s OF the play Of Gamma" written TOT
,lr NV her friend. the italian patriot Mon'a-
nail. Eiatori recalls an absurd incident WINE
r:r!t.ng The drama the author sent 10 the o.
= o,coassiva InstaImeats for aer 3udg-