The Washington herald., 1907-08-26

aids-de-camp of the king were awaiting
Us. They were blond. fine-looking young
fellows. wearing a uniform Ike that Of
European soldiers. adorned with silver
embroidery. They led US through a very
simple vestibuIe 10 the house, a one-story
structure. The doors Of the reception hall
We're open, two d6mestics. clad In blue
livery trimmed with silver braid. held
back the drapery while we entered large
room upon whose walls hung the por-
traits OF all the monarchs Of the world
King Victor Emmanuel, from the height
OF hts frame. seemed 10 welcome US.
Quickly our expectations of meeting some
'savages' We're shattered When his mai
esty, Kalakaua, moved forward. gracious
~ holding out his hand. our ideas Of gro
tesque savages were dispelled. The king
who was somewhat dark in complexion.
was rather tall, wore a Prince Albert
coat and had side whiskers like an Eng
lishman. He had pleasant physiognomy
and the simple manners of a perfect gen.
tleman. He spoke to US in correct Eng
lish, and one Of his first questions was
whether We liked the twO-step better
than the Old-fashiOned waltz. The lunch
con was served on fine Sevres porcelain
tableware, and the cutlery was Of the
finest silver. In order To excuse the alb
sence Of the queen, the king himself con-
descended TO tell US that she was in the
woods. That was the only note to remind
Us Of the local color The table was
exquisite and the conversation most in
terestng. as besides our consul, We had
with Us Judge Allen, of the United States,
who had been our companion on the
steamer from San Francisco.
When lunch was over the King offered
me his arm for a tour in the garden,
where all the rest Of the guests followed
Us. In the garden. there was a pavilion
from which We heard the strains of our
national royal hymn. l was moved by
such kind attention. How sweet are such
remembrances of our fstheTland, in far
away Countries
RistOri as an Art Critic.
It goes without saying that woman
who could SO artistically interpret the
dramatic masterpieces Of Shakespeare,
Schiller. and Racine would be equally en-
dowed with a critical faculty for putting
her interpretations into words as well as
into acting. This Ristori has done in a
most charming and interesting manner;
and The Artistic and Dramatic Studies. 3"
which form the second part OF her me
moirs, will take their pace among the
most valuable monograph on the drama
that have been written. This portion Of
the book is devoted to Ristori's apprecia-
tons Of the great plays in which she
made her fame: Schiller's Mary Stuart, -
GiacOmettTs Elizabeth. Queen of Eng
land" Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth 4"
and Racine's ''Phaedra." In these studies,
Ristori gives not only an impersonal criti-
cal analysis Of her subject. but. what is
infinitely more valuable. describes their
effect upon her as their interpreter It is
not the critic alone who speaks. but the
actress as well We are literally taken
behind the scenes and shown the inner
workings; and 1t is this personal note
throughout which lends a charm OF at
mOsphere TO the Rist0ri "reminiscences
which would be quite impossible in a work
written b. one who was merely u critic.
HOnOrs She Won.
On Ristorfs eightieth birthday tJanu-
airy, 1922 a hundred theatera gave on the
same date honor 10 one who had been the
greatest artist Of her day. Special news
paper numbers were printed. and medals
coined, the latter encircled by these
words. "To Adelaide Ristori. the glory of
Italian dramatic art, and OF the italian
marie, on her eighthieth birthday. the
Minister OF Public Instruction offers this
memorial" Not less than 1900 kilograms
were delivered 10 the noble woman, head
ed by almOs, all the sovereigns Of Europe.
The government took part and the Queen
and King went to the theater. while the
King personally visited her in the morn
ing at her residence.
RiStOrTs death occurred at dawn on the
9Th OF October. 1896. At the last moment
there were present only her daughter.
Msrchioness Blanca. her nephew, Marquis
Alexander, and Or. Cuja. Her head. re-
clining on a pillow. was covered with the
characteristic little cap of white lace
edged with black silk. which she always
wore At home. and during her illness they
never took il of. Her hands held a cross;
many flowers werc strewn over the bed.
''The death OF RistOri IS the mourning Of
Rome and Of the whole nation with
these words. spoken II Ristori's grave,
the Memoirs" come 10 a fitting close; a
remarkable record Of a remarkable artist.
who through her art immO-talZed anew
the great tragedies Of literature. and gave
70 the world the Inspiring example. not
only Of great genius. but OF an equally
great and noble woman.