New-York tribune., 1907-11-24
THE GREAT RACHEL.
A PERSONAL PICTURE.

boyhood. A report long afoat that following
this excellent example. Rachel had hung her
, gilded walls the time guitar of the barefoot
street minstrel The groundwork OF this affecting
anecdote is quite true: there is. or rather. there
guitar. and that guitar occupied conspicu-
GUS and honorable place among the splendid orna-
ments Of RacheTs boudoir. The celebrated artist
had noticed at the house OF friend guitar OF
most respectable antiquity. the original color OF
which had long ago disappeared under the thick
black crust with which Time had coated it.
"'Are you much attached to that piece OF Iuni-
ber? quoth Rachel to Madame s., the owners
would you mind giving it to me-?
oh. no. indeed the reply; I shall be glad
to get rid of it
1.-The maid sent of with the guitar to-
RacheTs lodgings.
"a few days after II the turn Of an intinnat.
male friend 20 notice the instrument. but this TINA
1t hung. enveloped in a beautiful silk net through
the bright meshes OF which it's black color was
| plainly visible the gilded walls of an elegant
| boudoir.
| What in the world have you there?' quoth ths
visitor.
| That said Rachel assuming sentimental at
titude. that is the humble guitar. the faithful
| companion with which, in the days OF my child
hood, earned the scanty pittance bestowed on tha
| poor little street singer
| " Good heavens! Can it be possible? How yerv
| interestingi Oh beg entreat you to let me be-
| come the fortunate possessor of that inestimabls
| treasure! To me. to the world. to history a pre-
| legacyT exclaimed Count --
oh. can never. HeUer consent TO part with It.,
| Z" I must have it, at any cost; do not deny ma
this gift. TO be held a sacred relic; and permit
me TO offer you, poor exchange. the set Of da-
| monds and rubies you appeared TO admire some
| days ago. at the jewelers.
| "'Ah, Well sighed the tragic muse. since you
| will have it. I cannot refuse you
! The historical instrument obtained so cheaplv
| at cost of $4,000 francs, trumphantly
| rfs tic of
owner who exhibited it TO every caller, narratins
its pathetic association with the emphatic delivery
| of a Snowman at fair. Unfortunately, the orig
inal possessor happened to have occasion to call on
the noble count. and. recognizing the present that
! she had made to Rachel. uttered exclamation
| of surprise. An explanation followed. given with
| out malice prepeuse; for Madame s., quite
| ignorant of the mischief she was doing. destroyed
| the romance attached TO the relic dearly pur-
chased. Rachel repented too late of not having
| warned her unconscious accomplce. As for the
| count. he could not forgive himself for having
! been so readily the dupe of his own unsuspecting
| enthusiasm.
| Some who heard of this successful little
| speculation and somewhat doubted its truth men,
! toned the report to Rachel. thinking TO hear her
utter an Indignant denial. But the heroine Of the
account merely laughed, exclaimjng, Poor -.
how furious he was!
| "Out of the circle Of her own family Rachel was
accused of having consideration for any inter-
| est but her own. With her there artistic
! fraternity; she would crush every appearance OF
talent that entered her sphere. and she committed,
or caused to be committed innumerabIe acts OF in
justice, in order to clear her path of any likely
| to obtain the slightest share Of the notice she
| wished TO monOpOIize. It cannot be wondered az
that such conduct should have estranged the anec-
tions of her comrades. Some one asked Made
moisele Judith why she was so severe in her re-
marks who after all. was a coreisiouist
| of hers True replied the witty actress; we are
both Of the same religion. but with differences:
! am Jewess, but Rachel-Rachel Is a Jcrr
| she often appeared 10 sacrifice the dignity Of
| art, and made her talent mere article of barter
and sale, 10 be barsaned for shaeiessIy and sold to
the highest bidder. Her continual discussions and
lawsuits with the management Of the Theatre
| FrancatS fully showed that she considered the
theatre as her counter. her shop, where she put
into practice all the tricky manoeuvres Of her par
ents first trade 90 set the best OF those she made
contracts with. Here she gave the rein 10 a tenn
| per harsh. cold, despotic. sulky. stormy, as
the occasion might call it forth. but never kind or
! agreeable In business.
with the public with the admirers who througed
| her box between the acts-fOr Rachel seldom hon.
ored the green room with her presence-she was
all smiles and winning manners In society. shs
POSSESSED such perfect tact. great deIicacy OF
intuition. 81 natural appreciation of that which
Is refined ana elegant. that, from the very hour
Of her admission into il. she moved there with
! graceful ease, and fell instantly into its habits
never betraying. by any soecsm that she per-
tanned originally 10 = different sphere
zoos She w5i in truth an ast9nishing compound Of
! and httleness. OF the sublime and the low.
| p, Inc. passion apparently most deeply rooted in
was the love OF dominion. the thirst of power over
| belonged another. whether the object was ths
heart Ot man or the most Jrifiins bauble. IL
! lnatteFed not 50 long as IT was The property OF
ahother y was ardenty coveted, and every artldcr.
| every seduction tand what daughter ~ Eve could
noaSt or such an arsenal of irresistible weapons
hat 0i kacnsltl was resoTted To. in order obtain
It The instant II had become hers, the Iouged Tor
oplect lost all attraction; II utterly deSpSed:
useless, indeed possessed of a metallic value every
charm was uuuihilsted by possession. The human
Nlctlls sdSIlnced TO bring 10 her feet the hoHass
contributed 10 another were SO numerous that shs
heTSel could not number them. Were hearts made
oI the brittle texture they supposed be. by
mertS of those broken by Rachel would have
tuubefed her path Fortunately. those trophies
easily mended and made as good as ever. As for
| t.er HWh-there never was danger love, affection.
PASSION sentiment. feeling, never determined her
choice. The advantage to be derived from position.
stauoii rank, or wealth Of friend the triumph
oi Seduclng the allesianCe rendered at some other
| uoG and where she has wilIed she failed
| II mas been said that Rachel never beauti-
| tui. Perhaps she not. to the eye that
! beauty only IN certain conventional forms. in =
te'Saih G coIoI' put while none can pronounce her
10 nave been plain. she possessed that higher de-
| gree OF beauty impaired 10y the radiant light ot
| genus Illuminating the coUntenance.
| Ihe head was perfectly shaped. rather small
| rather broad. not high, and covered with dark
| TRULY fine, soft and silky, The brow. endowed
| Win such extraordinary power OF expression, was
PROMINENT and wide, but low; her eyebrows We're
eNquisiteE drawn; the eyes. the same color as the
| nalr were neither large nor small but deep set
| ttIlat tiey mad the appearance of being intensely
black; they We're fripged with very long lashess
me mouth, neither large small. filled vita
lip was long and thick. suggestive OF sulks. but
! SI storms, and; though so defective i'll point OK
tltu the curve, indicating the race. very slightly
inellnlns the tip; but it perfect in it's progor-
Si, lions, win thin transparent veiny nostrs Insi
cum was small and pretty. The delicate little ear