FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56  
57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   >>   >|  
the thrilled and thralled public, but from men of art and science. A physician, it is said, was complimenting Mademoiselle on her amazing truth to the symptoms of mortal agony: "You must have studied death closely," said he. "Yes, I have," was the quiet reply; "my maid's. I went up to her--I stayed with her--she recommended her mother to me!--I was studying my part." This is probably merely one of those cynical stories with which the sharp people of Paris love to environ and encircle every one who stands a dangerous chance of becoming too popular. But smaller artists than Mademoiselle Rachel have sometimes had recourse to curious expedients to give their dramatic personations a show at reality. The French _prima donna_, who not very long ago appeared in M. Clapisson's poor opera, "Jeanne la Folle," is said to have shut herself up in the _Salpetriere_, by way of studying _her_ part, and to have been rewarded for her zealous curiosity by receiving a basin of scalding soup dashed in her face by one of the poor miserable objects of her examination. * * * * * A Frankfort journal states that the colossal statue of Bavaria, by SCHWANTHALER, which is to be placed on the hill of Seudling, surpasses in its gigantic proportions all the works of the moderns. It will have to be removed in pieces from the foundry where it is cast to its place of destination,--and each piece will require sixteen horses to draw it. The great toes are each half a metre in length. In the head two persons could dance a polka very conveniently,--while the nose might lodge the musician. The thickness of the robe--which forms a rich drapery descending to the ankles--is about six inches, and its circumference at the bottom about two hundred metres. The Crown of Victory which the figure holds in her hands weighs one hundred quintals (a quintal is a hundred-weight). * * * * * The death of SIR ROBERT PEEL, says the _Literary Gazette_, has awakened a busy competing spirit for the production of articles relating to him, and especially in connection with Literature and the Arta. In the one, Memoirs, Speeches, Recollections, Anecdotes, &c., have been abundantly supplied; and in the other, every printshop window in London displays its Peels of every style and every degree, but mostly very indifferent, absolutely bad, or utter caricature. * * * * * Goupil, Vibert
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56  
57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

hundred

 

studying

 

Mademoiselle

 

musician

 
moderns
 

thickness

 

require

 

ankles

 

descending

 

sixteen


drapery

 

foundry

 

destination

 
length
 
pieces
 
conveniently
 

removed

 

horses

 

persons

 

ROBERT


abundantly

 

supplied

 

window

 
printshop
 

Anecdotes

 

Recollections

 
Literature
 
connection
 

Memoirs

 
Speeches

London
 

displays

 
caricature
 

Goupil

 
Vibert
 

absolutely

 

degree

 
indifferent
 

weighs

 

quintals


quintal

 
weight
 

figure

 

bottom

 
circumference
 

metres

 

Victory

 

proportions

 
spirit
 

competing