MADAME REJANE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 330, 17 October 1908, Page 11

MADAME REJANE.

im ll . , n , u ! Normandy, at a houso called 1 etit Manoir," in Hennequeville, near Jrouville, lives tho famous actress, Mmo. Gabriello Rejane, during tho months when she is not playing in her charming Parisian theatro or on tho Grand Tour (says tho "Theatre Magazine"). Hero, too, live her two children, Germaine and Jacquos, with their, governess, under whom they aro receiving a most careful education. Anil the actress herself oversees their lessons when she can be with them in tho pretty house which they call homo. Her children study the piano, and she gives them much encouragement and actual help when she is at tho villa. Whether at study or at play, they see much of their mother, who perhaps owes something of her marvellously young spjrit to their companionship. Although this is a thoroughly French family, Mme. llejane provides an English governess for her children, with tho result that they speak perfect English. Theso children aro now nearly grown; the daughter, Germaine, being about twenty, and the boy, Jacques, fifteen. About forty-five years ago there was born in Paris one Gabriello Reju, the child of an obscure actor, who,' when he could not obtain a part, did not scorn to become ticket-seller' or even a buffet-keeper. They wero in humble circumstances, her parents, and dwelt among lowly surroundings; but that did not prevent this baby from dreaming of . tho stage. From her birth she was used to seeing and hearing great actors, and theatrical people were the only ones she knew. It is small wonder, then, that she made no plans for anything but a stage life. When her father died, whilo she was still a small girl, and sho i\"ith her mother lived in a tiny fifth .floor apartment in a poor quarter of the city, she was set to wurk helping her mother paint fans, and for a'few years they had a hard struggle for existenco, when they had to be helped by friends more than once. But when Gabriello was about twelve, her uncle died, and loft her a small inheritance. The mother's ambition was to make a schoolmistress of the girl, doubtless having seen enough of the stage and its vicissitudes; but tho young, strong personality of Mile. Gabrielle had to be reckoned with; and she would have nothing but tho dramatic training on which her heart had been set for years, ever since she was big enough to tliink. She had already shown evidence of talent, and as she would not bo denied, arrangements wero made to placo her under the training of the great Regnier. The result, all the world knows.' Sardou saw her arid wrote " Madame SansGene" for this new actress, and all Paris fell under the charm of her vivacity, skill, and strong personality. For, although she has distinct and marked personality,, sho knows how to make it suhserviont to the part she plays, to take the tragic tono or the comic side, "for she hath a pretty wit" of her own. She is not handsome, exactly, but intelligence, backed up by bard. work and stern self-control, have mado her what sho is—a great actress.. But it is her home side' which endears her most' to her . friends. Her frank and merry eyes,'her. alert, pugnacious nose, her largo flexible mouth, her lively interest 111 what is going on in the world everywhere; her affectionate disposition, her kind heart, all combine to mako hor a delightful hostess, and an, invitation to the "Petit Manoir" is seldom declined. In private life sho was formerly Mme. Gabrielle Porel, her husband being manager of tho Vaudeville Theatre. But her married lifo was not altogether a success, so a divorce was applied for and granted, tho actress being allowed to retain the major control over her children. Rejane is fond of dress, and is always correctly and tastefully attired in beautiful raiment. She is fond of travel, and owns a big touring car with which sho has gono over almost the whole of Westorn Europe and throughout Italy, and she never tiros of praising that mode of travel* J