MADAME JUDITH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1620, 11 December 1912, Page 2

MADAME JUDITH.

FAMOUS FRENCH ACTRESS. INTERESTING ANECDOTES. In tho parsing of Mmo. Judith, at tho great ago of over flighty, there is destroyed another link not only with Rachel—of whom sho was a contemporary—but with tho stirring limes of the Revolution of 1818, and the setting tip of tho Empire under Napoleon 111. Two years ago Mine. Judith published her memoirs in the Paris "Journal." They made piquant reading. When tho Felixes decided to run a. theatrical Company composed only of children, .luili-I.lt was given a place in it, and in return for her dramatic lalent sho received board and lodging. "But what board and what lodging!" sho exclaims. "Wo were all herded together in littlo attics in a houso in the Rue Beauregard, five or six of us in each room, and two or threo slept in the same bed. Carrots nnd potatoes wero our only food." Tho discipline was sovoro, for I'ero Felix occasionally onl'orced his instruction with tho cat-o'-ninc-lails. His daughter Rachel possessed histrionic genius of tho highest ordor, and niado a rapid conquest of Paris, nnd little Judith simply worshipped her. But a day oamo when Judith too soared into tho finnamont of tho ' Comedio Frnnciiiso, and Rachel becamo jealous of her triumphs. A Dannod Play. i Just al'tor tho coup d'etat of December, 1851, tho authorities prohibited tho playing of "Marion Doloruio," whoso author, Victor Hugo, was in cxilo. Miuc. Judith was playing the principal part. Sho cnllod on tho Princc-Presklent at tho Elysee, and not only got tho injunction removed, but obtained Louis llonapurto's promise to bo present at. tho Comedio Franciiiso the following night. • The house was.crowded, and when tho Prince appeared jho was the victim of a hostile demonstration by Hugo's friends. Among tho cries and shouts, tho word "assassin" arose repeatedly. The PrincePresident kept his peace to the end, but tho piny was definitely banned after that night. In tho following year lime. Judith was tho central figure in an escapade which grievously offended Louis Bonaparte. On hor way to tho prison, where several of her friends, including Victor limp's, two sons, were confined for attacking, tho Government, she met Prince Napoleon, Bonaparte's cousin, and prevailed upon him to join tho merry party that was projected. Tho two arrived with a carriage load of dainties for tho feast, and before the evening closed the Prince was drinking tho toast of liberty and tho destruction of all the Bastilles! The Prince-Presffleiit heard tho story, and was not unnaturally offended with the actors for inducing his cousin to identify himself with of the new regime. Asked for a Drink. Of that fantastic man, De. Musset, she 6ays that once when rehearsing one of his plays ho camo to her apartment, and had no sooner entered it than he asked for a drink. She could offer him nothing but beer. The poet gave a lofty gesture of' disgust. .Beer! So she sent for a bottle of absinthe, which ho mixed with tho beer, and taking that.infernal, mixture in long draughts he .discussed the character which she was to play till an unhappy comment of hers sent the poet oft into a frenzied monologue, which ho finished because ho caught sight of his own. ghost, at which he hurled his tumbler. , And again, once Madame Judith was in a box ax a theatre, De Musset suddenly entered it. "You have a fearful hat," he said, and brought his fist down ■on her head, crushing her millinery. He then abruptly left her. . r In 1818, when the streets of Paris were barricaded and fighting was general, she went-out,- climbing the barriers, dodging cavalry charges, with the bullets humming about her, to give solace to her mother jin.' another part of. the city, for sho knew her mother would .be lonely, and frightened.

A welcome to Mrs. Holgate, on her return to New Zealand from a visit to England, was given her last evening by the Trained Nurses' Association at tho Home in Willis Street. Among the list of passengers on the s.s. Malwa, which arrived yesterday at Melbourne, are Lady Stout and Miss Janet Stout, Mrs. and Miss Fell, and Mr. and' Mrs. S. Kirkcaldie. Mr. C. P. Skerrett, Miss.Skerret.t, arid Miss Forsyni, left'. Napier by.' car, 'on Monday on their return to Wellington. At yesterday's meeting of'the Wellington Education Board it .was resolved to draft a special minute expressing regret at the death of Miss L. Baird, late assistant teacher at the South Wellington School, who died last week.