All Anecdote of Ristori.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 41, 15 March 1884, Page 5

All Anecdote of Ristori.

Years ago, Madame Ristori was playing m tha city of Madrid, m the Royal Theatre. She had carried the audience away m the act by her great power. The curtain had fallen on the first act, and an unusually long applause occurred. No one could understand her absence. The time came and passed when she should have resumed play. What was the meaning of her absence ? As she was passing from the stage, m the wings stood a poor woman, who caught her garment.

" Madame," she said, "do you hear that bell now tolling ?" "Yes."

"That bell tolls for the death of my husband ; he will die at sunrise to-morrow. Won't you," implored the woman, '* plead for me ? The queen sits m the box yonder." The great tragedy queen went to the Royal box and begged for the life of that man — a man that she had no particular interest m, but simply because he was going to die. Madame Ristori pleaded so well with the queen that with a pencil she wrote his reprieve, and he was saved. Meanwhile the truth had crept out among the audience, and when the curtain rose again, the whole audience sprang to their feet.

Tears ran like rain, hats and handkerchiefs were waved, and shout after shout went up from the multitude.

Why was this applause? Not for the tragic queen, but for the woman infinitely greater — the woman that pleaded for a life, and not m vain.