Volume Ii Part 29 (1/2)
HoTEL DU HELDER, PARIS, _Sunday, Feb. 1st, 1863._
MY DEAREST MAMIE,
I cannot give you any idea of the success of the readings here, because no one can imagine the scene of last Friday night at the Emba.s.sy. Such audiences and such enthusiasm I have never seen, but the thing culminated on Friday night in a two hours' storm of excitement and pleasure. They actually recommenced and applauded right away into their carriages and down the street.
You know your parent's horror of being lionised, and will not be surprised to hear that I am half dead of it. I cannot leave here until Thursday (though I am every hour in danger of running away) because I have to dine out, to say nothing of breakfasting--think of me breakfasting!--every intervening day. But my project is to send John home on Thursday, and then to go on a little perfectly quiet tour for about ten days, touching the sea at Boulogne. When I get there, I will write to your aunt (in case you should not be at home), saying when I shall arrive at the office. I must go to the office instead of Gad's, because I have much to do with Forster about Elliotson.
I enclose a short note for each of the little boys. Give Harry ten s.h.i.+llings pocket-money, and Plorn six.
The Olliffe girls, very nice. Florence at the readings, prodigiously excited.
[Sidenote: Miss Hogarth.]
PARIS, _Sunday, Feb. 1st, 1863._
From my hurried note to Mamie, you will get some faint general idea of a new star's having arisen in Paris. But of its brightness you can have no adequate conception.
[John has locked me up and gone out, and the little bell at the door is ringing demoniacally while I write.]
You have never heard me read yet. I have been twice goaded and lifted out of myself into a state that astonished _me_ almost as much as the audience. I have a cold, but no neuralgia, and am ”as well as can be expected.”
I forgot to tell Mamie that I went (with Lady Molesworth) to hear ”Faust” last night. It is a splendid work, in which that n.o.ble and sad story is most n.o.bly and sadly rendered, and perfectly delighted me. But I think it requires too much of the audience to do for a London opera house. The composer must be a very remarkable man indeed. Some management of light throughout the story is also very poetical and fine.
We had Carvalho's box. I could hardly bear the thing, it affected me so.
But, as a certain Frenchman said, ”No weakness, Danton!” So I leave off.
[Sidenote: M. Charles Fechter.]
PARIS, _Wednesday, Feb. 4th, 1863._
MY DEAR FECHTER,
A thousand congratulations on your great success! Never mind what they say, or do, _pour vous ecraser_; you have the game in your hands. The romantic drama, thoroughly well done (with a touch of Shakespeare now and then), is the speciality of your theatre. Give the public the picturesque, romantic drama, with yourself in it; and (as I told you in the beginning) you may throw down your gauntlet in defiance of all comers.
It is a most brilliant success indeed, and it thoroughly rejoices my heart!
Unfortunately I cannot now hope to see ”Maquet,” because I am packing up and going out to dinner (it is late in the afternoon), and I leave to-morrow morning when all sensible people, except myself, are in bed; and I do not come back to Paris or near it. I had hoped to see him at breakfast last Monday, but he was not there. Paul Feval was there, and I found him a capital fellow. If I can do anything to help you on with ”Maquet”[8] when I come back I will most gladly do it.
My readings here have had the finest possible reception, and have achieved a most n.o.ble success. I never before read to such fine audiences, so very quick of perception, and so enthusiastically responsive.
I shall be heartily pleased to see you again, my dear Fechter, and to share your triumphs with the real earnestness of a real friend. And so go on and prosper, and believe me, as I truly am,
Most cordially yours.
[Sidenote: Mr. W. C. Macready.]
OFFICE OF ”ALL THE YEAR ROUND,”
_Thursday, Feb. 19th, 1863._