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160 RACHEL.
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
W Mademoiselle Kaohel Felix Was Born On ...
A young author , very poor , and yet already of some celebrity in virtue of his poetical successeshad just finished a comedy in three
, acts , "written in verse . He read it to the committee of the Theatre _Francaisit was accepted on condition of certain alterations ; these
he made ; according to his own idea , spoke of them to Mile . Rachel , and begged her to be present at the second reading : she consented .
The piece was rejected by seven black balls to four white : the poet was in despair . Mile . Rachel took him aside , " Did you write
that manuscript yourself ? " " Throughout ! and with what hope ! " " Well , bring it to my house in a couple of hours , we will talk it over . "
In two hours the disappointed author was by her side . " 1 know , " said Rachel " an Englishmana great amateur of autographs , of
unpublished , manuscripts , will you , give him yours for 1000 francs ?" ( 40 ? . ) The poet thought he was in a dream ; he could find no
words to convey his consent , his joy . Mile . Rachel gave him the note , and requested him to dine with her : a week later the MS . was
bound , and placed in her own library . Her generosity and her avarice , like herself , were full of contrasts
and whims . She was fond of play , and when alone with her family always had a game either at cards or loto ; if she lost twenty sous she
¦ would be furious , leave the table , exclaim against everybody ! Directly after , one of her brothers would ask her for 2000 francs ( 80 ? . ) , which
he declared he needed , and she would give it at once ! This has lavish been told prodi us gality by an . eye Rachel -witness had , a amazed great dislike at such to child lending ish , particul avarice arl and y
when there was not much probability of the loan being repaid . It was thus she replied to an acquaintance , who sent to borrow money
of her . "Mydear Sir
them , when " If I you sent mi , you ght these be at 500 a loss frs . ( to 20 _Z return . ) , I mi them ght . perhap If you s "be will obliged permit to ask me for to be
in and send want unders you 100 tand them frs me , . which ( 4 _? . ) , I will am , allow on the you con t trary o act , very you sure please that . I Here shall they never are ,
. " Best compliments , " Rachel . "
One day Rachel had several high personages to dine with her—the Duke of San Teodoroof Napleswho died in so melancholy a
, , manner three years ago , the Prince de Walderer , several marquises and academicians , M . Scribe , M . Auber , the Duke de _Noailles ,
Messrs 1 Lucrece . Emile / & c ) , Aug and ier some , Ponsard Russian ( the nobles author . She of drov the e to traged the y door of
of one of her friends , and begged him to accompany her . " I want you to help me choose my dessert , " said she . This friend , who was
one of the guests , consented willingly . They stopped at Chevet's . * * A well-known establishment in the Palais Royal , where every luxury in and out of is nttainublo
season .
160 Rachel.
160 RACHEL .
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), May 1, 1858, page 160, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01051858/page/16/
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