PREFACE.
We offer this sketch of the life of Rachel to the public without comment or palliation. The great tragedian's name is one that still arouses varying emotions and reminiscences in those that knew her, or remember to have seen her on the stage. To the outside public she was a Fury, a Pythoness, almost superhuman in her passion and her genius. To her intimate friends she was a lovable, fascinating woman, in spite of all her faults. At times generous, loyal and devoted; mean, jealous, and vindictive at others. To her family and children she was ever an affectionate, self-sacrificing daughter, sister, and mother, and it is this side of her character that has been revealed to us by the correspondence lately published by M. Heylli, from which we have given numerous quotations, hoping by their charm and the warmhearted affections they evince, to engender a kindlier and more charitable view of her stormy, unhappy life.
From Jules Janin's Rachel et la Tragédie, we have collected most of the information concerning the professional portion of her career. Arsène Houssaye, for some time director of the Théâtre Français, and an intimate friend of the actress, has, in a volume just published, given some piquant anecdotes to the world, which are amusing, but not always distinguished by loyalty to the memory of his dead friend. Madame de
