Instead of screaming or fainting, as is usual
with most actresses who undertake the character, Signora Cazzola stood
for a long time gazing intently at the havoc disease had wrought upon
her lovely countenance. Then, with a deep sigh and an expression
of intense agony, she turned the mirror with its back toward her,
implying that she could never again endure the pain of seeing herself
reflected upon its truth-telling surface. On the toilette-table was
a vase full of camellias--those beautiful but scentless flowers which
were emblematic of her brilliant but artificial life. Taking one of
these in her hand, she plucked it to pieces leaf by leaf, and when
the last petal fell to the ground went quietly back to her bed, there
hopelessly to await the coming on of death. Her parting with Armand
was very pathetic, and her death, although harrowing and true to
Nature, was not revolting, its horrors being moderated by artistic
good sense and delicacy. This great artiste died young, worn out by
the strong emotions she not only represented, but actually felt.
Signora Cazzola, together with Virginia Marini and Isolina Piamonti,
was a pupil of Signor Salvini. Virginia Marini is well considered in
Italy, and used to be the leading lady in the Salvini troupe. She now
directs a company of her own, and has been succeeded in her former
position by the estimable Signora Piamonti, whom Salvini declares to
be one of the most versatile artistes he has ever known, equally good
in the highest tragedy or the liveliest farce.
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