n nose. His eye could assume a terrific aspect, and his voice
was rich, powerful and varied in its tone. At times it rolled like
thunder, while at other moments it was as soft and tender as the
sweetest notes of a flute. Signor Modena died some years ago. He was
the master of Salvini, and to him that illustrious actor does not
hesitate to attribute much of his fame.

Rossi, the only living rival of Salvini, is still a young man, and
doubtless has great talents. I think him even more impetuous and
ardent than Salvini, but he is less intellectual, and his elocution is
decidedly inferior.

Majeroni is an actor of the same school, but he is becoming old, and
has a tendency to rant.

Tommaso Salvini, our late visitor, is of Milanese parentage, and was
born in the Lombard capital on January 1, 1830. His father, as I have
already said, was an able actor, and his mother a popular actress
named Guglielmina Zocchi. When quite a boy he showed a rare talent
for acting, and performed in certain plays given during the Easter
holidays in the school where he was educated, with such rare ability
that his father determined to devote him to the stage. For this
purpose he placed him under the tuition of the great Modena, who
conceived much affection for him. The training received thus early
from such able hands soon bore fruits, and before he was thirteen
Salvini had already won a kind of renown in juvenile characters. At
fifteen he lost both his parents, and the bereavement so preyed upon
his spirits that he was obliged to abandon his career for two years,
and returned once more under the tuition of Modena. When he again
emerged from retirement he joined the Ristori troupe, and shared with
that great actress many a triumph. In 1849, Salvini entered the army
of Italian independence, and fought valiantly for the defence of his
country, receiving in recognition of his services several medals of
honor. Peace being proclaimed, he again appeared upon the stage in a
company directed by Signer Cesare Dondini. He played in the _Edipo_
of Nicolini--a tragedy written expressly for him--and achieved a great
success. Next he appeared in Alfieri's _Saul_, and then all Italy
declared that Modena's mantle had fallen on worthy shoulders. His
fame was now prodigious, and wherever he went he was received with
boundless enthusiasm. He visited Paris, where he played Orasmane,
Orestes, Saul and Othello. On his return to Florence he was hospitably
entertain