The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-03-05
SCOTT-SIDDONS.
How a Talented Lady Had Her
Destiny Revealed to Her.
The Eject Of q Talisman upon
Her Interpretation OF
Lady Macbeth.
A Curious Superstition and Re-
markable Coincidence.
From the Chicago Tribune.


To the editor Of the CAieaso Tribune:
SIR: One evening, during the winter of
1872, Was one Of the party Of Jour who had
lust then, was turning the heads of half the
young men with her dazzling beauty, and
enslavipg the other half with her command
ing genius; while those of her own sex-re-
cognizing, presume, the fact that it would
be sheer presumption to compete with the
charms that were concentrated in her face,
form, and fameIgenerously forgave their
rival, and likewise bowed in allegiance to
"the Queen Of the stage, Scott Sid
dOns.
Although had often before in formal
way met Mr.. Scott Siddons, the opportunity
fog q quiet, social chat up to this time had
never been afforded me. Impressed a. had
been with the graceful dignity with which
she reigned in her more public receptions,
was hardly prepared for
THE FIREsIDE FRIENDLISEes
with which We were 20 charmingly entertain
ed. Indeed, such were the domestic grAces
which characterized her hospitality, that, in
their homelike atmosphere, the frigid for
malities Of social etiquette were quickly melt
ed, and our conversation flowed without re-
straint through the channels Of personal e1-
periancss and private opinions, the current
being entirsl unobstructed BY those proper
ties OF o. eech which more public ut,erance
nescessitaie.
1t is q part of our nature, think. to de-
sire to trace anything to its source. Be it the
River Nile, this trick of the prstidigitateur,
the persuasive power of the orator, or the
Of n he fGn
that naturally arise in our mind; Whence
does it come? and
HOW IS 1T DONE.
are constantly pressing for an answer. So ii
was quite natural that in cur free and famil-
lar conversation with Mrs. Siddons, We
should attempt to wrest from her her secret.
and discover "how che did it," Conversing
about her Interpretation of one Of the chsr-
acters portrayed in . reading given the pre-
vious evening, the question was asked Mrs.
Siddons If she really felt, while enacting the
'Sieep- Walking Scene" that she wac, as
she appeared for the time being to feel her
self to be-Lady Macbeth.
"Yes," replied she. 81 must always
enter into the character impersonaIe if rem
der il With any power. l never perform
that Sleep Walking Scene, she added,
without q feeling Of dread; for, you know,
that scene has peculiar significance to me-
"Yonr representation last night left deep
impression on my mind. You quite sur
passed YOURSELF, said.
"That mus, have been bec.Use ] wore
NY rALIsAAS,"
she laughinsly replied,
"And what was that? Are you so super
stitious As to believe in tali.mans and
charms?" asked one of the gentlemen, with
Considerable sariosity.
"Did You not not &c u heavy gold crown
q plain band Of gold, without jewel or a
bit Of chasing-tkat wore on my head? i
always like TO year that crown when l am
to read the '-Slssp Walking Scene" Tor it
belonged to my great grandmothe her, Sarah
SiddoDs. II was presented her BY the Queen,
and che priced it highly, always wearing it
when she performed the part Of Lady Mac
BETH II is fancy, no doubt, that makes
me believe render the character Of Lady
Macbeth better when ! wear it. Bot there
are other sssociaiions connected with that
"Sleep- Walking Scene" that make me al
ways approach il with feeling of fascIna-
ton which is tinged With ,entimsnt Of ave
and dread. For, you know" she continued
with smile, at was that scene which snap
ed BY destiny and career"
Naturally our curiosity was itilru Their |
aroused BY this remark, and, preseingf her |
to tell us the story, after slight hesitition |
she consented, somewhat reluctantly, to do |
90. So ! will relate il, as nearly as posi- !
bic, in her own language
THE STORY.
L.. L.. - LII. - Ill
unlike most young people, j had no OPP |
portunity to attend tie theatre during the
early yean Of life; 90 il was not until went |
10 tiermany With my mother that ever re-
allied the attractions Of the mimic world ]
on the st,se. II was when was
between eleven and twelve years old |
was projected, one Of the fea-
lures of which Was the presentation Of q little
French comedy. ] was east for some minor
part, and entered into the plans with great
enthusiasm. / sludisd hard the part assign
ID me, and thought over all I should do when
| appeared before the little audience. When
hat moment e,me, however, il seemed to me
that all my precoDcerted plans vanished like
mist. ! felt that vas for the tins the very
person I was representing on the stage, and
lcteO my pan Wei enouSn W eAc'eS VIC at
entiou and win the applause Of The audience.
This hattered me, presume, fos at oncs /
,ecame carried away With the desire to ap-
,ear in some Of he greater plays Of Schiller,
Moliere, Racine and CoFneille. In this
.ss Of courss encouraged BY my .ssociates,
nd the thouehtIen people Who were glad 10
eek eniestainmsnt in any novelty, even it
,ere only litile girl tryiBg to pfrsonaie
ONE Of The most sublime creations Of the
rsst French and German dramatists. Ny 4
poshor sav With alarm this abuormal devel-
pmsut Of ny Mid, and soon discovering
iat the idea Of becoming great sctres had
seome IN ahsosbiag paslioa that threatened
, bear away il IL torreat Of feeling all the d
sacaical aims and sober ideas Of my Life, 9
ivessod in evssy way possible my
lAnajoa ftu0 dsaDaaie sotjeels AZ q
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