Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-18
BEAUTY AND BRAINS.
Dramatic Success I'm the Long Kun
Only Perches where it is Deserved.
New York Tribune.

Dramatic Success I'm the Long RuI
Only Perches where it is Deserved.
New York Tribune.
1t is easy for persons who have failed
upon the stage to sulk at persons whC
have succeeded, and, sarcastically, t
ascribe their success to various causes
aside from merit and desert. All read
ers Of current theatrical comment and
discussion are familiar, for example
with the ironical assertion that nc
woman can succeed on the stage unless
she has a pretty face and fine ward.
robe-the Implication being that pub
lie taste and intelligence are low and
narrow, and that good looks and good
clothes are the surest, if not the onl y,
passport to its favor. Much mons nse
is talked on this subject. Tie fact is,
as experience shows, that the public
forms rational and correct Judgment
as to most of the dramatic aspirants
who seek its favor, and that, upon the
whole, it pays no more attention to
comeliness and fine raiment than tn sc,
In reason, deserve.
To a woman who attempts the stage,
beauty Of person and taste IN dress are
great advantages. They do not imply
the possession of dramatic talent or
general intelligence; but, upon the 9TH
er hand, neither does ugEness indicate
genius. The vines ar-faced and nasal
voiced ladies who file out from to time
as Julia, or Pauline, or Juliet, may net
be able TO comprehend this; but it is
fact that mankind prefers beauty to
ugliness, and that talent has always a
better chance Of success when beauty
commends it to favor. No sane per-
son, of course, will contend that a pref
ty face makes an actress; but every OBJ
server of human nature and the stage
must coacede it be fact, and natural
one, that the woman who Is an actress,
and has pretty face, has an easier
task In achieving public favor than her
homely professional sisters. Almost
every play that is acted contains love
story; and In the dramatic illustration
of a love story, youth and beauty
aIe imperatively essential. Romeo
must not be bOw-legged or red-nosed,
and Juliet must not have hump back
or a swivel eye. Elderly men and
womenIhaye been known to act Romeo
and Juliet, and to succeed IN pleasing
their audiences; but they did this
through the skillful and e1ectual sim
ulation of youth, beauty and passion,
and not by,decrepitude; they teemed to
possess, and therefore practically did
possess, the physical qualifications
necessary to create and sustain an ilu-
sion. Undue estimation Of these attri-
butes would be an error; but all sneers
at them, as of little or no value com.
pared with brains, are premature and |
silly. Among the requisites that Sir |
Roger de COverly prescribed in his |
chaplain were a good aspect and clear |
voice; and this was a very sound Judg- !
ment as TO what is necessary IN per- |
son who must be often seen and heard. !
Instances are on record Of success |
upon the stage achieved In despite of |
personal defects. BettertOn was thick.
imbed and pock-marked map, and /
Macready had bad figure, an unpieas-
ing voice, and harsh face; but Bet
tertOn had such soul within him as
his ungainly body, and /
when as Hamlet he beheld the ghost,
his countenance blanched to an awful
pallOr-so intense was the magnetic
feeling which possessed him and which
be impaired to others; and Macready's
was so profound, his pas
sion so Just, his carriage 50 noble, and
his taste and execution so true, that he
thrilled the spectator and satisfied him
and made his own grim looks forgot
ten. Miss Cushman, upon our own
stage, has, in like manner, been tri-
1mphant over some disadvantages of
face and physique-fOr she is woman
Of wonderful magnetic force; and
besides, she was wise enough TO
leave the Mrs. Hallers and the
Biancas and adhere to Meg Merilles,
Queen Katherine, and Lady Macbeth.
These and others like them are ex-
,eptions, which only prompt regret that
persons so highly endowed should not
also have been blessed with physical
perfection. They would certainly have
had an easier time, and probably they
would have conquered a more extensive
and enthusiastic admiration.
While, however, the public takes
Kindly to beauty, there is no instance
n which mere beauty has won success
ior a dramatic performer. It's usually
he passport to immediate notice, but it
proves an injury rather than a benefit
when it is found to cover emptiness and
ncapacity. We might mention several
handsome women who have
allied on the American stage because
heir talents were found to be Of medi-
,cre description. In the long run sue
,ess perches where it is deserved, and
n all the arts, sooner or later, the true
.rtists get their acceptance and reward.