The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-10-10
''Try Her."
A MEMORABLE INCIDENT IN THE CA.
REER OF CLARA MORRIS.

A MEMORABLE INCIDENT IN THE Ca
REER OF CLARA MORRIS.
In the fall of 1869 Augustin DAILY
began to hear extraordinary stories
of the emotional power of Clara
Morris, who was then protege of
the genial John Ellsler, the protector
and present manager of the magnifi-
cent Euclid Avenue Opera House in
Cleveland. The genial and fatherly
John was anxious to advance the
fortunes of his pupil, and New
York opening was thought to be q
desirable thing. In fact the metro
politan stage is the Mecca toward
which all ambitious stage-folks bend
their steps in dubious pilgrimage,
and on the results thereof hang all
their hopes of fame and fortune.
After considerable correspondence
Daily engaged the little Morris to
play minor parts. He had made a
contract by which Wilkie Collins
was to dramatize his sMan and
Wife," with which the Napoleonic
manager was to open the season of
1869-70. Two weeks before h e
opening night he had heard nothing
from Mr.. Collins in regard to the
dramatization, 80 he sat down and
dramatized the novel himself, put it
in rehearsal and laid himself out for
brilliant bit. At the last moment
his leading woman, Agnes Ethel,
severed her connection with the
Fifth Avenue Theater. DAILY was in
a quaudary. Suddenly a thought
flashed upon him. Clara Morris!
Why would it not be mastery
stroke to senl her up the dizzy
ladder at a leap or kill her of at
once? Done! Ten minutes later
he had wired the following short
dispatch:
New York - 1869
JOHN ELLsLER. cleveland.
Can Clara Morris play Anne Sylves-
teri Answer.
(Signed) AUGUSTIN DAILY.
In due time the following reply
was received:
CLEVELAND, - 1869.
AUuUsT1N DAILY.
Fifth Avenue Theater, New York:
Try her.
(Signed) JOHN ELLSLER.
Nothing more passed between the
two managers on the subject. Daily
cast Miss Morris for Same Sylves-
ter" and the town wondered what
new crote het he had taken up They
went to the theater on the opening
night to see what she was like.
They found slight frail girl feeling
at every step that she was undergo
Jag the crucial test by which she
was surely to make or break. 1t
was supreme moment in a great
career. The first two acts moved
we'll enough. The more careful OBJ
servers said she was getting on nice.
ly-better than they had expected,
and they rather thought she would
win at least a success of esteem.
The critics were out in force.
Winter, of the Tribune, fidgeted un-
easily and not unsympatheticaly;
Bronson Howard, then in the field of
New York journalism, looked on, but
his imperturbable demeanor dis
closed nothing of his thoughts;
the cynical Nym Crinkle, til e
Mephistophelean metaphysician of
metropolitan critics elevated his
contemptuous nose in a manner that
meant anything or nothing; the
brilliant and warm hearted William
Stuart broke out now and then with
a little exclamation of satisfaction,
and others of the guild looked on
and hoped. The old play goers--
the New York type of which is
SUI generts-sat there crowd Of
doubling Thomases, when suddenly
the climax of the third act was
reached. Then it was that "Anne
Sylvester" goaded to indignant
frenzy, turned on her rival the walls
of her wrath, and swept the theater
like tornado. The surprise was as
great as the acting, and both were
unparalleled in the experience of
most of those that sat in the Fifth
Avenue Theater on that memorable
night. The next day Clara Morris
was the lion of the town, and to day,
despite her physical frailty, she is to
the metropolis what Sarah Bern
hardt is to Paris Detroit Free