The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-10-02
THE RESULT OF A TRIAL.
AN INCIDENT IN THE CAREER or
CLARA NORRIS.

began to hear extraordinary stories
OF the emotional powor of Clara
Morris, who was then protegoe of
the genial John Ellsler, the projec-
tor and present manager of the
magnificent Euclid Avenue Opera
House in Cleveland. The genial and
fatherly John was anxious to ad-
vance the fortunes Of his pupil, and
a New York opening was thought to
be desirable thing. In fact the
metropolitan stage is the Mecca to-
ward which all ambitious stage-follx
bend their steps in dubious pilgrim
age, and on the results thereof hang
all their hopes Of fame and fortune.
After considerable correspondence
DAILY engaged tho little Morris to
play minor parts. Ho had made q
contract by which Wilkio Collins
was to dramatizo his "Man and
Wife" with which the Napolconic
manager was to open the season of
l0G9-70. Two weeks before the
opening night he had heard nothing
from Mr.. Collins in regard to the
dramatization, SO he sat down and
damntizcd the novcf himself, put it
III rehearsal and laid himself out for
a brilliant hit. At tho last moment
his leading woman, Agnes Ethel,
severed hor connection with the
Fifth Avenue Theatre. DAILY was in
q quandary. Suddenly thought
flashed upon him. Clara Morris
Why would it not be q masterly
stroke to send her up the dizzy
ladder ut leap or kill her off ut
onco? Dono! Ten minutes later
ho had wired tho following dis
patch
New YoRK,
JOHN ELLsLER, Cleveland:
Can Clara Morris play Anne Syl-
vester ? Answer.
(SiGned AUaUsT1N DAILY.
In duo timo tho following reply
was received:
CLEVELAND, --1S60.
AUGUsrIN DAILY,
Fifth Avenue Theatre, N. Y:
Try her.
(SignoD JouN ELLsLER.
Nothing moro passed between
the two managers on tho subject.
DAILY cast Miss Morris for "Anne
Sylvester" and the town wondered
what new crotchct he had taken up.
They went to the theatre on tho
opening night to see what she was
like. They found slight frail girl
focllng at every stop that she was
undergoing the crucial test by which
surely to make or break. It was q
supreme moment in great career.
The first two acts moved we'll
enough. The moro careful observ-
ers said she was getting on nicely
better than they had expected, and
they rather thought sho would win
ut least q success of osteem. The
critics were out in force. Winter,
of the Tribune, fidgeted uneasily,
and not unsympathctically Bron-
son Howard, thon in tho field of
New York journalism, looked on,
but his imperturbable demoanor dis
closed nothing Of his thoughts the
cynical Nym Crinklc, tho Mcphisto-
phelean metaphysician of metropoli-
tan critics elevated his contemptuS
GUS nose in manner that meant
anything or nothing the brilliant
and warm hearted Wm. Stuart broke
out now and then with little OK
clamation of satisfaction, nnd others
of the guild looked on and hoped.
The old play gocrs-tho Now York
typo Of which is SUI gencris-sat
thoro crowd of doubling Thomasos,
whom 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 hor wrath, and
swept the theater like tornado.
The surprise was as great as the
acting, and both wero unparalleled
III tho experience of most of those
who sat in tho Fifth Avenue Theatre
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 mo
tropolis what Sarah Bernhardt is to