The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-24
Up TONY skETCRES.


eyes of the public.
The same thing must be true Of pen portraits
Happily enough, Nine. Modicska is too intclli-
gent lady TO crave unmitigated aduntlon.
while the public have read too many extrava-
giant laudations Of her talents to suspect me Of
any extra desire TO pulf her.
The fact Is. that the theatrical critics Of both
san Francisco and New York have gone crazy
over this admirable Polish actress. The low
artistic standard Of the American stage causes
Nine Modieska to appear in theireycs rs some
thing wonderful. almost supernatural. Some
81 them declare her to be the greatest actress
after Rachel Artists like Fargucil. Fayart.
Arnould- Plessy. Deiaportc. Aimee Dcclde.
Croizctte. or Sarah Bernhard seem all to Toe
forgotten. Yet 1t is not in the category of
Rachcs and Ristoris that our fascinating Po-
lish stage guest should be- classed. but among
tie just mentioned constellation Of intelligent.
graceful. refined. and Thoroughly artistic repre-
scntatives of the contemporary French stage
Nine. Modjeska has not the material Of a great
tragic actress in her. Her domain IA evidently
the emotional drama and the high comedy Of
the style Of Sardou and Dumas the younger. As
long rs she limits herself to this sphere she Is
sure not only to- remain perfect. but To an
preach the sublime. On the other hand. parts
like those Of PbG,rd or Wwrdh. which
she seems to be studying at present. Will
never suit her. and the persons who suggested
to her to select them must be either herenemies
or very poor judges II the means and capaci-
tics of an artist.
Nine. ModJcskas soft. melodious voice alone
renders her utterly unfit for tragedy. She will
have TO howl and to use the tremoo TO become
effective at nil: and though American audi
ences like both bowling and the trcmolo. no
true artist cnn indulge in them without ruin
and PROCLAMATION to his art. The fact that she
has played several tragic parts at home does
not signify anything. She played them in her
own tongue and to an audience entirely con-
genial with her in their conception of Shakes
pearcan and other great characters. Her posi-
ton here IA quite different She will have 10
play after Rachel and Ristori. and there Is
| hardly any chance for her TO escape failure.
| TO take to any II these roles would be almost rs
absurd on her part as to go back to the little
| farocs and vaudcvillcs which she played when
| She was u young girl.
But let us throw glance at the history Of this
charming and talented lady
Mine. Helena Modicska is n native Of Cracow
the ancient capital OF Poland. Her name in its
native form. is Modrzeiewska. 1t has been athrc-
waited and simplifled 10y her American manager
with II view to save brcakagc in the tongues Of
our countrymen. Her precise age Is unknown
10 me. but she must be about 80. for she has
been on the stage 81 her own country rs far bnck
rs 1850. and has a son fully 90 years old. Sh"
comes from professional family. Two broth
ers aud a sister OF hers were actors. and another
brother was n musician. She began her career
on the small provincial stages of Galicin. and
had TO play all kinds of parts. from burcsque
TO tragedy. That WIS her school Her natural
gifts soon attracted general attention. and an
engagement rs lending lady at the Cracow The
a. t,rl. q
Count Adam Skorupka. was her reward. Her
popularity grew fast and wide. and in less than
i've years She became 30 celebrated among the
Polish populations OF the three empires that a
life engagement stock star at the Inn
prra Theatre OF Warsaw was offered to her
Like true patriot. Nine. Mode ka detests the
Eussians. but She accepted the engagement IL
Warsaw out OF regard To the lar-er field whicl
1t presented for the development Of her talent
The p'cuniary conditions Of the Warsaw con-
tract wcre also exceptionally tempting. A life
engagement with yearly penrIt was not
thing 50 easily TO be found elsewhere.
1t was about the time oil her departure IRON
Cracow that Nine. Modjeska became the wife o
Count Bo7enia' at present resident oil Lo'
Angeles california
Inc arNsu' HflNlty OF NINE. Modl'ska De
came entirely oi higher class when sh
reached warsaw she played there J"t'
'ph'Hd' H'dF'e' HeSdt"o"d V'rr" .h"'
lh'Dr wary S"a,f |od' W are ana seNrrn
vther phr's OF inc classical r'per'ory' bu
her real trlumphs were IN lrou-fron, NJ
rl'nnc LecouNreur ana lie Deml- Monde
Her iAhe hud "r'ady reached Iarls' anu Wh'l
the las' named piece WIS ABOUT 70 he produce
on inc warsaw stage AeNahurr buihas. IN
Younger wrote le't'r To ule Director OF IN
ImpeIl" lHeAfe requesting ilih' IL spec"
iANor' th"t th' pnr' oi 'h' baroness Ah0
should h"' De gwen 10 any one except ina
Z great a'tress' Mme Helene ModrNelewska'
rms WIS no sish' compliment coming rs
dld from naughty ana hSpercriucni man {
the stamp OF dumas hiS
mat NINE. houleska Is endowed win extra
, ordinary talent Is beyond question. But he
'"rht Is ehureY natural she mas never mao
any studies IN the professional sense OF Il.
word Tor ue proVlhcihl stages OF "allcia an
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