Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-30
MEG MERRlLLES.
From Miss stsbbins' Life of Charlotte Gu

she is no longer in her right mind. With
these words a vivid flash of insight struck
upon her brain; she saw and felt by the
powerful dramatic instinct with which
she was endowed the whole meaning and
intention Of the character; and no doubt
from that moment it became what it
never ceased to be. powerful, original
and consistent conception in her mind. She
gave herself with her usual concentrated
energy of purpose to this conception,
and flashed at once upon the stage in the
startling, weird and terrible manner
which we all so well remember. On
this occasion it so astonished and con.
founded Mr.. Braham, little accustomed
heretofore to sucn manifestations, that he
went to her after the play to express biz
surprise and his admiration.
II had not thought that had done
anything remarkable" she says, ''and
when the knock came at my dressing.
room door, and heard Brahams voice
my first thought was, Nov what have 1
done2 He is surely displeased with me
about something for in those days wat
only the utility actress and had nc
prestige of position to carry me through
Imagine my qualification when Mr.. Bra.
ham said, Miss Cushman. l have come to
thank you for the most veritable sensar
ton l have experienced for long time
l give you my word, when turned and
saw you in that first scene I felt cold
chill run all over me. Where have you
learned to do anything like that?'"
From this time the part of Meg grew
and strengthened, retaining always its
perfect unity and consistency, until it
became what it was, an absolute jewel of
dramatic art--a standing comment and
contradiction Of the oft-repeated assertion
that the public must and will have variety.
The public must and will have excellence
and when it gets 1t cannot have it too
often repeated The true heart of human
ity responds always to truth, and recog-
nizes the absolute ideal, which is only the
real in its highest manifestation, and
thrills as one string when the master-hand
touches it. If theatrical people could
only once recognize this and act upon it,
what might not the theatre become? A
book might we'll be written on this sub
)ect, taking the part Of Meg as Its text
and its Illustration.
Meg behind the scenes was quite as re-
markable as before them. It was study
for an artist, and has been so to many,
to witness the process Of preparation for
this notable characterize makeup as
they call it in the parlance of the theatre
"a regular systematic and thoroughly
artistic performance, wrought out with
the same instructive knowledge which
was so manifest in all she did. Miss
Cushman," distinguished lady artist,
once said to her, as she wonderingly
wa:ched the process whereby the wierd
bag grew out OF the pleasant and genial
llneaments of the actress, :. how do you
know where to put in those shadows and
make those lines which SO accurately
give the effect of age?' l don't knop,"
was the answer; " l only feel where they
ought to come" And in fact the process
was like the painting of face of an old
Dutch master, full Of delicate and subtle
manipulations, and yet so adapted to
the necessities of space and light that its
effect was only enhanced, not weakened,
when subjected to them.
Everybody will remember this vision
of age, glowing with purpose, instinct
with fidelity, inspired with devotion even
unto death strong yet weak, full of the
contrasts Of matter and spirit, subordi-
mated even in all material manifestations
to the master conception. It is .ste1rible.''
1T is lovely" says another; SIT melts
my heart" "she is witch" says a third,
''from the crown of her head to the tips
Of her toes" Look at that attitude! the
very limbs express and typify a life of
privation of hardship of suffering. Hear
that Taught it thrills one with the super
natural emphasis of spirit more than
human creature. Then, again, listen to
the soft, tender, loving tones of the voice,
as with the tremulousness of age it
croons ever the boy the songs of his in
fancy, or changes to ringing notes of
ecstatic JOY, as che sees awakening in his
mind the dim remembrance she is seek
ing to evoke.
The costume Of Meg IS another subject