New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-07-10
MEG MERRlLLES.

L &
dale's illness thatsshe was called upon on
the. very day Of the performance to as
sumo the part. Study, dress, ETC., had
to be an inspiration of the moment. She
mad never especially noticed the part; as
it had been heretofore performed, there
was not, probably, much to attract her,
but as she stood at the side scene. book
IN hand, awaiting her moment Of entrance,
her ear caught the dialogue going
upon the stage between two Of the
gypsies, IN which one says to the other,
abiding to her, I" Meg-why, she is no
logger what she was, she doats, !" etc., evil
IDENTIFY giving the impression that she is
40 longer to be feared or respected; that
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 conceptio ion in her mind. She
gave herself with her usual concentrated
energy of purpose to this conception,
ahd 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 his.
,u-prise and his admiration.
II had not thought that I had done
| anything remarkable" she says, 'and
| when the knock came at my dressing
room door, and I heard Braham's voice,
my first thought was, Now what have
done? He is surely displeased with me
about something for in those days I was
only the utility actress and had no
prestige of position to carry me through.
Imagine my qualification when Mr.. Bra
ham said, Miss Cushman. have come to
thank you for the most veritable sensa-
lion have experienced for a long time.
I give you my word, when turned and
saw you in that first scene l. 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
thatthe public must and will have variety
The public must and will have excellence;
an2 when il. gets 1t cannot have it too
often repeated The true heart Of human
ity responds always to truth, and recog-
n;zes the absolute ideal, which is only the
rea.. in its highest manifestation, and
thrills as one string when the master-hand
touches it. If theatrical people could
OILY 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 It's text
and its Illustration.
Meg behind the scenes was quite as re-
MAI kable as before them. 1t was study
for an artist, and has been 50 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
YVES so manifest in all she did, "Miss
Cushman." distinguished lady artist,
once said to her, as she wonderiHgly
watched the process whereby the wierd
bag grew out of the pleasant and genial
know where to put in those shadows and
make those lines which so accurately
give the: effect of age?" I don't KNOX,
was the answer; & 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
manipulaticns, and yet so adapted to
the necessities Of space and light that its
effect was only enhanced, not weakened,
wnen subjected to them.
Everybody will remem Der 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 manifestation:
!, to the master conception. 1t is ''te1rible.
sit is lovely" says another; ut melts
my heart" ''She is awitch, F." says third
"ilom the crown of her head to the tip
Of her toes" Look at that attitude! thu
very limbs express and typify life o
\ privation of hardship Of suffering. Hea
that laugh! it thrills one with the super
! natural emphasis of a spirit more than
human creature. Then, again, listen t
Il the soft, tender, loving tones of the voice
as with the tremulousness of age j
}. croons over the boy the songs Of his in
fancy, or changes to ringing notes 6
!, ecstatic JOY, as che sees awakening in hi
q Mid the dim remembrance she is seek
inc to evoke.
J The costume OF Meg is another subjet
8 OH which much of interest might be writ
y Fan how If GRADUALLY frrew as all arts