River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-07-03
NEG MERRILLES.


sIme the part. Study, dress, ETC., had
70 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
hcT ear caught the dialogue going
ufon the stage between two of the
gSpsies, IN which one says to the other
abiding to her, (" Meg-why, she is no
l)Lger what she was, she doats," etc, evil
Gently giving the impression that she is
Il longer to be feared or respected; that
she is no longer in her right mind. With
these words vivid flash of insight struck
upon her brain; she saw and feIt by the
powerful dramatic instinct with which
eae was endowed the whole meaning and
intention of the character; and no doubt
from that moment it became what it
rover ceased to be. a powerful, original
and consistent conception in her mind. She
give herself with her usual concentrated
energy Of purpose to this conception,
I'd flashed at once upon the stage in the
startling, weird and terrible manner
which we all SO well remember. On
this occasion it so as onished and con-
founded Mr.. Braham, little accustomed
heretofore to sucn manifestations, that he
went to her after the play to express his
ii. prise and his admiration.
Il had not thought that ! had done
gavthlng remarkable" she says, land
wren the knock came at my dressing
B. N door, and l heard Braham's voice,
nav first thought was, Now what have l
10 - {io,aIaoea1 NTH a
about something for In those DAYS was
OILY the utility actress and had no
l.restige of position to carry me through.
Imagine my qualification when Mr.. Bra
fam said. Miss Cushman. / have come to
ta.ak you for the most veritable sensa-
tiun have experienced for long time.
we you my word, when 1 turned and
saw you in that first scene felt cold
{ d run all over me. Where have you
I,4rned to do anything like that"
From this time the part of Meg grew
and strengthened. retaining always Its
p-rfeet unity and consistency, until it
1 came what it was, IN absolute jewel of
dI anatic 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
Eii = when it gets It cannot have it too
eftGn repeated. The true heart ofhuman-
il responds always to truth, and recog-
res the absolute ideal, which is only the
res. in its highest manifestation, and
thrills as one string when the master-hand
touches it. If theatrical people could
e. 2 once recognize this and act upon it,
VI st might not the theatre becomeI A
book might well be written on this sub
leet, taking the part of Meg as its text
ar1 its illustration.
lfleg behind the scenes vas quite as re-
NJ fable as before them. 1t was a study
for an artist, and has been so to many,
10 witness the process of preparation for
this notable characterize makeup as
they call it in the parance of the theatre
"a regular systematic and thoroughly
artistic performance. wrought out with
the same instructive knowledge which
vas so manifest in all she did. " Miss
Cushman," distinguished lady artist,
Caoe said to her, as she wonderiEgly
Wa ched the process whereby the wierd
hsa 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 age2n / don't kilOtc,
was the answer '' I only feel where they
on hit to come" And in fact the process
was like the painting of a face of an old
D1tch master, full of delicate and subtle
manipulatiCns, and yet so &C spted tC
tn necessities of space and light that its
eject was only enhanced, not weakened
wnen subjected to them.
Everybody will remem bers this vision
O: 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
Ia the master conception. 1t Is terrible
at is lovely" says another; ut melts
nv heart" "She is witch, says third
'iam the crown of her head to the tips
g. her toes" Look at that attitude the
verv limbs express and typify life OF
p,ivation of hardship of suffering. Heal
that laugh! it thrills one with the super
ne .aral emphasis of spirit more than 6
human creature. Then, again, listen tC
the soft, tender, loving tones of the voice,
as with the tremulousness of age ii
cseous over the boy the songs of his in
fancy, or changes to ringing notes o.
c.static joy, as che sees awakening in hi
mud the dim remembrance she Is seek
in, TO evoke.
The costume OF Meg is another subjec
Oh which much of interest might be writ
ten how it gradually grew, as all arts il
things mus, from the strangest materials
oit picked up here, another there
seemingly mass of incoherent rags ane
taiters, but full of method and meaning
every scrap of it put together with refer
enve to antecedent eXperiences-thewin
tie storm, the outdoor life of hardship
the tossing and tempering it had received
til. Cugh its long wanderings; and which
Il al artists eve is beyond price, seem
in ~ bundle of rags, and yet roya
garment, for the truly queenly charactel
Of the old gypsy ennobled every thread o
il How many of those who felt thi
qrciity in the wearer noticed how th'
battered head-dress was arranged in vague
and shadowy semblance to a crown, th'
pnarled and twisted branch she carries
sue costing the emblem of commando
Much and great has been the wonde
OF those who saw the dress off her person
how she ever contrived to get into it; n,
eatthly creature, but herself and Sallie
kI cw the mysterious exits and entranc
Is ot that extraordinary garment, the full
con, pletiOn of which seemed like night
y miracle, so homogeneous did she anC
il become when brought in contact 81
completely, as she got it on, did she ent
CT into the PRESERVATION of Meg and leave
h-r own behind. She was always partic
Mar and perfect in her makeup, anC
wUald have been for an audience of ,
= -, &c TDy an, IF fhnnSauHs A
wisa so much wear and tear, some part o
the costume would need renewal; tn,
stockings, for example, would wear out
ar then no end of trouble would come
in preparing another pair, that the exac
int age and dirt shouts be attained.
This she achieved by her own hand. b.