The sun., 1878-07-24
BESSIE TURNER As AN ACTRESS.
The Chief OF Henry Ward Beecher's wit.
nesses Before the Footiights.

Prom, ne Boston Herdhs Nde FORK Lsn,r.
A famous woman has made her first ap-
pcnrunce on the New York stage. and the brief
mention that she received In the press was n
fair indication Of the small attention given 10
the event. Yet IL is not long since Bessie Tur-
ner was talked Of the world over as the most
dlverting witness In the Beecher trial. and IA
altogether IA remarkable young person. How
graphically she described scenes In the domes,
tic life OF Theodore Tilton. With what droll
humor she told about his hanging pictures at
midnight in his shirt. What power OF mimic
and gestures when he bullied his wife. What a
dramatic element she impaired TO her story OF
andepcasx more successlIS than Sd amy oher
witness, not excepting Beecher. Tiltnn, Moul-
ton. or Mrs. Moulton: One day ]. W., Collier,
the actor. was present during one OF her best
performances.
-" That girl ought to be on the. stage" he said
she has the natural instinct Of an actress"
Well, Collier recently went into IA speculation
with the play A Celebrated Case. He bar
gained with the Union Square folks for the
land cities, He remembered Bessie Turner.
and offered her chance TO make q small be-
gnning on the stage. She very gladly accepted;
some readers must remember that four peas
ant girls are introduced in tho first act Of the
prologue. They talk briefly with .hddelaine
news news OF their lovers in the army, and utter ex:
woman BODY All that they have t to do in Their their
one scene IL not much. and in the lapse OF
Rsy Mss sFS orsea o BY the a
parts for the New England tour. Collier re-
Trained from any endeayor TO use her fame FOR
profit She was called Beth Avery in the bills
and for weeks her identity was not disclosed.
The minor task assigned TO Bessie was fairly
performed. but it anoried little proof Whether
company reorganized TO some extent. pre-
sented the piece in Niblo's Garden. 1t was do
ns fSG OT sE ms Sy
was not long stride forward Tor the maid APP
pears in only one scene-that i'll which Fdlen-
tine discovers. through the all-important locket
that her supposed father is a murderer. She
has half a dozen short sentences TO speak. while
examining jewelry from which gale'1ine is to
choose some to wear but at the Union Square
the character was played by an experienced
actress. whose. neat performance helped the
tour Bessie had not been given much atten-
ton. for the audience did not know her: but
RsT WAS IA ac SrP s the hi Nc TS srea had
and stretching Of necks n rustlinG OF skirts
and free use OF opera glasses when she came
| were curious about her. She stood as lnfexi-
| BILE as wooden doll, and whom she moved II
was with ierky stiffness in keeping with ths
| few joints. Could II be that she. the most i'm.
| perturbable of witnesses, was frightened
Could II be that facing theatre full OF people
scared one who had coolly borne. in n crowded
| court room. day after day OF close cross-Ques-
| tioping? She missed cue, and that blundel
| left Valentine standing In the centre Of the
| stage in the midst OF an imprisoned scene In
| awkward silence.
Go on" said Valentine in an undertone.
| Bessie seemed bewildered, and said not
word; She was handling the jewery at table
| and the break did not put her into any such di'
| lemma as II did poor Valentine. who was com
PEELED to wait. close to the footlights. facinl
the audience. and In strained attitude that
grew ridiculous by being prolonged. There
| was litter here and there.
why don't you 20 on 2" said Valentine. In
tone loud enough to be heard over third o
| the house.
Then Bessie spoke what was required. ant
| Valentine was relieved. But that was net tn,
last OF Bessies blunders. She crossed the stage
nervousy to hand the necklace to Valentine
| Perhaps stage fright extended at that instant u
| the tips OF her fingers. for she dropped th'
necklace. which jingled noisily on the boards
| To stoop and pick up something from the foo
is AN awkward thing for even a graceful, self
| possessed woman TO do on the stage. and BESSIE
| was neither. Laughter further disconnected
| hcr. and she made her exit after giving N
| promise OF fulfilling Golfers anticlpatons
| During the week she gained in confidence. an,
this account OF her conduct must not be con
strued in disparagement Of her latent power
| as an actress