Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-02
BESSIE TURNER AS AN ACTRESS.

The CHIEF of Henry Yard BeecheTs Wit
nesses Bnfore the FOotliyLts.
Boston Herald's New York Letter.
famous woman has made her first ap
pearance on the New York stage, and the
brief mention that she received in the press
was fair indication of the small attention
given to the event. Yet it is not long since
Bessie Turner was talked of the world over
as the most diverting witness in the Beecher
trial, and as altogether a remarkable young
person. How graphically she described
scenes in the domestic life of Theodore Til
ton. With what droll humor she told about
his hanging pictures at midnight in his shirt.
What power Of mimicry she displayed in
reproducing his tones and gestures when he
bullied his wife. What dramatic element
she imported to her story of his loving ad-
vances. Bessie entertained her audiences
more successfully than did any other wit
ness, not excepting Beecher, Tilton, Moul-
ton or Mrs. Moulton. One dayJ w. Col
lier, 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 specula-
ton with the play ga Celebrated Case" He
bargained with the Union Square folks for
| the right to take "a Celebrated Case to
New England cities. He remembered Bessie
Turner, and offered her a chance to make a
small beginning on the stage. She very
| gladly accepted. The drama has been ex
! tensively played. and some readers must re-
member that four peasant girls are intro
duced in the first act of the prologue. They
talk briefly with Madelaine about the bracelet
that is to be an important thing in the plot,
ask Sergeant O'Rourke for news of their
lovers in the army, and utter EXPLANATIONS
of horror over the murdered woman's body
All that they have to do in their one scene
is not much, and in the ''lapse of twelve
years. they are forgotten by the audience
Bessie was given one of these small parts
for the New England tour. Collier refrained
from any endeavor to use her fame fol
profit. She was called Beth Avery in the
| bills, and for weeks her identity was not dis
closed.
The minor task assigned to Bessie wa!
fairly performed. but afforded little proc
whether she really had much dramatic
ability. The company, reorganized to some
extent, presented the piece in N1blo
Garden. 1t was decided to give her large
opportunity by casting her for Valentine'
maid. However, this was not long stride
forward, for the maid appears in only on
scene-th in which Valentine discovers
through the all-important locket, that he
supposed father is murderer. She has hal
dozen sentences to speak, while examining
iewelry from which Valentine is to choos
some to wear: but at the Union Square th
character was played by an experiences
| {,nly,a !,
scene materially. During the New Englan,
tour Bessie had not been given much atten
ton, for the audience did not know her; br
here it was different. Her real name hal
been printed in some of the NibIo Garde
posters, and stretching of necks, rustlin
of skirts, and a free use of opera glasse
when she came into sight proved that man
: in the audience were curious about he
, She stood as indexible as wooden doll. an
! when she moved 1t was with jerky stiffnes
:, in keeping with the conceit that she real
:, was wooden doll, with few joints. Coul
it be that she, the most impurturbable
witnesses, was frightened? Could it be TIL
: facing theatre full of people scared OF
who had coolly borne, in a crowed cour
:, room, day after day of close cross question
, ing? She missed cue. and that blundt
q left Valentine standing in the centre of I'll
. stage, in the midst of an impassioned seen
in awkward silence.
4 600 on" said Valentine, in an underton
:, "Bessie seemed bewildered, and said not
a word. She was handlin the iewelry at
table, and the break did not put her into al
;, such dilemma as it did poor Valentine, wi
was compelled to wait, close to the foo
a lights. facing the audience, and in a strain,
;, attitude that grew ridiculous by being pr
a longed. There was litter here and there
"Why don't you go on?'' said Valentin
in tone loud enough to be heard over
third of the house.
Then Bessie spoke what was required, a,
Valentine was relieved But that was mott
I. last of Bessie's blunders. Sue crossed T.
d stage nervously to hand the necklace to Vi
y entine. Perhaps stage fright extended
y that instant to he tips of of her fingers,
k, she dropped the necklace, which jingl
y. noisily on the boards. TO stoop and pi
a up something from the floor is an awkwa
1e thing for even a graceful, selfpossess
ut woman to do OF the stage, and Bessie "
tie neither. Laughter further disconnected b
e. and she made her exit after giving no p
ed mise of fulfilling Golfers anticipation
g During the week she gained in contiden
p and this account of her conduct must not
II. construed in disparagement of her LATE
ld powers as an actress.
KING PHARAOH DEAD.