The sun., 1879-06-01
MADAME HELENA MoDJEsKA.
A Reminiseence Of Her Girihood- what She
anId on MeetInK an Old FrIend.

IL appears that the advertising oxpedients
fesortod to by Nine. Mcdicska's manager. the
eminent and cnterprsinR Mr.. II. j. Sargent.
who has just departed for Europe. have not
failed to excite unfavorable comment in War
paw and the artistic who has tacity lent herself
to this means Of gaining popularity " has ad-
dressed letter To- the Gdfeid- Poiskd. tho best
equipped news paper i'm Poland or Russia. hav-
ing s own correspondents in New York and
San Francisco. In this letter. which had imme-
date reference to some remarks in tho WiSk
Age). another daily paper. Mme Modjeska
disclaimed amy intention on her part to tradJ
on her husbands nationality. position. title. or
pretended persecution by the Russian Govern
ment. She added that her success in San Fran
cisco WAS unexpected even to herself she hav-
Ing devoted so short time to the study Of
English. Sho had. sho said. repeatedly OBJ
jcctcd to the way in which some over Jealous
friends advertised her in tho United St0tes
but she was told that her managers and hor
own success depended on putting" She
further pleaded in this letter that her contract
was of such n nature and her work 30 eNucting
that she could not interfere with the advertising
part OF her business. Considering the many
difficulties sho had to contend with sho hoped
that the Polish press and public would not take
seriously all tho paragraphs published about
her acting or herself she being opposed to any
thing but legitimate praise or blame.
Polish gentleman, now living in this city.
recently gave some interesting statements con-
rerning the career and opinions Of this actress.
whose life possesses much OF tho elements Of
romance. He said
&C. My first meeting with the actress known. TO
ne American public rs Helena Modjcska dates
lar back Our meetings since have been accl-
dental interrupted by long intervals OF time.
II t-ft al
In her artistic life. Scarcely two OF them nap
pcncd IN the same country and under similar
circumstances.
" | remember her well. rs n slight. dark girl
oi II. she was then thought To- be consump-
live. and she lived with q company of strolling
players in u cottage belonging to our family in
an obscure town in Austrian POLAND tGnllicin).
The players appeared as dilapidated az the old
house wherein thcy had found shelter and rs
poor as the little town which they tried to divert.
Whatever pecuniary success thev enjoyed wns
due to the sick girl-Miss Helena Dcnda; her
histrionic tnlent was sufficient even Mt that
early period to arouse our sleepy townsiolk and
atraci them to the play. The girl was the talk
Of the place. Strange being our goss ips used
70 say. commenting on her. how can you roc.
oncilc her III health with the passion which she
displays night niGr night on the stage Is she
not So weak that she has 10 be taken to tho the
Htre in a clrriagcY Does she not faint occa-
si'nuily between the nctsY Hns She not bccn
brought back 90 her mothers house IN hyster-
icHl fits Aud yet how she affects us during
performance! such WIS the gossip OF our
good neiEihors. who could not re0lizs that
Weut ana the sonso Of duty may occasionally
d"ly physical lnnrmity. | rc'ulcct. also. that
III" sick and overworked girl was an object Of
whose heart throtGcd With the ave supposSd 10
be evoked by sup"rpMural beings whenever
her emariated form. light dressed and dark
lp-ir9us ey.s aitearvd among the ill-,rimmcd
shrubs IN the little garden attached to the cot
iage. ani WHO wert nightly among the gods
n our cheap. diney theatre. over her imper-
sOnatious 81 distressed hcroincs.
Several years after those events | visited the
hncl"nt ctpithl ot Poland. on q pilgrimage COM
non to th- people Of our country; who 20. like
MOA0mm"dans TO Mecca. 90 view the monu-
ments OF the past. A friend proposed visit to
lie Grand Theatre to see the great actress Of
hat imperial play ousc. The name Of the star
was not fnmilinr 70 mo. The Grand Theatre
enjoyed q peculiar position. b-ius considered
more in the 'isit OF national temple than a
be the only place Of public resort. several
churches excepted. wherein the use Of the ma
he invorite actress appeared in the part Of
Opheld. md was received with great applause.
Invalid Of our garden. She had recovered her
health had become the brilliant star Of an i'm
periai theatre. MD was the object ~ the udmira-
ion and esteem Of great city. ns she had been
an object Of Interest 10 our small community.
Her acting was not her only claim 20 public
layor. She had the higher merit OF having en-
nohed the character OF the Warsaw stage.
which lHbOred before her engagement under
peculiar difficulties. II had. and has 10 this
DAY. an exceptionally good stock company. |
cuuld name Ht least five actors among It's players
fully able 10 support Nine NodleskH In any pnrt
bhe might choose to assume. Unfortunately the
company WAS al the mercy Of 4 manager who
enjoyed at the same time high rank in the ac-
tive army Placing a military manager over
the Grand Theatre was in keeping with the
Russian custom which puts briGRdlers at the
and play-houscs. The galmnt general In
command Of that temple Of the MUSES. held
repertoire Of the Grand Theatre. as arranged
by hlln. contained the yilest trash In dramatic
p.aywrights and Of Shakespeare Schiller, and
every author supposed 10 have been tainted
win revolutionary spirit We're excluded.
Hdmlsi the r"gicde, WAS particularly distaste-
-" Nine. Modieska made short work OF the
Generals views scruplcs and suspicious. The
Old commander could not resist the influence OF
an actress possessed Of u magnetic power 70 ex-
tort friendship and confidence from unwilling
hearts. She obtained the privilege of introduce
Ing into her repertoire any play IN which sho
might appear to her greatest advantage. The
melolramhtc representations OF former days
were succeeded by the choice works Of the
greatest dramatic authors Of all countries and
Polish playwrights. The citizens and the ofl-
GERS OF the liussian garrison nightly filled the
the veteran in command OF the theatre 10 still
further relax his former discipline. The lead
Ing actress becnms the true manager Of the
house, and maintained her position in spite OF
her strong political views. She would never
play IN the presence OF the CZlr. Whenever ne
visited Warsaw she feigncd sickness: nor
would shn ever receive gilt from the court or
accept offers TO remove to ST. Petersburg and
play 10 Russian. Al tho same time, she opened
her salon 70 young authors Of talent. oncour-
aged them 10 write plays. listened patiently to
the reading Of their first efforts exrrtcd her
influence to have their better productions rep
resented. and created a school OF plGywrights
including men OF considerable merit whose
works remain unknown beyond the Slayonic
world. because their language is not used In
any independent country II Is easy to imagine
that her work in reforming the Warsaw stage
encourag nR native authors. and avoiding on
cial favor exposed her 10 many unpleasant con-
sequences; In fact. her life at Warsaw was a
constant struggle against official suspicious
and threats. maintained successfully by her
personal influence over the warrior manager
Several years has passed since my first
visit 10 the Grand Theatre. Rambling on the
picturesque banks Of the Lake of Zurich and
around beautiful Lucornc. ! again met the
leading Polish actress. She was dotnincd in
bwiizerland nursing her sick and only son.
She had married again into ono Of our most
exclusive and uliramontuue families. Well
aware OF the Views oi her now relations. |
could not help Odmiring the strange skill Of
mat woman in subduiug nntipathlcs and
preludlces. She had gained their love and
esteem as easily as she had former
y extortcd the favor OF her stern manager.
Ny nStOuisNmcut WAS Consequently uu-