The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-30

SECRETS OF THE STAGE.
A Glimpse at Noted Actors and
Actresses Behind the Curtain.
Gossipy Notes About "Stars,"
Their Drinks, Habits
and Manners.
[St. Louis Post Dispatch


quainted. But of their conduct behind
the scenes, their general temperament
and behavior, much less is known. And
yet songstresses, actresses and actors exer-
eise such an indefnable charm over the
masses that any curiosity concerning
their private life is pardonable. Each
star has some different quality from his
brother artist. Each has his own peculi-
arities and foibles. 1t is the purpose of
this article to roll up the drop-curtain
and display the artists behind the scenes
as they appear in converse and inter-
course with ordinary mortals. First,
CLARA MORRIS,
the greatest emotional actress in the
country. There is scarcely a patron of
the theater who does not know or has not
seen this artistic and witnessed some of
her presentations. Accounts of her i'll
health have been published time and
again in the newspapers, and the general
impression is that she is peevish and ir,
nsable behind the scenes. Such, how
ever, is not the case. Clara Morris, when
not suffering from sickness, is gay and
volatile even when enacIing such depress-
ing roles as Miss Moulton. She will
come off the stage after most eXacting
and pathetic scene, and Immediately en-
gage in animated and witty conversation.
She will laugh and joke as if full of an
imal spirits As teller of funny stories
and anecdotes she is unexcelled.
Of course, Clara Morris is thus only
when free from complaint. At other
times she has been carried from the wings
st the termination of an act in an almost
tainting condition and morphine has
been hypodermically injected to enable
uer 70 commune the performance. In
her dealings with her company and the
subordinates on the stage she is pleasant.
She superintends her own rehearsals and
demands strict attention. She is very
particular as to stage business. But,
with all this, she is extremely populaI.
with the profession.
MARY ANDERSON,
the Young tragedienne is anoth er uni
versally admired actress. Although she
feels everything she utters v, nile acting,
and imagines herself to be the character
she is personating, she is yet so buoyant,
70 full of life and animal spirits, that she
will leave the STAGE after terribly
straiping act in ''N.cg Merrilies," and her
dressing-room will reverberate with her
Joyous laughter. Sheis pleasant and kind
hearted in the extreme, and is a great
favsrite with her subordinates At times
however, she is little high-tempered
Generosity is one of her qualities. She
has an intense love for her profession
end everything else is subordinated tc
that one desire. She has no time to
waste with young men, old men or any
ether kind of men. She is very afable
In her intercourse, and is good conver.
Etionalist, although perhaps little in
elined to be too voluble.
ADELAIDE NELSON
Is Just the reverse of Mary Anderson
The character she plays affects her dis
position both before and after the rise Of
the curtain. After some of her trying
scenes she leaves the boards in a mos
depressed and exhausted state. Between
the acts she drinks champagne anc
mokes cigarettes She is particularly
sweet on all her Romeos, and tells eacl
one that he is the best that ever playeC
the part with her. There is little sin
eerity in her at all; on the contrary, she
is quite the opposite. With the ladie
she is not popular, as she is WEI
bit cranky and disagreeable. Blu
the men of course adore her and she is al
Immense favorite with them. She has
rather pernicious habit of keeping he
company waiting for her an hour or tw'
at rehearsal. Mary Anderson is alway
prompt and on time. Except at the las
rehearsal Nelson sends substitute. An
derson superintends all her rehearsals ant
is always the first one on the stage. An
derson acts at rehearsals the same as sh
does before the footlights at night. Neil
son walks through it. She scarcely Use
her voice at all, but whispers her part i
order to save her vocal organ for the az
tual performance. Perhaps this is pal
donable, as her voice is not strong. Nei
son is very high-tempered and disagree
able if things do not 60 right. In fac
1t is said, that a good round oath has bee
heard to fall from her pretty mouth whe
vexed by some more than ordinary mi
hap.
MODJEsKA,
Countess of Bozenta, is perhaps the mo
highly cultured and Intellectual actre
on the stage She is an excellent lingui
and well versed in German, French ar
English literature. She never reads new
papers except those which her manage
Harry Sargent, allows her to see. This
done on account of her sensitiveness
newspaper criticism. She is somewh
"airy'' in her manner, rather affected, al
with particular fondness for lap-dol
She has son who is over twenty.
FANNY DAVENPORT
drinks champagne and beer behind t
scenes. She is generally liked by ever
body, and has a very lively dispositio
Is generous to the extreme. Althou
noted for her magnificent toilettes on t
stage, off it she is exceedingly slovenly
her attire. She is kind to eyery O