New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-13
GENEVlEVE WARD.

A talk with this celebrated actress who IS TO ap-
pear at the Fifth Avenue Theatre tomorrow night,
has been made known in The Philadelphia Erening
Aecs and it may, possibly, interest New-Iork read
ers:
In 1878 Miss Ward sailed for Europe She had
been informed that to achieve professional success
in America, without beginning at the very lowest
round of the addeT-a position that no LADY oil 'du-
| cation ana Selt-respect cOula afford to take-was
out Of the question. Them said the American
| girl, 81 will try Europe"
but you are unknown-they will not listen to
you, was tine rather dscouragIng reply OF frehus'
Il will make them" was the confident reply. At
| irving in London, Miss Ward forthwith sought tsG
| leading managers for an appearance. " As what
asked Mr. Bateman. one of the most amiablc OF men,
Ter r fdd, nearly m1IFl,I Frustrated him.
Mr. Batsinan was astonished Such request was
out of the question. He would, however. be glad
| to give Miss Ward an opening in comedy or bur
lesgue for he added " THIS Is the age OF burleSPue
| we must cater To IT,"
Miss Ward had other views of life than appearing
IN blonde Wig for the amusement OF the bniiSh
public. even If it the age of buTlcsquc. she
sought hearing; she felt confident of success; she
! was sure of future once beginning had been
made. Finally she dId secure an opening during a
! Shaktspearean revival III Manchester. She was 10
| play Lady Macbeth.
! The curtain rang up on an experiment.; 1t rang
| down on a triuInph-Geneyeve Ward bad won hcr
| position and her future was secure. FROM Lohuon
from the provinces. came managers eager to engage
! her. Oh her terms. new Lddy Mdcbeth had ar
rived as The Manchester EIdHjiHT sId the greatest
since Mrs. SlddOns A LONDON engagement and
London success completed the work. Royalty
praised the artistic genius OF the new star aud the
rest easy.
The sohriquet-and it was one of which Miss
Ward felt then as she does now, pTOud-the Amer
lean actress" began To attract notice everywhere,
aud when the London press joined in the chords Oi
praise, that Miss Ward was the first really great
American actIesS that had appeared since Charlotte
eastman. the lady'S reputation soon extended 70
the Continent In 1876 Colonel FOfney as Centen-
NAL Commissioner, went 10 London. Like All
Americans Miss Ward earnestly desired the EXhi-
h1f ~ IN lac ~ ia tb
oil ring t. give benefit for the fund. he Olier was
accepted, and Macbeth was played at DruTy
Lane, which was kindly given by Mr.. Chaterton for
the occasion, aud drew together all the Americans
In London, ana all who were ANXIOUS 20 see slcces
crown Colonel Forneys exeruons, ana created such
Juror that more attention than ever was Drawn a.
what bad been before that time gene. v
styled the. Philadelphia show. shortly IA,
ter Miss Ward went 10 Pans. and PLAYED
Macbeth the entire play being given ~ French.
The well-aivertised play, Forget Me-Not, ow-
ing to the litigation III winch the disputed owner
ship has involved H. Is peculiarly strong one, but
1t Is srogg because of the greatness OF Mss Ward IN
the character she has created, The rival claim, OF
the lady and Mr. Lester Wallace 10 lts ownership
have Kept It prominently before the public.
Il do not thlBk,' MISS Ward sad, THAT II would
be wise for hc 10 state my case 100 strongly al
though OF course, an quite convinced OF the JUS
tice OF my claim, bat d,slfe rather 10 place Tie
responsibility on those who have Decesstated this
hugation on the ground OF IGNORANCE rather than
attribute 1t To a more sordid motive
- Then yon have the undoubted owner'hlp OF
Forget Ne NotF"
" | am playing II, Ttphcu MISS NdI'' aHu
shall establish my GIT to play It, and my Tgut To
1t as my exclusive property, bought ana PAID i"r'
What are the circumstances under whlch you
obtained the pay'Y
They may be told IN a few " rds,' said Mss
Ward. was playing my company IN ia" IEccin
Theatre IN London and, OF course, several plays bad
been sent ne TO read. saw at once that tAiS was
Just such play wanted. and sent fur Mr. Her
man MerIyac. lie subsequently read the pIrc" To
the company, accepted II ami agreed TO pay hlm
$500 tOrIt 1t was produced aud from the beginning
scored a success. need not 20 INTO The ctdlr 0
how | incurred McrIYale enmtY Filming that the
play when Merivale had tired IN VAIN to dispose
of for years before success they tried 60 get me
10 MAKE contracts Iehnquishluga part OF my nights
THIS very naturally declined to do, since 1t was
made a success by nv eIrrtIons.
The claims made by Mr.. Wallack and Mr.. Mos, !
that they had prior rght ana legal claims 10 the
piece are quite uniOundcd and after spending over
So 900 ana vast amount of work III making For
get Me Not great success, / will not Tehnqmsh
one JOt Of my rights"