Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-12-14

From the Philadelphia Age.
This charming and talented actress,
who commenced a brief engagement at
the Arch Street Theatre on Monday even
ing, possesses in a remarkable degree the
magnetic faculty which almost invariably
characterizes true historic genius, and
distinguishes the inspiration of the artistic
from the mechanical execution of the
merely professional delineator of an as
sumed character. Born at Boston, Miss
Gray is now in the thirteenth year of her
theatrical career, her choice of a profess
sion in which she appears destined to be-
come a bright ornament, having been
brought about in a somewhat peculiar
manner. In her childhood the usual eff
fects of New England training manifested
themselves in a religious turn of mind,
but at the age of ten years she witnessed
in a Boston theatre a representation of
"The Hunchhack," which appealed 80
strongly to her sympathies as to affect
her to tears throughout nearly the whole
Performance; nor was this all, the slum-
bering genius had been awakened, and
from that time forward her ambition had
but n object, that of achieving fame,
and earning and compelling the plaudits
OF a gratified audience. Despite family
opposition, the usual barrier across the
path of youthful aspirations, she sought
and obtained permission to essay her tai
ents under the guidance of a provincial
manager, the result being a highly encour-
aging debut at Worcester, Mass. OF
course her extreme youth prescribed
minor roles at that period, and in order
to develop her evident abilities, the man-
ager attached her to a travelling company,
as affording a wider scope and greater
opportunities for obtaining the varied
experience which the exigencies of a lead
ing position In the profession demand.
These advantages were fully appreciated
and utilized by the young debutante, who,
gifted with that essential, known techni-
cally as ''quick study" rapidly acquired
the mere words of a part, and thus was
enabled to devote extra attention to the
expression, rendering, OF ~idealizatfon Of
her characters. Her forte In this respect
lies not SO much In subtle shades as In
bold, vigorous outlines, by which a "cre-
atom stamps itself at once upon the
minds of an audience, like the cartoon
drawings Of q master hand. Her chief
roles In which her success has been very
marked have hitherto been Camille, Lady
Isabel in east Lynne, Cora in "Article
A." Julia in 1.-THE Hunchback," etc. The
character of Ruth Landon In ssThe Adyen-
turess," a play written specially for her
by Augustus Pitou, is decidedly a "crea-
tion;" n of those roles marked by
broad lights and shadows, such as her
style, at N time as impetuous as a
mountain torrent, at another plaid as a
valley stream, but at all times irresistible,
Is SO well adapted to. Endowed by ma
ture with all the requirements for scenes
demanding intensity and power, a fine
physique, . noble aud dignifed bearing,
and a voice Of rare compass, those en-
chantments which only art, from love Of
art, can give, have been carefully, studi-
oSsly added, SO that Miss Ada Gray stands
where her youthful aspirations
pointed, In the front rank of an exacting
but enchanting profession.
The Ada Gray Combination win appear
in Mexico, Dec. Is.