Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-16
BEHIND THE SCENES,
A Chat With a Famous Actress in
Her Business Office"
The Implements and 7ntrieaeies OF
the Stage Work and Constant
Anxiety---Genius and
Noble Motherhood.
philadelphia Press.]

her response, kind of shy and yet clearly
audible line, soft and tender in tone, like the
articulation Of a child before age and expert
cnce give confidence in a perfect control OF
! the powers Of expression. A brilliant woman
she, subtle, and, at the same time intense, in
dramatic power. At this moment she sat be-
fore large mirror, clad for the bedchamber
scene in "Cymbeline." Over her shapely
form fell robe of white cashmere, over
her neck and shoulders was thrown
scarf OF orange hue that fell in grace
III folds below her waist. Her feet
were in sandals and she had just drawn over
her white stockings with black crayon, the
outline OF her toes to produce the impression
that they were bare. Before and around her
| were scattered all the implements, evidences
and lntricacieS of her art Great trunks
stood with mouths wide open revealing rich
and curious costumes, and the dressing maid
fitted here and there, folding or arranging
them in most convenient places for the ar
lists use. 1t was curious sight to novice,
this display of the powder, tinsel, rudeness
| and richness which dazzle and shine from
behind the footlghts for those in 'front.' as
though they were all real.
The stage manager at the Chestnut street
opera house had, by the first words quoted,
0NAAOAiAsIC0 !hOOJcoh1 UIe1U tLc SCSlO NOu1u
soon be on where Iachimo must find her
fallen asleep in her bed with the book she had
been reading fallen by her side, and the leaf
turned down where she had finished.
s'Welcome to my business otfice,n said she
laughingly, as l entered with her husband.
''You see me here at work, and here are all
| my tools. May be I will not be as entertain
ing, as well dressed, or as interesting as
no bond off %hn
cares and frolics of the play are over. Our
profession is exacting. People viii not toler-
ate a wait or a hitch, and our success depends
as much upon the spirit, fire and ability put
into it. But must go now, this scene is a
short one; sit until return" the gifted wo-
man said, as she hurried away.
| soon followed to the wings to witness the
! by-play. Tt took but half minute for the
actress to scramble into the improvised bed,
the maid to cover her with lambs wool
robe, when the curtain rolled up and Nod
| jeska, to the audience, was asleep. Iachimo
! Frank Clements energies from the trunk
and begins his treacherous Invocation; while
Barrymore, in the room just away, is dress
ing for the part to follow. [ watched the
! play quite istlessly, for what different i'm
preston it all makes when seen from The
! rough surroundings behind, instead Of from
( the comfortable seats and fanciful decora-
tions in front Of the curtain. was just
thinking how much show had to do with
/ everything in life, how pose and appearance
aided and stimulated every effort of man or
woman. when I was brought back to my duty
( by quick touch upon the shoulder.
''Come, I have a long wait now; we viii
! resume the chatn
! Turning there stood Modieska dressed for
! new part She had passed into her room
| from the back part Of the stage during this
reverie. Her white and orange robe had dis
appeared, and upon her tall and graceful
| figure was a new dress Of rich texture and
dark blue color. Around her waist and
over her shoulders in careful folds rested
drapery of a lighter shade She looked every
| inch a queen. Her face was beaming with
| the excitement of the evenings success, and
| her dark, speaking eyes Lit up countenance
as fair in mould as it was intelligent in ex-
preston. No afectation in word, look or
action, simply bright, able woman that
has forced her way in life against great odds,
| by the power of her genius and her greater
will.
She led the way to her room, away from
the hustle of those who were pushing on and
off the stage as the parts required them.
Here was her son Ralph, to whom she intro
duced me, manly looking boy, some 20
years OF age who has been educated with
care for his chosen profession of civil engi-
neer. It was for him that his mother first
came to America and it is for him that she
will ever hereafter make it her home. She
spoke to him tenderly in her native tongue,
and the boy markedly showed his affection
for her who had sacrificed SO much for lis
advancement
She took her seat again where had first
seen her, before the great broad mirrors, and
then said:
FeYou see this is not all play. There is con
slant anxiety; always something to do and
new things TO learn every minute It is
hard, earnest work; in fact a constant strug-
gle l could not tell you what obstacles there
are to overcome. Let me see,' she said, half
soliloquiaing, as if to recall the early life that
doubtless seems more like dream than
reality; 81 began when quite young and have
seen so much hard work that the exactions OF
the stage are almost second nature 10 me-"
Chow did you begin?'
"Going on in small parts. My first nus
band had q theatre in Warsaw, and began
} there. worked hard for several years be-
fore got position. The way to it was
IulI OIL obstacles, anu ID was nO5 Until 1908
that made hit. had Travelled, played
and studied. when an accident gave me a
chance and went on in Warsaw and made
: a success in Adrienne Lacouvreur.. could
, not tell you how happy it made me, after
' years of struggle and many trials, to make
my success in my own homo. From that
: time the world grew brighter and the way
easier. Everything played after this was
uall ranaived Tn 1874 + datarTniDad To ,-oct
b and travel through Europe. But this boy OF
e mine said, Mother, if you are going on q
O journey let US go to America and see the Cen
+ tannial exhibition I consented, and We
!. sailed for this country. We came to Phila
:. delphia and spent several weeks seeing thG
a sights and the new scenes that everywhere
:. presented themselves to interest and anus
!, u.s. We met number of friends and had
O splendid time. After our visit east we wen
v 10 California