The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-21

"a very young man and Young
woman ?" said l, interrogatively.
"Well no; not that kind" she said,
and they all smiled.
"The love of husband and wife"
said Modjeska, lis the purest friendship,
and the husbands and wives who are
friends, as well as lovers, are the hap
piest."
Love is selfish" said 1, "the highest
and best form of selfshness."
Eye, said the count, at is"
81 know" said l, that q woman who
is in love thinks first of her own happi-
ness, and what may be apparent sacri-
fee is her pleasure. She can't be happy
only in being miserable for one she
loves. Her love is subjective Us much as
it is objective"
"Is mothers love selfish" asked
madame.
"To an extent, yes" said the count
and l simultaneously.
"Oh, don't talk So, said she. "You
would make us oil creatures OF selfish
ness and destroy whatever beauty of
spirit we may have. l know I am self
ish, and every morning when l get up
l resolve to be better, but it seems
very hard to fulfill my promises to
myself"
"Ah," said her husband, with the
look of lover; you are not selfish
I know you better than that" and their
eyes met in way which made my old
maiden heart go out warm to them, as
old people hold out their hands in
blessing upon happy lovers.
And so the talk ran on for an hour
full of interesting topics, full of variety
and having nothing in it of that unde-
sirable consistency of stage talk, so often
marring the conversation with and
among actors. A more delightful call
l never made, and more womanly
woman does not live than Modjeska.
She calls her husband Charlie in the
brightest sweethearticalist way, and
there is none of that disagreeable gush
one sees between married people, and
which one knows is only little dash
of sunshine to fool people into going
out without an umbrella only to be
caught in storm. They are an ideal
couple, as much in love as when years
ago they joined hearts and hands. They
are both highly intellectual and both
accomplished, and upon neither has
there ever been cast the slightest
shadow of reproach.
AS an actress Modjeska. I think, ranks
first of all English-speaking women
She has nature loving, warm and
true, and it imbues all the characters
she assumes and gives to them such
lights and shadows of feeling, that
every listener follows her action and
expression as if they were parts of him
self. She presents in her acting an
ideal realism which is the ultimatum of
the highest dramatic art. and she pos
sesses to the fullest extent quiet force
of expression, which is intensified by
its very greatness. She can bring tears
to the eyes of her auditors without say
ing word; she is, indeed, heart pam
feminist. In her love scenes there is
purity as beautiful as love itself, and
her own high character permeates all
the characters she assumes. This is my
idea of art, and this is why l say the
true woman alone can be the true
artist.
However, life is short, which this
letter is not, as Dickey would say, and
l must bid this delightful couple adieu,
with world of good wishes.
AS we went away we shook hands
three several times (Modjeska has a
beautiful hand, and the soft young
newspaper man stepped back for an
instant, while overheard him say
"Ah, madame, your golden hair and
brown eyes are like my sweetheart's. 3"
Have you only one?" she said,
archly.
only one. madame"
"Ah. most unusual man," she replied,
and the door shut us out from all but
pleasant memories.