, 1884-08-26
EFFIE ELLSLER.
The Wonderful Career of this Tai
ented Young Actress.
Supporting Forrest When She Was
But Thirteen Years Old.
Reasons Why She Decided to Play
la Belle Russo"

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ror tne purpose OF learning nom her
own hps the reasons tnat influenced ner In
sIec.ing 'ne pla OF Ia o@fe h"Sse'
"mcn Is so uiheren. IRON the one IN
"hlch Sne achieved Iame' a reporter yes
'eruay 'isi'eu MISS Hilsier al her no'ei'
You want to have a chat with me
about myself? Thank you, but l am
sorely afraid you will find me a proftless
subiect-but-well-l Am at your service.
You want to know something of my pro-
f%essional life? 1t has, | may safely say,
been II of hard work. My experience
OF the theater dates back almost to my
earliest knowledge of existence. My
father, of whom you probably know, is
John A. Ellsler, of whose artistic abilities
l am justly proud He has been, as far
back as l can remem Der, the manager of
a theater, and so began my struggle in
llfe's battle, | may say, in the theater,
Surely, said the entranced scribe,
you have not found life a very serious
matter p
We'll sir; | don't know, said she.
L have little u for complaint, but the
life of an artist is so varied, so full of ex-
experiences Of all sorts, that though mine
has been a happy one it seems a lifetime
sincel began at school"
But, without resort to conventional
fattery, one. finds ii hard to believe that
many years have passed since then.
Would you mind telling me something of
your early life p
oh, no; I'll tell you, with much
pleasure, for my childhood days were 30
quantity happy, so oddly mixed with
profit, and the acute enjoyment Of a child,
that retrospective reflection brings me alb
solute pleasure. AT II years of age was
sent to the ursuline convent, at Cleve-
land, Ohio, where | remained several
years, first as a boarding and afterwards
as a day scholar, during which time be
gan my life upon the stage"
How vas that? Were amateur the
atrical performances INDUCED in at the
convent ?"
"Oh, dear, no + she said, with a merry
laugh, AFTER my studies for the day were
over, | applied myself to the studying of
such characters as my father saw fit to
cast me for. Among my child companions
l was already regarded a great actress,
and it was a custom with me to get into
the deserted theater after a rehearsal in
the afternoon, and pulling on a scene to
act, | was in turn heroine, hero and vii
lain. A good memory and some mimetic
power gave me the means, while crafty
ing myself, to afford entertainment to my
young companions, and | would act for
them, sometimes succeeding in creating
laughter or provoking tears, which ocea-
stoned me the keenest qualification.
AT this time stock companies were in
vogue, and such bright luminaries as For
rest, Booth, Barrett. Davenport, Barry
Sullivan, James Wallack. Charlotte Cush-
man, Mn. Bowers, Lucille Weston,
Madam ~Janauschek, etc, played engage
ments at the Cleveland Theater, managed
then, as now, by my father. Oh, happy
day when | was told that l could appear
in public.
what parts did you then essay
"Oh, | began with childrens roles,
such as Eva In Uncle Toms Cabin,
Willie in East Lynne, Little Mary
Morgan IN Ten Nights IN a Bar Room, &c.
My first success of Importance in the more
mature parts was "P~eachblossom Ill
Under the Gdshght, which gave rise to
all sorts of predictions as to my future,
prominent among which was the one that
l was destined to become a soubrette.
Shortly after this l was one day called
from my studies by my father, and the
startling intelligence impaired to me that
L was to play with the great Mr.. Forrest.
You can readily imagine the awe this
news inspired me with, intensified as it
was by the added statement hat Mr..
Forrest had selected me to play "Cordelia
in King Len, "Ophelia' in Hamlet, and
Virginia in Trginiits. When | tell
you that | was then only 10 years Of age,
you can imagine my a%pprehensiye excite
ment-Heavens, | applied myself to my
work-well Virginia in Virginius, was