Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-10-31
MADAME JANAUSCHEK.
How n Great Actress Won Her High
Nnmc-Hcr original Ambition.

As Madame Janauschek, the great ac-
tress, will appear in tragedy in this city
four nights next week, and as
she is one of the most prominent figures
in the world of dramatic art, the follow
ing sketch of her life is timely
In person Madam Janauschek shows
that splendid physical development
which comes with sound health and
well-balanced mental organization. In
private manner she is affable and kind
hearted, and there is said to be many
poor struggling artist whom her bounty
has benefited. 1t is in her professional
life, however, that we are most interested,
for her success has been phenomenal.
Her very appearance on the stage indi-
Gates the wonderful strength OF character
that she possesses. She knows and feels
her own power and superiority, and in
her own sphere she is queen and. an
autocrat as well as u philosopher and
critic. Her long life of devoted study
and observation has given her one OF the
most incsive minds of the time, and in
all matters theatrical her judgment is
considered invaluable, while her critical
knowledge of history enables her above
all women on the dramatic stage to re-
produce past events and portray past
characters with masterful accuracy.
1t is generally supposed that Madame
Janauschek is a German. Such is not
the fact. Her full name is Francesca
Romaha Magdalena Janauschek, and she
is Bohemian, having been born in
Prague, Bohemia, July 20, 1887. Her
native tongue, therefore, was Slavonic,
and she had to master the German Ian.
guage by hard study. 1t was while under
vocal instruction that she was introduced
into the society Of actors and was per-
suaded to go on the stage. Though she
has reason to be satisfied with her sue
cess, she still retains her preference for
the life of q prima donna, and feels that
she was fitted to command that position.
Even when in the midst of my first
great success at Frankfort" said she, " l
once had my trunks packed, ready to go
to Gottschalk at Paris, and prepare for
the opera. But my sister opposed the
idea. | was now in n good position.
Why give it up for an uncertainty"
After playing while at Prague, Mad
anne Janauschek went to Chemnitz, where
her fame spread rapidly abroad. She
next became leading lady at Cologne and
Frankfort; at the latter place she re-
manned about nine years. On leaving
Frankfort she felt that her reputation was
established, but concluded to put it to II
test by tour through the continent,
going to all the principal towns where
German is spoken, but also visiting Rus
sia. AT Vessel she played before Napo-
leon, and during the year spent in Ores
den she was great favorite of King
John, then ruler OF Saxony. Her roper
tore was made up OF the leading plays,
"Antigone," Medea," "Phedra,' and in
plays OF Goethe, Schiller, Leasing and
others. Everywhere her success was so
marked that it was really continued
ovation. The number of times she was
called before the curtain during single
performance would, if repeated here, seem
incredible. Her success was unbroken,
whether in Russia, at Vienna, or after
wards in London.
She played three years in Europe, and
in 1867 she came to America with her
own company, playing first in German
and winning full appreciation, even in
that language. But she could not be
cont mt with this foreign tongue, and
after three months in New York. she
returned and began the study OF English.
Returning to America in 1871, she began
her American career as Deborah" in
the Academy OF Music, New York, where
she remained for Il time and then trav-
eled about the country. In 1876 she
went to Australia and thence to London,
playing only short engagements and re-
turning to America the same season to
fulfill her engagements here. She has
since remained in America, satisfied that
this is her proper field. She has received
numerous invitations to return to the
scene OF her former triumphs, and hopes
to be able to accept them, but no definite
plans have been formed.
Madame .Janau schek is said to have
the finest diamonds in the world outside
OF moicty OF European royalty.