, 1885-01-14
Hlsroai { ON AIT.
Her view Of the star systsm-zhs Actress
Magnesium


[Chicago Ners Intsrview.l
Calling on her. a representative Of The
News found the great actress the central fig
ure Of an interesting family circle. The sons
of'grcat men arc generally not the inheritors
Of their fathers mental gifts. But In the
daughters of great and beautiful women are
often reproduced, at least the physical IL
not the mental beauty Of their moth
erL I~nvoluntarily ono glanced from
Adelaide Ristor. Marches del Grille, to
her lovely daughter. Mdiie. Blanca del
Grille, In whose traits ono could easily real
ize how looked years ago the celebrated and
lovely dame who bore her. Add genius and
hard work to such beauty, and Ristori's sue
cess as an actress ceases TO be a mystery.
Add to that again the purity OF heart and
soul reflected ON both the women's faces, and
one can comprehend Adelaide Ristorf walking
like a saint through the ranks Of her admir-
en IN the corrupt court Of Marie Louise Of
Parma.
Great women, be they Of the stage. like
those already named, or belong they 10 htera-
ture. such as George Sands, George Elliot, or
10 music, like Clara Schumann, or to tho
operatic stage, like Patti, Nilsson. Tietjens,
and Parepa-Rosa, all ave a common
physical characteristic. It Is tho
full. powerful, massive contour Of the jaw,
which Is unusually developed. and with
singers this development Is continued in the
chest. Ristori bears this unmistakable i'm
print OF what may, perhaps, DO termed viril-
ity or an almost masculine power. Seeing
her in a crowd, her Individuality would DO
an irresistible magnet, and would compel an
observer to inquire who she was She was
born a tragic muse, and in her conversation
holds and entrances her listener, 50 thor
oughly do her fine features lend force to her
u~tternnces.
After the customary greetings, and a few
Introductory remarks, Nine. Ristori, almost
OF her own accord, turned TO the stage. and
thus began an interesting conversation:
allow Is Mr.. Boothl He Is one OF the few Of
your actors that l have seen, and he is great
i cannot forget his Richard III Ishould 50
like to see him once more. You ask me, /"
she continued, "what l think of the star sys-
tenn that seems to be in vogue nowi Simply
this: As Italians, rather l should say rs
members OF the Latin races, Italian, French,
and Spanish, we do not understand the sys-
tenn. It IL killing good actors and creating
in their place mere eutomatons, mere mar
i~onettes. The star says stand here or
stand there and they do IT mechanically.
They are perfect in their parts, l. 9. In know
ing the words Of them, but they do
not identity themselves with their role Ny
experience is that they dare not; their train
ing has killed all thought, all initiative.
They are always being sacrificed to the star,
and what little they do must be done to IL
Illuminate tho play as mere rays I want
them to be stars themselves, and to reap
their own applause. You didn't tell me to
do so-and-so,' l am sometimes told, when at
rehearsal l ask an actor why he has not
suited his action to his word, and vice versa.
Identify yourself with your part, and act it
as you have thought it out Is my reply. The
star system is destructive of harmonious and
intelligent acting. 1t is killing true art"