National Republican., 1886-09-08
Viola Allen.

Within short period we have had the
pleasure Of calling editorial attention to the
success Of American girls who have at
tained honorable distinction in the higher
branches Of art without resorting to any OF
the sensational methods which are now too
frequently employed for the purpose of at
tractiDg public attention. In literature
Miss Murfree and Miss Blanche Willis
Howard have, without any extrlnsic advan-
tages from putting, politics, or position,
quietly taken their position in the front
rank of contemporary American novelists.
Under similar circumstances In the musical
world, Miss Mary johnson, Of this city, has
gained an enviable and well-deserved repu-
tation in Paris and London; and Miss Viola
Allen, who has not yet been four years upon
the stage, comes to Washington on Mon
day next as the star actress in play which
has been written for herself.
To indicate the popularity which this
lady has already achieved we may be per-
mitted to mention that the New York and
Philadelphia critics invariably refer to her
as 'pretty little Miss Allen" She GER
tainly enjoys more than her fair share OF
personal attractions, but she is only "little"
in the meaning OF that word as applied to
the "Corporaln Napoleon, since she is the
proprietress Of will as innexible as that
Of the first French emperor, and a capacity
for work which is boundless as the energy
Of NJ. de Lesseps, of Panama.
Miss Allen is a most self-conndent and
matter of.fact young person, as she ought
to be, considering that her father is a Bos-
ton man and her mother an Engllshwoman.
| However, such sterling and aggressive
| qualities do not interfere with the practice
Of her art, She possesses the artistic sense
Of proportion, In large degree; she has
most attractive face and figure, pecu-
llarly winning smile, and voice that is
soft, rich, and musical as silver bells.
When playing last winter with Salvlni IL
was agreed on all sides that she was an
ideal Desdemona and an almost perfect in.
terpreter Of Shakespeare's most tender and
womanly creations.
In private life the heroine OF "Talked
About is merely well-trained Boston
girl, without particle of stage manner, and
II is not little In her favor that every other
Boston girl falls irretrievably in love with
the charming little actress. Miss Allen is
emphatically woman's woman, although,
like the late John Gilpin, she "has a pru-
dent mind" A friend once asked her II
she believed in dramatic inspiration"
She smiled sadly and answered, "Not
much. OF course there may be such
blessing for some people, but / can't say
that it has ever fallen heavily upon me.
Whatptrar I In
is the result of very hard work. Upon one
occasion l tried to WOO this inspiration of
which you speak in order to please some
particular friends Of mine who sat In stage
box. i worked desperately to do some
thing wonderful, aud only made myself Ill
for week, so that i have learned to rely
permanently on my own resources.n
Her friend then quoted Harriet Mar
tineau, who said that whenever she wanted
inspiration she sat down with pen in her
hand, concentrated her thoughts, and in
five minutes all the inspiration came that
she was capable Of evoking. Miss Allen
laughed merrlly and said, "Why, that's
| splendid ! must write 1t In my scrap
book, and stamp 1t upon the tablets OF my
mighty intellect which, like Silas Wegg
and Mr.. Venus, now proceed to float in
tea.n
Miss Allen is not yet 90 years of age.
She has had valuable, though simple, edu-
cational advantages, of which she has fully
ayailed herself, having carried off in her
18th year the graduating prize from Carlisle
Institute, New York.
Her social training, under the care OF
gifted and cultivated parents, who are not
forgetful Of their Puritan descent, has been
Of the sort that produces the best type Of
New England womanhood. Miss Allen Is,
altogether, picture Of the frank, simple.
hearted, and graceful American girl who
thoroughly understands her various duties
and willingly performs them. We wish her
all success.