The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-19
THE DISTINGUISHED ACTRESS,
INTERVIEWED,
Tells OF Her Career in America
What She Thinks Of May Ander-
sOn-Advlce to NeOphytes.

is treat to be remembered. An AP'
PEAL reporter had that pleasure yes
terday, and herewith publishes 30
much OF 1t as will likely interest the
public.
Mile. Rhea received the reporter in
the parlor Of her apartments at the
Peabody. She was dressed in red
velvet wrapper trimmed with Valen-
ciennes lace. At her feet little steel
gray Skye terrier of that canine
tlerceness OF expression peculiar TO
the terrier barked his approval OF
the strange visitor. Through the open
door OF an adjoining room the light
form Of Mademoiselle's faithful little
French maid, Marie, could be seen
busting about and arranging the ward
robe for the nights play.
Msdemoiselle's welcome was cordial
aud gracious 81 am always glad"
said she, "to meet a representative OF
the American press, for l owe the
newspapers OF this country a debt OF
great gratitude. With one or two fx-
ceptions they have been universally
kind TO me, and l like them very
much"
"Do you read all that the newspa-
pers ssy Of your"
"0h, no / hardly ever read news.
paper criticism OF my acting. That is
only done by beginners" said Made
moiselle with an arch smile, "but ex-
perienced actors rarely do it. After
our hearts have been broken twenty
times by the newspapers we cease to
read them"
"Do not actors often get valuable
hints from the CIiticsT
"That depends-upon who the critic
may be. There is Francisque SarCey, for
instance, the greatest dramatic critic
in France. He is a man who has de-
voted his life to the study Of dramatic
arr, and whose verdict can make or
unmake reputation. His great repu.
tstion makes it incumbent upon him
to express no opinion except such as
an actors merits or dement's may sus-
tain. Even II he had a personal
grudge against the person criticist d
he would not dare to let that influence
him, for If he were 10 express an
opinion that could not stand the test
oil the most searching criticism his
brother critics would only be too glad
to make it the occasion of tearing him
TO pieces. Besides, one can we'll afford
to listen TO man like that, who is
qualified by education aud a life
long trsining to give ont
hints that are sure to be
valuable. But the average dramatic
ossl,o L. ., - N ~ N IF that oalthar M
pecially here in America, where the
writer who does ss you call 1t the
dramatic notices is not specially
trained for the purpose, aud in nine
cases out of ten only winds up hard
days work of general reporting by
noticing" play. Sometimes 1t is
the city editor who acts as dramatic
critic, sometimes the river editor, and
occasionally the horse reporter. OF
&C urse criticism OF that sort is not val
uable on the contrary, it may damage
the aitist who undertakes to be guided
by IL, for the chances are that no two
critics will agree upon any one point.
A knock at the door interrupted the
conversation. A waiter brought in a
card. "Permit me" said mademoiselle,
and taking the card from the tray read
the name. "Ttll her | am engaged al
present, but will be pleased to see her
at this hour tomorrow" The waiter
withdrew with the message.
"a young lady who desires private
interview" said mademoiselle, with q
smile. "Do you know what that
means? 1t means that the poor girl
wants to 90 on the stage. l get these
applications by the dozen at every
large city where l play. 1t is txtraor
binary how widespread among Ameri
clan girls is the desire to become an
actress.
"Whst is your advice generally"
"In nine Cases out of ten-yes, often
er than that say to them, Let the
stage alone, and in every case, with
out exception, do / discourage young
lady from adopting the stage as q ca
reer if she has q comfortable home
and an assured support or {
prospect Of marriage. | always
ask them, have you good home, anc
il they say yes, tell her to go back
home and stay there, for she will MOI
have been on the stage two weeks be
fore she will return 10 her home O.
her own accord. 1t will take but thai
length OF time for her 10 become die
illusioned, to see the stage stripped Of
the glamour that surrounds IL wher
viewed from before the curtain. Il
will take but two weeks for her to be
come hea,tsick and weary OF the hard
ships, the fatigue, the arduous laboIs
the drudgery, the jealousies, the petty
rivalries of the Stage, and il she has 6
home che will fly there quick enough
Talking tbout the hardships oil stagt
life, l am reminded of good thine
'eaid by a lady once in my company
We were reused at O'Clock in tn,
morning TO catch a tIaiu--a freezinJ
morning, with snow on the ground
and as we stood there, waiting for
bus, yawning in eaCn others faces
and shivering with cold, this lady re
marked; "And yet there are peopl'
who are stage struck"
Glow is Il il the Dung lady be poo
aud has no homer"
"If she is poor, without home, tai
ented, ambitious and not afraid t
work l encourage her to come on
Poverty is q great motive power, anC
when a woman understand that il i
either work, endurance and hardship
or starvation, or worse, she may, if tai
ente1, hope TO succeed on the stage
But young, pretty women with gooC
homes have no business on the stage
Not long ago a charming young lady
who lives in an Eastern city, followeC
me to another city and begged me I,
take her in my company. She wa
rich, well educated, refined moved il
the best circles and was the idol Of
happy home. Oh, she was so hand
some / said 10 her, MY dear girl tn,
stage is not for such as you. You hav,
youth, beauty, wealth aud are fttet
by nature to e6orn some good man
home. Go home and get married,
She acted upon my advice, went hom
and the other day l learned of he
marriage TO a rich and handsom