New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-06-23
How Some Women Began Life.
BY CELIA LOGAN.

was a lanky girl OF fifteen years ofage.
Manager John Ellsler advertised for
some extra girls for the ballet in a
pantomime he was getting up. Clara
applied for. a place in the extra ballet
She wore an old, faded calico dress,
much too short for her long legs, a
thin shawl, and a ragged wooden scarf
wrapped around her head. When the
extra girls were no longer required
Clara was retained for small parts.
That was the beginning OF the career
eof the great emotional actress, Clara
Morris, who, by the way, is OF English,
mot American, birth.
The sweet poetess Lucy narcom was
a mill hand.
Pretty Maud Granger, with the gold,
brown eyes and shapely form, first
earned her livelihood by running sew
ing machine.
Sarah Bernhardt was a dressmak-
~er's apprentice; SO was Matilda Heron.
Adelaide Nelson began life as a
'child's nurse, and Lady Hamilton as
a housemaid.
Miss Braddon, the we'll known novel
list, was a utility actress in the Eng.
fish provinces, performing principally
in panUomime.
Christine Nilsson was poor Swed-
lsh peasant, and ran barefoot in child
hood. Jenny Lind, also Swede, was
the daughter of a principal of young
ladies boarding school, and beyond
rather narrow circumstances had no
especial difficulties in order to gain
celebrity.
The great French actress, Rachel,
had as hard childhood as ever fell
to the lot OF a genius. Ragged, bare
foot, and hungry, she played the tam
BOURNE In the streets, and sang and
begged for dole. Naturally she was
llliterate and vulgar, but overcame
both these drawbacks at the same
time that she gradually acquired re-
nown.
Charlotte Cushman was the daughter
OF poor people, who, however, gave
her an excellent education in the pub
lie schools. In order to maintain her.
self she aspired to become an opera
singer, but accidentally losing her
voice, became an actress instead.
Adelaide Phillips, the singer, now
dead, was a Treasury girl, and so for
time was Sara Jewett, the actress.
The mother OF Clara Louise Kel-
logg strained every nerve togive Clara
musical education, and at one time
Was professional spiritual medium.
Miss Kellogg failed three times. Each
time she retired, not discouraged, but
to devote herself to the still further
development Of her voice. Finally
she took the public by storm. Her
first failures were her last
Edmonia Lewis, the sculptor, is col
ored Overcoming the prejudice
against her sex and color, and self
educated, Miss Lewis is now success
fully pursuing her profession in Italy.
Only one other colored woman ever
gained distinction in the fine arts
that was the singer who called herself
1.-The Black Swan,' and who flourish
ed about fifteen years ago. There has
never been an authoress or actress
OF color beyond the merest tyro, but
no one can predict what the future
may hold for colored people,
Nine. Roland-who, by her impas-
stoned and eloquent harangues, had
so much to do with bringing about
the French Revolution-was the
daughter OF bookseller and sold
books over the counter. She was one
OF the most gifted and learned women
of that terrible period. She became
a victim OF the feud she had helped to
stir up, and persisted on the guillotine.
She was the originator OF the famous
phrase: 20, Libertyl how many
crimes are committed in thy name!''
Anna Dickinson began life as aschool
teacher. Wearving OF this, she one
day went to Mrs. John Drew, manage
ress of the Arch Street Theatre, Phila-
delphia, and entreated her to give her
an opportunity to go upon the stage.
Mrs. Drew heard her recite, told her
she had very bad accent, that she
did not think she would ever make an
actress, and advised her to go back to
her, school teaching. The war broke
out soon afterward, giving Miss Dick
inson an opportunity to emerge from
obscurity. She still secretly cherished
histrionic aspirations, but years were
destined to elapse before she was en-
abled to test whether Mrs. Drew had
been a true prophet or not.
Mrs. Langtry is the daughter OF a
country parson OF small means, but
the old proverb OF her face being her
fortune, proved true in her case. New
ertheless, the standing Mrs Langtry
has acquired upon the boards entities