New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-22
ELLEN TERRY.
A WOMAN OF ABoUNDING ENERGY.
G.. W. s.
From The Epoch

There arc some people you cannot interview,
Ellen Terry Is one Of them Inc o aem% tbs
regulation column, from which you learn that MISS
Terry gdes rather than walks that she caves tho
Brown Potter very pretty, that she likes many things
in America and that she feels very tired
be Is no nearer the real woman than If he had never
set eyes on her. He has heard her talk for few
so have d By admirers six
she IS very simple and gracious ana eVery0ody Is
h2 gs1 yet not Of ' her en- al '' ''O"
Yet there is nothing really mysterious IN n, this re-
has of the Alterations OF success none OF me
tricks of theatrical business She never poses 1or
effect she never talks of her position In the profession
she never extols this person at tho expense OF ha
In her large and generous nature the small foblos
which theatrical life is apt to foster have no place
No ono could suspect her OF a scheme In
everything she does she lives with all the fitness
of her soul As she Is upon the stage. brmful of Joy
Gus simplicity or broken by sudden grof. so She is
in private to the few who know her well She has had
her share OF but they have not darkened her
of fortune but they have left her unspoled The
natural fountain sparkles In the sunshine or dmHed
Such IS the vitality OF Ellen Terry. Terribly weary
sometimes, tormented by seeplessness craving Tor
rest she never loses that Astounding energy which
invlgoratcs everybody who is near her Others feel
the strain OF lncessant work dull rehearsal drags
itself along every ono IS stless and unnterested.
Suddenly Miss Terry flashes the scene IL IS not
one OF her best days. She has not slept the night
before She is pale, and there is tired look IN me
Her presence Is llBc news from hOme Her smiles MI
the stage with radiance. She scatters few kindly
words and flowers spring mp everywhere hOwers or
good humor and gentle speech and though she van
ishes as quickly she came, everybody rom the
the days work.
One night in Boston three years 40 Mr. Irving
ing Benedick. There was a sudden call on the re;
sources of the company, some shnhng OF parts, and
a good deal of nervousness Behind the scenes all
was excitement in front, speculation and curiosity
Never Beatrice In such irresistible spirits. She
seemed to be evcrywhcre az once and when She came
with bOund at point, and found that the wings
Of the preceding scene were moving on ot 700 SOw
amidst the rapurous cheers Of the delighted spectators
To Of c9a@d Gossip r Ec %
thought Of than Of another nnrehearsed in
SN dsn e she tU0 a @ az ss at that ago.
1t very dull one day, and she amused herself
by sliding down the banlsers of the staircase leading
members OF tho company stood aghast Nothing so
drama and they held their breath at the thought of
what would happen ~ Mr.. Irving of whom they were
all in awe should witness the scene Sure enough,
he came silently out of the darkness and looked gravely
on. There was panse. and then the culprit went
M TO him with clasped hands and delicious afr Of
the place Is gloomy" And over the great actors
face came that pcculary Winning smile e. OF his and
more gloom at tho Lyceum.
These things are unconventional Int they are not
the eccentrictles in which society delights. They
not be turned to account for the purposes Of advertise
ment. There Is nothing I'm common between the
spontaneous ebulittons OF nature like this, and the
decorated surfaces which interest fashionable circles
in the world OF art. The element OF show which
enters largely into some phases Of the theatrical
career. IS far removed from Ellen Terrv's sphere.
She acts with all her mind and heart and her tears
show how false f. the assumption that real emotion
the stag audience. She listens
with the intensity Of sympathy II Is study
to see her at the play. Any merit. however small,
ensts her attention at once. She is enthusiastic
audience I'm herself I have company perform
prOd giles OF excellence that must have astonished
themselves. under the inspiration Of that face, re-
spOnSive to every emotion Of tho scene.
with such nervous organization so delicate and
highly strung, II is surprising that Ellen Terry
has much reserve ~ STRENGTH But she never
woman TO all and pine. Whe7 she was child she
played Puck I'm " Midsummer Nights Dream under
Charles Kean One night her foot caught In a
stage trap. The pain was so great that she could
scarcely stand Her sister Kate rushed forward and
threw her arms around the little sufferers neck, and
the two children cried I'm chorus, Oh, Nelcp " Oh
Katie ~ while Mrs. Charles Kean, who had neuralgia
very badly at the time, stood at the wings with her
head tied up in a handkerchief and great tears roll
ing down her cheelS. she whispered Go on
Nellie, go on, dear. I'll double your salary " And
she went on, and the pit wept and shouted with SYM
pathy and next day there such stream Of
rlages at her fathers door that you might have
thought all London hung Dpon the doctors word
As she then, Ellen Terry has been all her life ;
brave and wOmanly I'm many trials and Frightening
all around her with of the most radiant spirits
that shOne through mortal 'ay.