Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-06-07

iltoks
Asmall go. cart, which it was my duty
10 drag about the stage, was also keen
source af pride, and great trouble to
me. My first dramatic failure dates
from that "go-cart." | was told TO run
about with it on the stage, and while
carrying out my instructions with more
vigor than discretion, tripped over the
handle, and down came on my back.
A litter ran through the house, and |
felt that my career as an actress was
ruined forever Bitter and capious were
the tears Shed-but am not sure that
the incident has materially altered the
course of my life.
Although ! was then only about eight
or nine years old, the wonderful fire and
genius OF Mrs. Kean made strong i'm
preston on me; and how | admired and
loved and feared herl Later on the fear
was replaced by gratitude, for no wo-
man ever gave herself more trouble to
train a young actress than did Mrs.
Kean: the love and admiration remain
ed and grew. 1t is rare that 1t falls to
the lot of anyone to have such an ac-
complished teacher. Devoted TO her art,
conscientious to degree in mastering
the details and spirit of her part, and
equally patient in explaining the mean
ing to anyone she was teaching, Mrs.
Kean at the same time, through her
vivid personality and force, had the
faculty of claiming the attention and
indelibly imprinting her rendering OF Il
part on the Imagination. Yet, under
what disadvantages actresses suffered
in those days.
When | think of the costume in which
Mrs. Kean used to play the part OF
''Hermione," it seems marvellous TO me
that she could have produced the I'M
preston that she did. For instance, no
matter what the character might be
that she was taking, she always used to
wear her hair drawn fiat over her fore
head and twisted tight around her ears
in kind of a circular sweep, such as Il
writing master makes when he attempts
an extra grand flourish. And then the
amount of petticoats she used To wear.
Although "IIermione" is Greek
part, and classic ladies were not sup
posed to wear a superluity of raiment,
Mrs. Kean used to be always punched
out by layer upon layer of petticoatS.
Still / never yet have seen the play
which could DE made or married by a
single costume, and if the pettcoats
were full" of platS, the voice was full
OF pathos-and the dignity, the simple
ity, the womanlineSS OF Mrs. CHARLES
Kean's "Hermione" must surely be re-
membered by all who had the good for
tune to see the play.
The transition, however, from the
old happy go-lucky way of 'staging"
a piece, with its sublime indifference to
correctness of detail and disregard OF
archaeology, was steadily advancing.
Charles Kean had been sent to Upton
by his father, and one Of the advan-
tageS he derived from classical educa-
ton was, that he had his eyes opened TO
the absurd anachroniSm in costume and
accessories which had prevailed at that
period, and when he undertook the man
agement of the Princess Theatre he
earnestly set to work TO carry on the
good change already begun by Kcmble
and Macready. A naturally refined taste
in addition to a scholarly sense of accu-
racy and refinement set him on the right
path, and he it was, in company with
Mr.. Phelps, who firmly established the
series Of stage reforms which have been
brought in our day TO such wonderful
perfection by Mr.. Irving.
Very young actors sometimes com
plain of low salaries and long hours. |
wish they could see Mr.. Kean's salary
list-they would soon cease to grumble.
Why. a Young man to-day gets as much
for carrying on coal box as an expert
enced actor then received for playing
an important part Then how different
the hours are. If company now has
to rehearse for four hours in the day it
is thought a great hardship. But when
was a child rehearsals often used 10
last till four or five in the morning.
What weary work it was TO be sure.
My poor little legs used to ache, and
sometimes | could hardly keep my eyet
open when ! was on the stage.
The greater portion OF my time when
was at the Princess was not, however,
spent in sleep in the greenroom window.
Young as was ! was almost uncOn-
sciousiy taking in Il number Of lessons
which have been useful TO me in my sub,
sequcnt career. | hold it of immense
i'm Importance that at this period the Prin-
cess was almost entirely given up to
Shakespeare.
Often used to creep into the green
room. which everyone acquainted with
the old Princess will remember well,
1 ~ In no doom
of the window, forget myself, my trou-
bles and my art-if you can talk OF 1t in
connection with a child of eighth a
delicious sleep. How well | remember,
too. the view from that window. II
looked ont on great square courtyard,
in which the spare scenery that was not
in immediate use was stacked. For some
reason or other this courtyard was IA
vorte playground for large company OF
rats. don't know what the attraction
was for them, except that they liked
ubbling the paint off the canvass. Out
they used TO troop in swarmS, and l.,
from my safe and coy nook, would
watch and wonder.
Once terrible storm came on when l
was perched up on my window seat.
The thunderstorm, the courtyard and
the rats made most picturesque scene:
and TO this day am reminded OF II by
the Broken scene in "Faust'-the
thunder and lightning, the creatures
crawling Oh every side, the grdyness OF
the whole thing.
Consequently was nourished from my
earliest youth on the most wholesome
of all foods for actors, the Shakesperean
drama: but this was not the only good
derived from my early apprenticeship
at che Princess. 1t was there