Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-01
GENIUS Is DIFFIDENT.
The Amateur Actor Who Thinks He Can
Aot Ii Usually q FaiIure-Modjeska
Gives Some Valuable HINTS for Those In.
clined Toward the Stage.


Gives Some Valuable Hints for Those In
clined Toward the Stage.
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArcH.I
do not think that success in the usual
meaning of the word ought to be the chief
ambition of the dramatic candidate. His
aim should be higher; his great object
should be to be true to his art, whether
such fidelity be rewarded by appreciation
from the public or not. One of the greatest
mistakes that could be possibly made by q
dramatic candidate is the choosing of the
profession with the idea that money comes
easier and work is less hard in this than
in any other. There is little hope of ad-
vancenent for such aspirants.
Success is not always the best evidence of
artistic merit. How many good actors there
are who have remained in obscurity all
their lives, and, on the other hand, how
many Indifferent ones have obtained a GER
tain kind of popularity. Above everything,
an artist ought never to sacrifice his own
artistic convictions to the momentary tastes
of the public; such sacrifice, although fol-
lowed by short lived success, will lower
him as an artist and kill IN him whatever
there may be of natural ability. The actor,
like the poet or the painter, must be born
q
which, If neglected, may disappear, but if
cultivated thoroughly and rightly will pro-
duce the desired result.
May Succeed Without Genius.
It is my belief. however, that a person
who is deprived of these natural gifts, and
who possesses an average amount Of intelli-
gence, can, by careful and judicious train
ing, acquire a certain amount of technical
knowledge, or what I would call, the handi-
craft of the profession, so as to fill minor
parts on the stage, and not be out of place
in what is called good ensemble. But I
cannot believe that person who does not
possess those natural gifts can ever acquire
by study the creative power" which is the
distinctive mark of the true artist. With
the actor, "creative power" implies the fac
ulty of building up character true to ma
ture, and of, endowing it with life, so as to
produce the illusion that his personation is
not a fiction but reality.
We have, it is true, in the annals of the
stage number of instances where actors
have been unpromising at first but who
have eventually become eminent. This does
not PROVE that they did not possess the
necessary talent, but simply shows that, for
some reason or other, they were not able to
display their ability. Possibly nervous
ness, want of experience or injudicious
choice OF parts deprived them for time of
their power, while later on experience,
good advice or some fortunate circumstance
allowed them to bring to the surface what
was conceived within.
Genius Is Always Busy.
Tn ward tben .ba frzt. essential ,r,,;f
,.t;on for aT oatnr onns;.ts ia ;aha tu1aIu
ths ua o. ~ ,rh;oh r,;r,ht - .;Li 'sieas'
scr;beJ 40 an imao;nstive and si,yiia,iua I
fscnltv which allows him to narae h;s ~
diyidnality into that of another The nert
essential is the constant study and work re- |
quired to cultivate and improve these !
natural gifts. I have never seen genius sue |
coed without labor, and suppose that it is |
the inseparable quality of genius that it will |
never neglect activity in the special branch |
of science or art toward which it is inclined. |
The happy possessor Of genius has intu-
itively deeper insight into the mysteries
Of art, which enables him to learn quickly,
and which shows him the most direct path
to follow. Besides, study and observation /
being congenial to him, his task appears
easy and his efforts are not strained. Still,
true genius could not exist with laziness and