The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-24
TO THE STAGE STRUCK WOMAN.
While tho worlds congress Of women

WOll0 tn0 WOrluo COu&r000 Oh women
will not Immediately bring about any OF
the reforms proposed, it lie nevertheless
a gathering Of remarkable interest.
This is found not &C much in the .vari-
ETY. OF subjects discussed as in the very
fact that women from nearly every CLINE
and race, and representative OF all in
dustries and arts, have met for tho first
time in a great convention to discuss
affairs Of special interest to their sox.
The woman missionary from India chats
with famous actresses like Madame
Modjeska and George Cayvan; each
gives views on questions most interest
ing to the others and this interchange
proves pleasant as we'll as profitable.
Madame Modjeska, for instance, was
asked for advice az to whether . young
should 60 on the stage, and this
is what she said:
II the influence Of OUT sex upon ths thea
tor 10 bsnsheiai. can ws say the same Of the
influence Of The theeter upon oma her,
self? In other words, does the life Of the
actress tend to develop her better qualities.
or does II do the contrary1 I should not
like to awe . decisive reply to the question.
l may Gay. however. that u seems to me.
while the life VI lead exposes us 10 a 4 eat
many temptations. stimulates too much
our vanity. and takes us sometimes too far
from our everyday duties. il must certainly
develop In rs a sense of Independence and
therefore of responsibility. II brings NJ
into contact with the highest creations Of
master minds and IL bound to open both
impulses which they teach to humanity.
As for morals. I onn only say that there are
as many good women on the stage Is in
other walks Of life.
The present condition of the stage,
however, gives but little authority for
Modjeska's argument that the life Of an
actress brings her in contact with great
creations of master minds. Her own
case is exceptional, for the reason that
her art is to a large degree the result Of
studying the greatest Of all dramatic
authors; she appears only in great
tragic roles, and in order to gain fame
and applause she has been forced to a
critical study Of the times, the history
and the personalities of great historic
characters. But you can count On your
fingers the actresses Of to-day who have
followed Modjeska's line. Tragedy is a
fast dying art and with it must disap-
pear that discipline which made broad
study necessary to success.
Under these conditions, we may we'll
inquire as to the methods by which the
young women aspirants to stage life
will become familiar with the creations
which Modjeska studies and enjoys.
Certainly not in the modern society
drama nor in emotional plays which are
pleasing to audiences as they are most
suggestive. The best hat can be said
is that SUCCESS in these lines returns ap-
plause and money, and on the other
hand, always tends to deaden the finer
senses of true womanhood. The ques.
ton then, Is whether the reward is
worth the price. AS the great actress
truthfully says, it is a wearing life in
which the disappointments and failures
far outnumber the successes. It does
not conduce to intellectual growth and
the only knowledge acquired is that of a
worldly nature. It is evident from her
cautious observations that Modjeska
fully appreciates the danger to which a
new struggler in this field is subjected.
Her devotion to fellow workers cannot
even overlook this, and the plain infer
ence of her advice il that Of the many
widening spheres in life in which the
young woman may win success the
modern stage is the least desirable of
Ill