New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-01

smiled into Evcyn's eyes. Her face mad turheo
scarlet; the recollection Of her experience IN
Don Caesar always caused her moruhcauoh
Yet in spite of her humiliation-at the Time IL
had beeh almost overwhelming-she hau ihaue
in 1t the only genuine hit OF her career IN Dos
ton: her anguish-t was genuine anguish only
q woman could understand it-had had the effect
Of inspiring her. 1t was II she tried to call the
attention Of the audience from her costume 10
her acting The critics had praised her en-
Enthusiastically and even the manager hau sPohe"
approvingy Of her treatment OF the roie' Ne'ei
tbaless she had been glad when Don Caesar
was taken off; success had been won at 100 oear
a price. Since that time she had constantly
heard Of herself in that odlous part. she wouiu
rather Oswald Webb had seen her in anything
else even in "Tricked by Fate" where she had
been at her worst Mrs Cohn. who had heard all
about FveIvn's experience in Don Caesar, feit
called upon to speak: .
Miss Johnson didn't like that part" she said
with one of her little smiles.
Really" said Webb. turning to Evelyn "hy'
thought you were charming in It,
but the costume" Mrs. Cohn insisted' sheoo-
iected to the costume
"The costume seemed very pretty TO me-, SAID
Webb innocenty. land very becoming mo-
| ment later curious expression appeared on MS
| face and he cried, oh! to-
| Both Mrs Coin and Evelyn broke out INTO
| laughter that cleared the atmosphere
| Il; was dreadful" said Evelyn. .
but one doesn't mind on the stage. Wepo
said. speaking from the point Oh view oi '"e
= minded" cried Evelyn, with touch OF
resentment in her tone. , ,,,
| "Vhat I meant was" he exclaimed, looking
foolish that in such play and such a part the
| audience never thnk-never think OF tne -
| He noundered hopeessly, and Mrs. conn came u
Never think of tie persons playing It, I'm
sure Nh Webb is quite right dear. she wen.
| on. turning to Evelyn. Besides, it was boys
webb gave her grateful look That's what
| What | tried to say" he stammered. ,,
Mrs Conn., who began to wonder what woud
| have happened If she he'd not come uo"'' pio-
ceeded 20 assert herself. A.,
| III was a great compliment for YOU and Mrs
| Webb to remember Miss Johnson. l think, she
/ said in her haf-whisper, land when Booth was
"oh. we've often talked about 1t since Mrs
Vobh and I You see we never forgot Miss
| Johnson'g face We've often wondered who you
wore. Miss johnson. and where you came from
ana where you had gone, and all that But we
thought YOU must be very much youhger-a
mere child" he added with a laugh.
Were all young when we're on the stage
said Evelyn half-mournfuy.
Isn't it lovely? 1t seems like fairyland 10
me-" said Mrs. Cohn enthusiastically:
ITS great gift said Oswald Webb. looking
solernny at Evelyn. She wished they would
!
successful actress. sure of her talent. but 1t only
depressed her. There was no suggestion OF fairy
land in being out Of an engagem 11rod n hsr
feelings for she led the subject into another
channel. . -
she said referring back to Webbs alluson.
TT is. it is wonderful really WONDERFUL he
cried 'Invalids sometimes do have exceedingly
keen minds | nave a theory that as they
spend no energy in action, it all goes to the
brain. You see they think so much-thats what
is the matter with many of them IN 1act thal
what's the matter with my Wife with MIS-.
Webb; she can't rest; the machinery OF her
brain is always working
That's very sad" said Mrs Cohn sympatheu-
| cally II know what it is not to sleep
| she reads a great DEAL too. We're both' as
| ! have said fond of plays, and as we can't go 10
see them acted very often, why. we read them
| suppose YOU do to- Miss Johrson?'
Evelyn flushed. and confessed that she did
not. She preferred novels Il don't think actors
| are very studious.' she said
Aren't they? I'm surprised to hear that.
should think they would have to be-
| mo They Just learn their parts. and they
don't trouble themselves much about dramatic
| literature"
How strange! But should think that just
from learning their parts and playing them
they couldn't avoid acquiring love for liter
allure especially if they play Shakespeare"
Evelyn laughed. Il wish you could see some
| of the Shakespearian actors have known. she
said But of course, few of them do care FOR
Shakespeare"
They're a little weak in their reading Of blank
verse" he said. They seem TO neglect the
rhythm. / think they make mistake in doing
this; the music of blank verse is very fine l
once ventured to make This criticism to Mon
tague Sutton the great Lear You know his Lear
really is superb; don't you think so! Full OF
passion, yet with the tenderest sentiment he
was very indignant He seemed to think that
actors knew far more about the matter than l
did and had no right to criticise; ,..
smile that showed she meant Connected
"Iut some of them are wonderful fellows
never go TO the theatre to see play OF
Shakespeare without coming back with
greater reverence for his genius. The power OF
our actors is marvellous. If they were only
little refined. if they would pay little
more attention to their voices, to their enunci-
alton and their readings, Refinement is all they
lack. But that will come.
That's partly due to the want OF proper
training schools" said Evelyn. "Of course, we
have no Corledie FRANCHISE in this country. But
schools Of acting are springng up. There are
several in New-York"
There used to be prejudice against them
among actors; but it's dying out. y great many
Of the novices now come out or the schools B aI
a few years ago they simply went on In small
parts among the supernumeraries and worked
up" T.,
its way 1t gives actors the Elasticity that Mon
tague Sutton is so fond Of talking about. But II
doesn't give them several other things that are
essential, too 1t does not teach them to
enunciate clearly, speak with the proper &C
cent or have a thoroughly intelligent grasp OF
what they have to do. How horrible 1t is to heal
Shakespeare read by actor with the Western burr
in his voice. I've fairly writhed under the torture
We certainly need q Coincide FRANCHISE. We
have plenty of fine material for one. But II VII
be a long time before our people be per
suadcd to take the theatre seriously. and unit
! they do | suppose must get what pleasure
we can out Of It, What means of happiness II
is and how foolish those people are that deridt
it. They allow II to be used for the wors
purposes instead Of taking hold Of II and max
Ing it serve the best Merely as a means OF
happiness It ought to occupy high place among
our institutions; but, Of course 1t Is capable OF
even higher uses than that"
Evelyn was not accustomed to this kind Of
talk about the stage, and she felt a little en-
barrassed by It, Mrs. Cohn. on the contrary
showed by her beaming face and her eager attitude
how much she enjoyed It; she sitting on the
corner Of her chair, as If she were trying to ge