The morning call., 1894-08-12
cooUELIN IS PROUD OF HER.

- Eleanor Calhoun-juet from Paris-is
visiting her brother at 1882 Geary street
;: Her one criticism of the French is that
: showever well they may be impressed with
: AN. actress she has only to leave them to be
forgotten. The criticism cannot be made
Ito fit the people of her native State, for
Eleanor Calhoun is well and very kindly
= remembered by the many lovers of the
drama in San Francisco.
Although Miss Calhoun has dropped
into the city entirely unheralded it may be
said in truth that she returns in triumph.
"For she has been making histury-that is
to say. biography-since the curtain rang
:. down upon her in this city.
: Size has it to say now that she is the
,:"0nly American grip who ever played in
the National Theater of the capital OF
France.
She has played French plays to 8 French
!. audience, using the French tongue, and
: been applauded for it, That is triumph.
= She is to make but short stay here. re-
turning in three weeks to reopen with her
own company at the Coincide Parisienne
!. in a. new play now being created for her.
). She then intends going to England, and
j after ward will make a tour of the United
= States in the new play.
-. Miss Calhoun is enthusiastically grate-
f1Lto NJ. C0Quein; the French comedian,
to whose encouragement and instruction
: she credits all her courage to undertake
: the great hazard of appearing in Paris in
French. She says that she is the first
:forelgner to make such an attempt since
:. a Russian girl tried it. was Kissed and
, died by her own hand from humiliation.
Z
lit: Necessary to converse entirely in the
French language for the past four years."
she said last night. you will readily
understand the pleasure 1 find in using
nay native tongue. don't want people to
think that [ care to lose my nativity,
: although [ must admit that 1 have
found it much more to my liking to play
French pieces in that language. Had it
..nO: been for N. Coquelin | might have
5 been in the Haymarket Theater yet play
ing. only TO glish-speaking audiences.
..but he advised me to 90 to Paris and study
!. French;
: =, '''Ah.' he used to say. they will under
: stand you there. You have the new blood
and the energy TO make them enthuse.
Come to France and Paris. l will give
You lessons
''Well, l became an enthusiast myself
and went That was four years ago, and
/ applied myself to study with an Industry
that surprised me. During all this time
. played with Coquelin throughout the
provinces and he aided me all in his
power. The result was satisfactory
and my confidence was such that l agreed
to present myself to the critics in the
0deon. | was cast as Kate. the leading
rule in Argent d'Autrui,' by Leon Hen
Aioue. How well 1 remember the stiff
array of actors, poets and artists
sitting iu the dress circle with folded
arms and sober faces, waiting tor the
American who dared TO trespass on the
stage of the greatest theater in Paris.
was confident in myself and felt a salts
faction in the knowledge that l under
stood my role. The first, second and third
acts were concluded and had met success
Finally the play was over, and Co.
quelin, prouder than myself, said to me
L knew France would understand you,
but better still you understand them As
TO whether or not have been successful
as an American girl abroad | can butrefer
you to the papers of Paris.
"One thing that pleased me above all
others was the encouragement l received
from Lord Lytton, the author of Lu-
cilIe' He told me before the play that /
had succeeded in acquiring an understand
ing of the technique of the French school
of actors and would surely make most
successful debut in Paris"
''DO you like the French audiences ?"
I'm some ways l prefer them to any
other More particularly because they
show their appreciation just as thoroughly
as they do their dissatisfaction, and they
can never be accused of insincerity. The
only fault l find with them is that they do
not remem Der you after you have gone.
1t is simply impossible to return to France
and renew the favor that surrounds your
departure One must conclude to bring
them back gradually. Even Sarah Bern
hardt has 10 do it.
But in England there is difference.
When once a good impression has been
made that is sufficient, and no matter how
long you may be away, upon returning the
same people are waiting anxiously to re-
ceive you. However. Paris has treated me
well, and l shall not stay away long
enough to permit them to entirely forget
me-
Miss Calhoun was formerly the protege
of Mrs. Phoebe Hearst. and William
Hearst, editor of the Examiner, had, pre-
Vious to her trip to France, formed quite
an attachment for the young lady, which
was said to have been dlscountenanced by
his mother.
She is strongly individual woman, and
although having lived in the last few
years among the greatest men and women
of France, has not forgotten her native
country or her love for America. She has
mastered the French tongue and accent
perfectly.
LIE Gil Bias said Of her: ~ give first