The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-15
JULIA ARTHUR.

.nannerisms of the most marked kind and
ore frequently very offensive. In an actor
or actress, therefore, they should be studi-
ously avoided, and absolute truth should
be cultivated at all times
Ours Is a grand art, q living breathing
art, and when we undertake to form part
of a picture which the author has drawn
with many mental struggle and much
careful study from life we should not at
tempt the task lightly or flippantly, but
should devote mind and heart to making
the picture perfect one.
We should not say, as we all do under
some circumstances, "The part does not
amount to anything, and won't waste
time or study on it," because by SO doing
we injure our chances of better part and
acquire carelessness which mars future
work. We should study the small parts
putting aside the thought of self aggran-
dizement. We should give them all our
thought, not as small parts, but as charac-
ters which have lived and can by'our work
live again. And II censured by those who
look upon the picture, and who are capa-
BILE Of Judging its merits or demerits, we
should not despair; neither should we trent
unjust,y a criticism which, IL studied care
fully by us, might enable us to rid our
selves of such faults as the critic has
pointed out, thereby perfecting our picture.
How can we treat lightly an art which
comprises all the arts ana of late years all
the professionsp
We arc called upon to portray every phase
of life. We are not called upon to act our
own characters or the author would have
written of our lives. When the author has
put the words into our mouths, IL is our
work TO give those words moaning top place
before the public as truthfully and as artis-
tically as our talent permits the character
which he has conceived. How can we do
so IL our own characters are full of affec.
tations, Of mannerismsp They will creep
into our work and mar It, for II they be-
long to Us they cannot belong to every
character we arc called upon to assume.
How can we hope 10 depict truth upon the
stage If our lives arc full OF falsity2 How
hope TO learn If we think we know IL ALP
For when that thought takes possession of
our minds we cease to advance in tho
know,-,'gc Of art and become mere parrots
Less thought of self would enable us TO do
vote moro TO tho representation of others.
Why speak so much Of what we have
done when tho future, IL wo would be art
lists, demands our whole attention?
Every new part is n new study or ought
20 be The last part, whether great sue
cess or n miserable failure, should be- for
gotten and all thought, invention and
energy brought 10 bear upon tho now one.
One success cannot make an artist. It
Is merely n test, lt Is the first step which
appears 20 us the most difficult. We think
II we could but make ono success tho rest
would follow. "Oh, II 1 could only play
one great partl Itwould make me-" We
crave for one great opportunity. Well, we
get it, and I'm ninety-nino cases out Of n
hundred what Is the RESULT
wo are SO elated that we loso sight Of tho
second little step, but 10 is there, and the
cool headed man who sits I'm front has his
eye on IL as well rs on us. Ho Is watching
20 see how we take that STEP how we will
stand the test. And what are we doingP
Are We putting ice ON our heads I'm tho
way Of little cool reflection, or are wo
wondering how much salary we can exact
Of the suffering manager who wants US for