The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-26

London, Oct. 9.-The most talked-of
woman on the English stage today is
Mrs. Patrick Campbell She Is known
to her colleagues as MRS. Pat" but
this familiar appellation Is by no means
indicative, that they feel for"i1e the
smallest degree of that familiarity
which breeds contempt. On the contra
ry, the secret Of her influence in the
theatrical profession and outside Of 1t
lies largely In the reserve. the aloof-
ness. OF her social methods. She is
rarely seen in fashionable drawing
rooms or driving in Rotten Row. She
does not stoop to any Of the vulgar
tricks by which the common herd Of
public ENTERTAINERS seek to distend
reputation.
She lives two lives-the life of the
footlights and the life Of her home.
These existences never overlap when
she can prevent it, have often heard
1t said that Mrs. Patrick Campbell, at
home in Ashley Gardens, Is as unlike
the Mrs. Patrick Campbell Of the stage
as one could well Imagine. A recent OPP
portunity was given me to make per-
sonal testof the difference.
She Is StrikinGly Unconventional.
What struck me most forcibly about
her is her unconventionality This
trait[,for Mrs. CampbelTs unconven-
tionality Is something more than O
mannerism-is as pronounced in her as
in -Bernhardt. Eleonora Duse, or Ellen
Terry. 1t Is this, more than any other
trait. which piques the curiosity of the
student of her character. The first
question asked as to an actress Is the
one George Elliot asked as to Gwendo-
len Harleth in Daniel Deronda": ''Is
she or is she not beautiful. and what is
the secret Of the dynamite power of her
glance?" If we are to take the opinion
OF women newspaper writer's as. final,
Mrs. Campbell Is not beautiful Every
body knows that a plain woman Is in
variably fattered in photograph,
such odd perversity controls the repu-
tation of actresses for personal beauty
When Mrs. Campbell burst upon Lon
don as Paula In 1.-The Second Mrs.
Tanqueray" the critics referred to her
as gifted" Fascinating" "bewilder-
ing" but never as beautiful.
Has Picturesque Beauty.
Yet beautiful she undoubtedly is
in the picturesque sense. How old is
she? Well as Paula Tanqueray or Ag-
ness Ebbsmith, you might give her 30
years, as Kate Cloud 20, as Juliet Capu-
let 17-from the last row in the Lyce-
UNI pit But her exact age is % years
and months. You would think her
ten years younger than that could you
see her tearing around her rooms in
chase of pup that rejoices in the name
Of "Humperdincka" or romping like a
child herself with her two children,
"Beo" and Stella, interesting young
sters, who regard her as their big sis
ter, or rallying in her own gay fash
ion the somewhat grave gentleman Of
perhaps 35. whom she calls Pat and
acknowledges as lord and master
Lips red with vigorous health, coal
black eyes and hair as dark as ebony,
complexion pale and smooth as polished
ivory, figure tall, 1.-THE and slender, with
long clinging arms, a throat that Marie
Antoinette might have envied and a
hand which literally speaks-these are
some of the physical characteristics of
a woman whose remarkable individual
lty has been for three years the talk of
| London.
She Affects Acsthc tic raperles.
| She affects aesthetic draperies-about
the house and on her person. With an
innate love OF beautiful things. she does
net neglect old laces. A piece OF Vene-
tiam point, more often than not. Is
wound about her neck or worn straight
| across her bodice. OF jewelry she Is
very fond-not with the usual mania OF
an actress or society DAME. however
for diamonds, for their flash and dis
play. Her taste runs to turquoises and
emeralds. She dctes on certain clus-
ter of greeny-blue turquolses in green
antique setting. On a slender chain
around her neck she wears a huge uncut
emerald night and day. At home or al
| the theater there Is one chain she wears
as an amulet-a row of strange looking
stones, Of various colors, strung on a
cord of gold.
do not know whether she Is the VIC
tim of any of the. traditional super
stitions Of the stage. but this particular
amulet Is worn "for luck" She has a
faddis't's weakness for clasps. Several
| in her collection are Of wonderfully In
trlcate workmanship. Her intimate
| friends who know her fondness for an
tique patterns, keep her we'll supplied
As to her style of dressing-it needs a
woman to deal with that but even to
the masculine comprehension this al
least is plain. Mrs. Campbell's private
gowns are as unconventional as her
stage costumes. The so-called tailor.
| made dress and the fashiona BILE skirts
of the period are not to be found in her
wardrobe. They would not be becom.
ing to her fourteenth century person
ality. 90,
In an Atmosphere of Art and Letters.
Mrs. Campbelrs home in Ashley Gar
dens is exactly what such a woman
would make 1t. She lives in an atmos-
phere of art and letters, with her hus-
band and children. her books and pic
lures and music. her birds and dogs
Mr.. Campbell Is his wlfe's most ardent
admirer-which means something In
these days In the artistic world of Lon
don: and they Indulge In. the felicity
of unbounded domesticity.", He super
intends. her business arrangements and
derives am adequate income on his own
account from salartsd position in the
city ard from literary work.
"Show me a womans ROOM" said
some one. "and I will tell you what she
Is" There is force In the observation.
Judge MRS. Campbell by her rooms and
you will pronounce her in advance a
cultivated and interesting woman. The
pictures on her walls are For the most
part photographs Of Burne-Jones' and
Watts paintings. For both these cele-
brated artists she feels the liveliest ad-
miration. Her eye flashes with enthus-
iasm as 1t rests upon "The Golden Stair
case" or Love Among the Ruins' or
'Ganymede." Watts mournful, mys-
tlcal "OphelHa" Is her favorite. 1t stands
upon the piano. an instrument, by the
way. which she plays with no little skill
and at which she sometimes accompan-
les herself when alone or with her fam
lily, In singing the simply old English