The Washington times., 1895-02-03
Julia MarIOWe- Taber's Views on
the Secret Of Success.
TRUE GENIUS NEVER FAILS
Some Of the Day Dreams Of a Stage-struck
Girl Described and Analysed Distinction
ply for the Suggestion of High Kickers
and Low splitters of the Modern Stage.
LWritten for NE suNpAY TIMEs.

The glare. glitter and glamour OF an ap-
parently successful dramatic career are too
great temptation for the average stage
struck girl even against a preachers bold
affirmation that satan snares the fair that
way II anything can bid such an one pause,
il may be a true apprehension of the practical
wear and tear, the physical discomfort and
mental distress of life ''on the road"
To be sure, nothing succeeds like success
trite phrase; yet tried in the balance. it is
often found wanting.
There is success, for instance, that succeeds
in the genealogical sense. 1t follows after,
say-a divorce suit or some other scandal.
It must be a thick skin, however fair, that
can bear
THE THoRNs OF NoToRIETY
as if they were the roses of fame, shallow
mind, indeed. that will accept jeers for cheers;
a hard heart that will prize the scalding tear
as dear. The glamou ur is brief, the gloom
abides.
Then there is that apparent success which
doctors manage TO extract from the substitu-
tion of one drug for another-thelr succeda-
neum is not the real medicine though. While
ii may kill pain, il cannot cure the i'll. So
mediocrity may achieve an artificial. simu-
lated stage success that fails to stimulate the
activities or TO satisfy the ambition. Such
disappointment is hopeless because helpless.
The French call it success d'estime. In
plain United States it is nothing more nor
less than
SUCCESS DE STEAM"
Not one in ten can stand the high pressure;
and there is usually a niger in the woodpile,
If not on the safety valve.
Is there then no success? Paying, lasting,
satisfying, true success? Surelyl Native re-
flnement and intelligent instincts; sensitive
emotions Joined to an imaginative tempera-
ment; grace of face and form; strong will
and a studious mind-al of these, harmoni-
ously blended, constitute q genius of the
brightest type.
And genius never fails. But, OH how
keenly it suffers; as much under the approval
Of self-satisfied Philistines, as under the con-
demnation of self-righteous Pharisees.
Yet all OF the attributes l have enumerated
may be marked characteristics of Unbalanced
genius-erratic, errant erring-capable of
achieving at times ephemeral, though bril-
liant, dazzling success only.
On the other hand the patient plodder,
who recks not the aches nor breaks of PAINS
taking persistence, may without some of
out a measure Of success-a success that lasts
with beauty and ruins il.
The ugly duekling may turn out to be
swan after ALL yet most theatric fowl make
DUCKS AND DRAKEs OF THE DRAMA.
They have web feet ore and all; but some
lack the graceful throat; many the strength
of pinion, and most that majestic quality of
devotion to art for arts sake, which alone
inspires the swans mortal melody - they
prefer to run the race that kills rather than
sing the dying song.
true, poeta nasciturnon fit, yet born poet
may become poetical misflt. However great
the genius, however lofty the inspiration, a
true poem must be wrought out to perfection
else it will limp in measure or halt in rhyme
So whatever a girls natural endowment,
however magnificent her physical beauty,
consuming her ambition, without costly
painful training, without careful, patient
persistence she cannot succeed even as
high kicker or low splitter, let alone as Viola
or as Elsa. JULIA MARLowE-TABER.