The morning times., 1895-10-13
THESPIlNS NOT AL BORN
Many Are LahoriousIy Made by
the Teacher Of Dramatic Art.
PEEPS INTO A SCHOOL
Training the Voice So That 1t Shall
Speak Distinctly and Correctly.
Ludicrous Incidents ut RehearsaIs.
Chairs Transformed Into Animate
and Inammate Properties.

mere is time for everything. That
is the reason that, just as sure as the seed
slumbers till the spring 10 burst into
plant, or the chestnut waits until the frost
to drop from the twig, the would-be actor in
the autumn renews his studies in his chosen
art.
There is no really valid reason why the
young person who expects TO some day
startle the world from behind the foot
lights should wait until the approach of
winter to begin his studies other than that
custom has allotted that time for the
purpose. But, of course, since custom has
made such an arrangement it would be
the apex OF improperly to begin at an
other time. Therefore the schools where
real practical acting and eiocution. are
taught are just opening in Washington.
He who turns his opera glass upon the
brilliant stars that twinkle in the milk y way
OF the theatrical armament and quotes
that the actor is born and not made, speaks
that which falls far short OF the truth.
Let him but pass through, even by mere
observation, one fraction OF what those
same stellar characters have had to undergo
in the training school, and he Will retract
his statement with the rapidity with when
one traverses a graveyard on a sable night.
FAILS TO GET THERE.
The position of the leading luminary on
the programme is seldom reached by mere
evolution of the chorus contingency, but
only by toll like that of the Industrious
bee that has decided to devote all its LIES
attention to the collection of honey.
The schools and classes in this city where
practical acting is taught are thorough in
their methods.
The voice is the first essential, and personal
appearance is the second. That natural,
for the latter may be easily built to order by
the timely use of wig, and paint box. The
ability to carry the voice must be mastered,
they tell you, and a remarkably strong voice
devoid of training may be lost among the
wings of the stage scenery or wander off into
the flies without ever reaching the orchestra
circle.
There is q vast deal of amusement to an
observer at one OF these classes for the pro-
duction of the actor. To see young man
who is a regular Apollo Belvidere attempt
ing to interpretShylocko or young lady who
has made a specially nearly all her life
of unsuccessfully hunting for the humor in
ANYTHING trying to do the part OF the spinster
who is ever in a sea of ludicrous trouble, is
capable of bringing an expression of merri-
ment to even the face OF representative or
the equine family.
The room where the manufacture of the
future stars is begun. generally serves
the purpose of class-roonls, dressing room
and theater. The same audience looks
on each day in forced silence. That
audience is the chairs, walls and usually
neager hangiugs of the apartment-the
professor always. OF course. being under
stood TO be present to lend animation to
the assenlbIage.
Whether the stage is present or not the
scenery is absent The walls of the
kitchen the railway station or the boudoir
and library, are marked off on the floor
with chalk, and additional markings fix
the, locality of doors, windows and fire
nlu