The morning times., 1895-10-13
A NoBLEwoMAN's cRITIoUE.

Testimony OF Lady Jeune to Our Own
Ada Rehan.
Few people know that Ada Rehan was
at first received coldly in England. When
appreciation did come 1t came with a rush,
and below is the opinion OF member of
Britain's nobility-and one of her own
sex, too!-upon Americas greatest Shake
sperian actress. Lady Jeune says:
In all Miss Rehan's acting, quite apart
from her genius, one cannot but be struck
with the signs of hard and patient work
which it shows. She is never careless; the
small Hest detail is watched and attended to;
nothing is ever slurred over; the tones OF
the voice, the intoDation of every word
are distinct to the DiiDutest degree.
Her indonitable energy, her restless force,
are surprising, and the amount of physical
fatigue she has undergone must strike even
the vcriest tyro in such matters. OF her
genius we need not speak, but she has per
haps the strongest personality and great
est vitality of any living actress, and when
she is on the stage it is impossible TO
look at any one else. She conquers by
her personality almost superhumaD diff
ficulties.
How often has one seen her carry the
fortunes of a play on her shoulders, and
carry it to victory? Some one with great
appreciation OF dramatic performances and
q great critical capacity, said of her:
.sWbatcyer she may be playing, and who
ever she may be play ing with, one cannot
take ones eyes off her when she is on the
stage"
And 1t is 20; she is the central figure
around which everything moves and In
which all interest is centered. However,
wanting we may have been in ready ap-
probation of Miss Rehan in the early days
of her visit to England, she cannot fan
warmly
we admire one whom we consider by
far the most perfect exponent-nay, we
should almost say, the only Shakespearian
actress of the day. II she still retains a
feeling of anger at our shortcomings, she
must, with the real strength OF her generous
nature, remember tbatsto her great prede-
cessar, Mrs. Siddons, in her early GAYS,
we were equally unappreciauve. she
can well afford TO forgive us now, for
she must be W ell assured that there is no
one TO whom we give SO genuine homage
as to her and, with the inborn wit ana
sense OF fun of her native country, she
can affect to laugh at our lnfatuatioh
when she drags us now in triumph at her
chariot wheels; and the triumph is the
more complete in that It is The tribute on
a cold, phlegmatic, and critical people,
who have been fairly conquered and carried
away by her genius.
Apart from the admiration she inspires
as an artist, there is another aspect OF
her character, in which she is infinitely
more attractive Her generosity, charity,
modesty, and her simplicity. are only
few of the qualities which have endeared
her to many friends III this country. IL
would he impossible to imagine any one
more free from affectation OF any kind or
more humble as TO the standard she assigns
to herself Her nature. like her gifts, is
great in every sense OF the word. Her de-
votion, unselfishness. loyalty and abso-
lutte absence of vanity are qualities which
strike one most in intimate intercourse
with her, for she is absolutely deNoio Oh
the weal,uesses of many public people
such as love of popularity and ostentation.
To be allowed to do her work quietly TO
carry out the ideals she strives for, and
10 be the friend only of. those she likes ana
respects are, we venture TO say, her only
ambitions.