The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-12

QUITO this country has ever seen and one
OF the very best Macbeths has none of the
Alterations assumed by many of tho latter
day one-part actorettes, and no made no
effort TO conceal his pleasure at the oppor-
tunity given him to say something about
an episode which he declares can never be
blotted from his memory. In Mr.. Levick's
own words the story Of Mary Anderson's
beginning on the stage was as follows:
1T was in 1876 that some persons who
were good enough to consider me q pretty
fair actor thought that, as patriotism was
in the air, owing TO the fact that IL was
centennial year, IL might pay to take i'd
vantage Of the supposed popular feeling by
starring me IN a play dramatized from
Cooper's celebrated novel, The Spy IL
was argued that everybody would flock &c
tho theater to SEQ n play SO essentially
American. There was no chance of fail
ure, and every one connected with tho en-
tcrprise was congratulated upon'his or her
good fortune. Well, / started out, and,
strange as it may appear, the people did
not flock to SEQ me in The Spy l got
Co MncAuley's theater. In Louisville, and
The Spy was done again. We opened TO
a miserable house on Monday night, which
was much worse Tuesday, still worse
Wednesday and as nearly as possible zero
Thursday. Icannot begin to tell you how
bad the business really was. The prospect
of my getting back to New York by the
following Monday evening to take an en-
gagement which had been offered mo at
Booths theater began TO grow exceedingly
dim, and / went to MacAuley to ask what
was to be done. That good natured giant,
who was a dear friend OF mine, promptly
fnfCwpao1 mn TINT ha xvnttfl caa TINT WINS
provided with transportation to New
York, and then he said, Let me think
and no did think for n long time. At last
he looked up with an inspiration. Il have
It, he exclaimed. There Is q girl about
10 years of age in this city, who is well
connected socially and a general favorite.
She Is stagostruck and has insisted upon
having several of the most prominent stars
who have visited my theater hear her read,
among them John Mccullough. She Is
constantly studying and rehearsing by
herself, and I know that she Is up in
"Romeo and Juliet" l am Of the opinion
that il we could put her on in that piece
on Saturday night we could make some
money
"'Has she eyer actedP' I asked.
"'Never TO my knowledge, replied Mac
Auley, but that makes no difference. I
am depending upon the curiosity TO see
her rather than upon any ability she may
possess
"'All right said I, things certainly
cannot be any worse han they are. send
for her. BY the way, what is her namef'
MARY Anderson And so a messenger
was dispatched TO notify Miss Anderson
that the manager was anxious 10 sec her
at once. That young lady was found upon
her return from the cathedral, and she and
her mother Immediately repaired to the
Office of MIR. MacAuley, where Miss An
derson was asked il she could be ready to
play Juliet by Saturday night and with
only one rehearsal. She unhesitatingly re-
piled that she could, as she already had
the part letter perfect L we'll remember
that IL was n rainy, slushy day, but that
was n mere trilo TO n determined girl who
had after careful consideration come TO
the conclusion that the stage was her des-
tiny.
"MaoAuley and I then had another con-
sultation, and it WAS suggested that | play
Romeo. 1 objected ON the double ground
that 1 was not up in the part and that I
had made soms little reputation as Mercu-
ito. Besides, IL was absolutely necessary
that / should have some character which
was killed off early in the play, so that I
might be enabled TO leave ON tho train for
Cincinnati, connecting with the other,
which would land mo I'm Now York on
Monday. Then we set about TO cast the
picco, and to our dismay we found that IL
was impossible to do 10 with the company
we had. 1t was decided 90 telegraph &C.
Mr.. MacAulcy's Cincinnati thcater for n
few people WHO were Supposed TO be some.
what familiar with Romeo and Juliet
This done, Miss Anderson was notified
that q rehearsal would DO held at o O'Clock
Saturday morning.
"Somo Of tho people were inclined, rs
Miss Anderson states in her memoirs, 90
look down upon the ambitious girl who at
least temporarily vas To- be tho center of
attraction as thoir expense and by their
sufrorance, ms they regarded IL. I shall
mover forget her appearance as sho walked
on tho stage that morning-a tall, rather
lanty girl Of l6, who would have been n
particularly handsome boy, but who gave
very little evidence Of tina nossession OF