The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-05

the company. She learned pantomime
then acting, in the small Italian towns,
amid the humblest surroundings in which
a vagrant Thespian was ever compelled TO
shelter herself. She played all kinds Of
parts in the old Italian comedies, and her
talents were talked about even then in the
sphere in which her name was known.
Her fame had become great enough by
toe time she villas 16 TO enable her TO draw
a large audience 10 see her once in Ner-
ona, when she played Juliet in Shakes
reare's tragedy. That performance made
her known in wider public than she
had ever reached before. Since that time
her progress in Italy has been steady. In
the absence of any word of her own on
the subject it is impossible to say how
many roles Duse has acted, but the num-
ber Is doubtless immense. Any body look
ing up the published accounts Of her ca
resr is amazed to come from time to time
upon the mention I play which was
probably produced in Paris, made little
sensation there, and was afterward trans
lated in Italian, when 1t served Duse to
present "A new illustration Of ber talents.
She took "Magdan out of Germany just
as she took "La Femme de Claude" out
of France aud "The Dolls House, out OF
Norway. She has never hesitated to per-
form play because the genius of the peo-
pie to whom Ii belonged did not appear
like to her own. she has played the
characters of the old Italian comedies,
the women of Ibsen and Sudermann, and
the distinctly French figures of Dumas.
Such role as Therese Raquin, for in
stance, in Zola's play, served first to make
her known in one of the great Italian
cities when she played Ii at the old Flor
entine Theater in Naples, and all the ul-
ira modern stage types are on y part Of
the repertoire of a woman who confeses
that she prefers TO play the heroines OF
Shakespeare. Thirteen years ago Duse be-
came the rage in. Rome, and from that
time her position in Italy was absolute.
Salvini declared that in emotional roles
Duse was supreme. Germany and Austria,
then Russia, accepted this estimate OF her
powers.
Her own life. so far as is known to the
public here, was as unhappy in its later
years as in the hardships of the child
hood. She married a mediocre actor
named Veci, who was at one time jour
nalist. Their life was unhappy and she
left him. Now he IL said to Re connected
with the Italian Consulate at Birniing
ham in England. Her child, who is Ia
years old, is in q boarding school at Dres-
den, and it is said that she has never
seen her mother on the stage. Duse is
again accompanied in this country by
Nine. Schmidt, the redoubtable buffer
that stands between her and the outside
world. II is Nine. Schmidt who informs
the reporters that Duse cannot possibly
see them. and will not under any circum-
stances or at any time. Nine. Duse has
not slapped any would-be interviewers in
the face on this visit, and at least one
reason for this Is that none of them has
been able TO get near enough to her. She
viii probably rise TO the occasion when
one does. But there are already indica-
tions that the actress is beg nning to take
live,ier interest i'm America than she did
formerly. In Washington she went to
the Capitol, and she has announced that
she proposes TO see all the principal sights
of New York during this visit.
IL IL certain that she will return here
next year TO act under the direction OF
Miner q Brooks. IL is not yet definitely
decid d that she will play with a com
pany of English speaking actors. She is
said to be uncertain herself of the artis-
tic success OF such an underta bking, and
when the plan was suggested to her, her
first question was as to the artistic effect
Of such a combination. Then the ques-
tion of rchearsals frightened her. 1t
would probably require two weeks at
least to prepare each play, and Duse
shrunk from that, rs she says that one
rehearsal IL more laborious to her than
three or four performances. Doubtless,
in many cities the prospect of under
stsnding az least what the other charac-
ters say would make her performance
more popular. New York Sun.