The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
ELEDNORA Disc.

tFrom a copyright photograph by Aime Dupont)
general public received. they proceeded TO pay
the price for a seat-or the price OF admit
lance and to see Duse any way. Those
who were able pursued the former course,
but many, a great many. were not. and
they were content to stand inside and lean
against anything that came handy just so they
could get n good look at the work on the stage.
Many actresses were not salts fled with merely
taking a lesson from the point of view OF a
spectator in front but besieged the stage mana
ger 10 be allowed to go on as extra ladies. These
applications did not come alone from begin
ners. but also from women who are considered
successful actresses. Had the manager accepted
all who applied no stage In New York would
have been large enough to accommodate the
extra ladies except. perhaps, that OF the Metro
manager thinks, would have been crowded.
Maud Harrison has been n regular. attendant
At the Duse school. Night and day she has been
as possible whenever a performance has been
given. When asked what she thought OF Dnse's
methods and her influence on beginners. Miss
Harrison said:
Her example OF, art is perfectly, terrific.
Why. / often feel that | want to apologize to
Nine. Duse for intruding on her domestic scenes.
She 10 the master OF realism, and completely
power that Sarah Bernhardt. though she is q
most wonderful artist. does not possess. Sarah
takes you through a scene. and you are pros.
trated: Duse carries you up. np. up to terrific
heights. and you never lose interest in her.
This woman is the actress of the entire world.
to school again, and she is my, teacher,
never miss II performance, aud, did not
when she was mere before. l think II I'd
had an engagement this time l would
have gotten out of 1t in some way. We can learn
not only from her, but also from some OF the
been wonderfully influenced by her. l do not
know whether she directs them or mott 4 not,
little woman who plays the part OF the little
sister IN .;MaGde,,' for INSTANCE. where she kisses
her ,good; by and buries her face in her fathers
neck. The touch of human nature in that sim
pie little act L. tremendous. Any young woman
little sister has absorbed a great from Dnse.
buses methods are marvellous in their sim
plictty. She Is so utterly untheatrical and has
such a wonderful personality. She talks with
her eyes and her hands. One of the most, life
like touches in her personation in 'Magda' is
with her handkerchief when repealed by her
fathers sternness; This tells the tale OF not
ury and maids and adulation. That act appeals
to women. for they understand II, Again, in the
Sssss ; sfe ever Y kn ,GS%' HER. n wnish tell Ii the the s mTy.
She has studied that scene from nature; she
has met that death somewhere In her life, for
saw a dear one die OF consumption once, and
the going away was much rs Duse portrays II
In Cdmiis's death. some people say that 1t Is
unnatural because she does not cough: many
do not have a cough. and I'm glad
that Duse has chosen this kind, instead OF the
loa.hsome kind that repulses you with gaspings
THE woman's acting is so wonderful that
one forgets everything else; IT has been taia
here before. and the other night when ] re-
turned from the play my mother asked me
see her clothes. but ! know she Is always a study
in black and white. and that Is very effective
l can't say that Of any other living actress, not
even of Sarah, for | always see Sarnh's clothes.
l only see the strength and magnetism that she
seh he'll last It'll time q some Mae one has to wake me up' and lie
next day I'm completely exhausted, she, has
taken so much away from me; but she is doing
me no end OF good. I'm learning .repose from
her, and yet with all OF her wonderful repose she
has the sublimity OF moving around the stage
all the time, OF never being still. wish she
would stay here two years, for there is so much
10 be learned from her, esteem II a wonderful
privilege. not only for beginners. but for women
grown gray in the profession, to he able to SEQ
her act; and II would be a mach grrn'er privi-
lego to be on the stage near her In any capacity"
The next person interviewed on the subject of
tanning the public: Aunt fouls" EidTidre.
portunity," she said. sinking back Into her "
cosey corner. aud, although | an more than
without any apparent acting, She Is the most
natural woman ! ever saw. and no one can
much from her, Her method is entirely herown,
and Is so simple that | can't describe II. and !
don't believe any body else can, not even
expression. Her face betrays everything that
she does, When her seducer comes TO her in
table, being unable to look him In the eyes, her
face gets crimson. No one can initiate that
blush. Then, later, when she meets her father
she holds up her head and meets him ike a wO-
man; she has learned through suffering what
she wants TO do. and has made up her mind TO
do 1t, regardless of the narrow-minded people
about her. Now, when sarah met her father,
she anne down cowed but not Nine, Duse.
"She has none OF the old theatrical style Of
taking the centre Of the stage and striking out
IN all STYLES, and that Is well, for. after all, actors
and actresses are human beings playing the part
OF other human beings, and why should they in
dulge In this high-hown acting2 Duse never
gets any applause until the end OF an act be-
cause she never makes a p~Oint-that 10 she
never does or says something and waits for ap-
plause. she IL apparently unconscious that she
10 acting. She 10 AdOdd Tor the time being, and
tho next night she Is really camille or someone
else. She walks on the stage and begins to talk.
That is all, and she is equally clever In comedy
As in tragedy,
have seen all OF the prominent artists for
the past nifty wears and know all Of the tricks
OF the trade, but can't undcrstand buses
method, and yet | think young and old can alb
sorb much from her that will he helpful 10
them. though nobody could copy her. She is
distinct from everybody else.
Il wish she wouldn't touch her head 30 much.
j think it's BpOntano Ous, and that she does IL