The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-22
MILE. RHE A.

most emotional, 5and the dramatic art is
studied as carefully as painting, sculpture
or engineering is in America. In France
there are great schools of dramatic art.
Next to France believe that America
is the greatest seat of dramatic learning.
Its people are, like the French, sympathetic
IN their tastes, impetuous in temperament
and highly enthusiastic in their apprecia-
ton of art.
You ask if / never weary of the stage?
Never I love it and its traditions as
much now as when, frail and tremulous
girl, I made my debut before Partisan
audience, some 90 years ago. There is al
ways something to learn, always some
thing to enjoy. My company and myself
are like one great, happy family, ever act
ing in harmony and enjoying life as best
we may.
My recreationP Well, my great recrea-
ton comes when the season is ended and
can repair for a couple of months to my
coy little villa at Montmorenci, a lovely
suburb of Paris. I call it Beatrice Villa
because it was in the character of Beatrice
in Twelfth Night that I first played in
English. There I have a constant stream
of friends visiting me, French, American
and English. Indeed my villa is never
empty. There men of letters, journalists,
playwriters and authors artists, actors
and even soldiers are my guests. 1 have
a well appointed library, containing all
the standard works of the French, Ameri-
can, English, German, Spanish and even
italian authors; all the newspapers,
French, American, English and German,
are at hand, well as the current period
icals, and, last of all I have a beautiful
smoking room, where the gentlemen may
enjoy a fragrant Havana after dinner.
You can rest assured that I do not let
them go parched with thirst either You
all know how delightful is the vintage of
Ia belle France.
You wish me to say one little word in
conclusion about art. 1t is a difficult
theme to discuss, but will try it in my
own way.
What is art? What is Kissed today is
applauded tomorrow. Who will tell us
which is right? Five people in hundred
judge for themselves; the others are led
by the critics. Glory crowns the one
who, be he right or wrong, has the courage
to struggle and persevere at the cost of any
sacrifice and impose his ideas on the world.
Look at Wagner, who was Kissed and
laughed at and was dying of starvation
until he charmed a crazy king, Louis of
Bavaria, and lived with that insane man,
who was the only one who appreciated the
genius that now every one recognizes.
When say every one, that is a mistake.
A few may admire it, some dislike it, but
dare not say SO, because the opinion of
those few is sacred to them. The rest
think it is the fashion and admire blindly
Art is a matter of taste, and those who
are successful are not more artistic than
those who are not, but they please the
present taste, which is sometimes very
queer. AS for me, when 1 see a dress
made up with all the colors of the rain
bow, while il may be the fashion, find it
hideous. When see exaggerated acting,
find it abominable. When 1 hear music
that is deafening and hurts my ear, find
it barbarous. I may be a bourgeoise, but
a bourgeoise is generally a very sensible
despised.