The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-27
FAIR JULIA SAYS.
We Are Put on Earth to DO What We Are
Fitted For.


"we all must work IL we would be true to
ourselves. and to be true TO the very highest
in us. we each must do what we feel best
fted to do. What else are We put on earth
for, but to add to the sum Of the worlds hap
piness and goodness. To me, OF course. my
art IS my life. How could help but love IT
when 1t holds such unlimited possibilities, and
to do ones share toward putting beauty and
truth upon the stage is happiness in itself.
"we don't say great deal nowadays about
elevating the stage, for the public Is so tired
and overworked ana so mentally exhausted at
most times that one really can't criticize 1t
severely for liking farce comedy, but when
Shakespeare Is well played. played by people
who reverence the Stratford bard, and feel
the inspiration OF his every word. the public
turns to IL eagerly in spite of the attractions
of the farce We have found the Shakes
pearean plays pay in financial sense, too, the
best-and for myself 4 love none other so
well. 1 never weary of Shakespeare. II 1t Is
a privilege even to read Shakespeare. how
much greater il is to really live his plays.
1t is strange, isn't ir, that one should not
tire of saying over and over again the same
lines, and doing over and over again the same
acts but no matter how fatiguod or even sick
/ am when / 60 on the stage. soon lose all
sense of physical discomfort, and throw my
self into my part with all the enthusiasm
have ever felt for it,
"But can't say that really ever lose my
self in my part. as many actors claim they
do, and really do. / am always conscious
that ! am Mrs. Taber. though, at the same
time am Rosalind or Viola or Prince Hal, az
the case may be. 1t is sort of dual con-
seriousness. l remember that when / was
playing in the "Hunchback'' ! wore a comb
OF which was very fond. My part used to
move me TO tears, and in the great scene
where there is SO much action, the comb fell
out of my hair to the floor. ! was in tears,
quivering all over with the tenseness OF the
act. yet i whispered to the man who was
playing with me, Be careful not TO step on
my comb So you see, in spite of feeling
every inch of the strength and beauty of my
assumed character, / was still enough myself
to be anxious about the saftey of trinket.
In fact, 1t seems to me that it would be almost
like temporary madness TO be entirely some
body else.
"About my now part in Henry IVY II Is
something different from most OF my other
roles, although have always had such sue
cess IN taking the part OF shaKespeare's boys,
that feel hopeful of the success of Prince
Hal. though. of course, one is always anxious
to know just Low the public will receive
new thing. Henry ". is very seldom played,
probably because there are three great parts
in it-Falstad. Prince Hal and Hotspur The
lattor part is usually cut down. but as Mr..
Taber will play that, IL will be produced
exactly as il is written" and she smiled at
her handsome husband across the table. 1.-THE
amount OF detail work about the play is
enormous. For instance, there is the blue
velvet robe j wear in the fourth act. 1t is
covered with the Prince Of Wales arms, the
motto Jch Diem twined about the three
ostrich plumes. and all picked out in silver
embroidery. Then even to the orders and
banners and the minor costumes-each is as
perfect as one could possibly get them In
these. days Each earl will wear the coat of
arms Of his own family. and those will be re.
pested in all his trappings and in the furni-
ture. Tbs .upons which we wear over our
armor are embroidsre with exact copies OF
the coats of arms. and a student Of heraldry
would probably be deeply interested In them.
"Does the public appreciate all these finer
aetsils2 . I'm sure dent know, but trust
so. At least, we ourselves feel so much more
at ease when we are certain that our sur
roundinqs and dress are historically correct.
But just see how the actors OF years ago
dressed" aud she picked up a bunch OF maga-
zine clippings: "see Cleopatra in hoop and
Romeo and Juliet In 18th century costume.
and then imagine Mr.. Taber going in his
ordinary clothes. and in this shirt waist and
duck skirt. It's these little things that make
a new sbakepearean play such vast under
taking" Mrs. Taber's maid then exhibited
some OF the costumes that win be worn. One
of Prince Halls prettiost suits is gold 'oolored
velvet coat, lined with red satin and worn
ever silver armor.
About that armor Mrs. Taber tells some
laughable stories how in one dress rehearsal
Falstaff fell down and was unable to pick
himself up OF get up unaided. "though
that is not SO very strange" she re-,
marked, "for 4. is anactual fact that
in the tournaments OF old IL took three
men &c lift fallen knight to his feet.
Our arisor is very heavy that we
have been obliged to practice walking about
In IL great deal to acquire even fair
amount Of grace. Gesture is next to impos-
sible though one must be really representing
the awkward way in which knights moved
about, even Though one has to sacrifice grace
and agility. But it's all very interesting and
one becomes absorbed in mastering these