The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-01
MISS KIRKLAND HERE.
THE GIFTED ODETTE TYLER is A
GUEST OF RELATIVES.
Some of the Plans and Performances
of This Beautiful and interesting
Young Woman--Her New
Play and Book.

She is in Raleigh now, having arri-
we'd Monday morning, and is a guest
at the home of her relatives, Mr.. and
Mrs. Clinton Grow.
Miss kirkland has long ago passed
the experimental point in her profes-
sion. being now as well and favorably
known i'm San Francisco as she is in
New York city. She is taking her rest
between seasons having filed an en-
gagement during the past winter III
Gay Parisians.
1t is well known in theatrical circles
that Miss Kirkland will star next sea-
son. The part is one created Tor hef by
VIM. Gillette who will himself DE IN
the caste and the title OF the play IS
SECRET Service" laid in Richmond
of war times.
4 renorter of the News and Observer
called on Miss Kirkland last night
She smoke with enthusiasm of her part
as a Southern girl-a Virginia girl at
that-for the situations are all in or
around Richmond. The plot was too
long story Miss Kirkland said, but
she was pleased to know
that the play when it was
put on for a week to TRY it on
in Philadelphia short while ago more
than fulfilled everything that was eX-
pected of it. Maurice Barrymore, also,
will take one of the parts.
Many years ago when. in the old
Richmond theatre, Gillette was play
ing 1.-The Private Secretary" in his
play thus entitled, he was seen by
reporter in his dressingroom, and
asked what he thought of the South
that having been his first visit. He re-
piled: THE best thing. in my opln-
ion, that YOU hayeg-got in Richmond
is Thomas Nelson Page.'' Mr.. Gillette
had been reading Pages stories with
the aroma of the South about every
blush of every one of his young wo-
men. and it may not be impossible that
he then determined to seize some of
the rich color of the South for his own
purposes. He has finally done so IN
creation different from any of his pre-
yious brilliant performances. And just
here it may be said that the only two
playwrights who have been unfailing-
Nv successful in everything they have
turned out are Charley Hoyt and VIM.
Gillette. Following Thomas Nelson
Page. Mr. Gillette's nature no doubt
absorbed "Meh Lady" among the
rest with keen artistic appreciation.
And just as in that story the Union
officer is made to cluster around a
young Southern girl, so Miss Kirk
land as a genuine unreeonstructed
emotional, courageous, romantic mai
den of Richmond just after the war is
made the centre of gallant group OF
Federal officers.
She is just the young woman for
such a part. She really carries the
simple homeopathy on the stage with
her-a rare gift. More than this, the
warmth with which Miss Kirkland
spoke last night Of having spent part
of her childhood at old Hilisboro, was
charming She has not been there
since, but will spend day there before
returning North-just TO look at the
antique homestead.
She has the eye and temperament
TO wander among such scenes; for 1t
must be said she has a mingling Of
dash and tender romance. which Is
a characteristic of so many young wo-
men whose fathers, having distin-
guished themselves in the Confederate
army. were brimfull of the martial
chivalric spirit.
From the days of her childhood in
HiIlsboro. until now, Miss Kirkland
mas never ceased to keep in touch with
ner kinspeople in the South, OF
whom she has so many. Being daugh-
ter of General w. ". Kirkland &C. S.
Al, and niece of General Hardee,
author of Military Tactics" she has
connections far and vide among peo-
pie most prominenE ia the social cir
cles of both IN Tth fCarolina andNNir-
sinia and Georgia. Thus her words
=, and thoughts have always been rose
coiored with her love for the South and
its people.
Only very few years ago, just for
one of her summer rests, when all the
others were gadding, she spent her
weeks strolling along the hills that
overlook James river, in Albemarle
county, Virginia. A noble country
those hills on the slopes of which sit
the ancestral halls from Brandon and
Westover to Rock Hill and Sabot Hill.
nj She was quite the simple country maid
n en- again, well rid of the footlights that
cling about her SO naturally, and fino-
ing her audience and applause in the
4 melody OF the encoreS of the river and
1 mountain brook and lark and twi-
light call of quail across the hill.
In such surroundings across the wide
. red road from Donegal, in call almost
of the old Peyton Coles estate, under
the shadow of the stately columns of
Cne homestead or the klEeSeS. MISS
Kirkland, during this little Spring and
Summer sojourn among the Virginia
hills. conceived and wrote her exquis-
tie little story just out in book form,
entitled Boss The plot of it all is
laid here, and the coloring is taken
from the country that those who have
lived there love TO recall, as for in
stance: "The Cameron estate lay on
the summit of a hill which rose sud
denly ont of the broad low lands skirt
ing the river. From the front window
one had an unmolested view Of the
the James, which wound in and out al
the valley like a silver serpent" The
whole story is warm with the breath
of spring in the South, OF those fare
well heart-colors that linger about
ems. Thomas's alabama" even after
the curtain falls.
During this visit Miss Kirkland
was across the country on horseback