Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-04-10
Difficulties Of Stage Success and How to
4 'Surmount Thsm-An Article by the
Greatest Of Living Actresses-Simplioity
and Realism.
copyright, 1900, by American Press Associa.

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quently asked me
which 60 to make sue
cess upon the stage. To this query I
would say that there are no established
rules. Much depends upon the neophyte
who would conquer success. She must
be brave, self reliant, industrious.
There are many difficulties in the way
Of brilliant stage career, but cour-
ageous girl can surmount them. The
seeker Of histrionic honors must have, in
addition TO the requirements I have emu
merated, real love of the art, the dis
position or will to succeed, face, figure
aud voice. With these advantages Of
nature she can hardly fail to win the
need Of victory.
Disposition I prize above all, for that
will overcome the primary obstacles
which bay Oh the path Of the young
player. Next in Importance is the face,
for that constitutes considerable capital;
the figure, which imparts grace, and
last, the voice, which means elocution
airy power. The voice should be sweet,
strong and musical. Above all things
the young lady should be unremitting
in her assiduity. Nothing but constant
endeavor will bring her to the goal Of
success. Some philosopher has defined
genius as q tremendous capacity for
hard work, and I am thoroughly in &C.
cord with him. Work, unceasing, ardu-
Gus work. is the price the actress must
pay if she would mount the ladder Of
dramatic fame. The same argument. it
is needless to add, will apply to man as
we'll as woman.
What is needed most in this country
is conservatory such as there is in
Paris Young women eager to attain
polish, manner, refinement, grace Of
movement and flexibility of voice-in
word, the hundred and one little things
which go to make dramatic art-shonld
go there, if they can, or to some school
of acting which obtains in any other
country. If she cannot, let her study the
methods Of her elders-women who have
achieved success-and do the best she
can with the advantages within her
reach. Work, constant, faithful work,
will enable her to succeed, just as self
made men and women of limited educa-
ton have done in this great country in
other walks of life.
Another important point: The begin.
ner should not be eager to leap up to the
top rung Of the ladder at once. A child
must creep before it can walk. and walk
before it can run. So with the aspirant
for dramatic fame. She should begin at
the beginning and gradually forge her
way to the front. She should know ev-
Dry part Of dramatic art. You all know
how rare it is that one part actress,
or actor either, can endure with the pub
lie.
An actress should, above all things.
be careful Of her health. She should
draw no heavy drafts upon it. Late sup.
pers and inertia induce embonpoint and
later on adiposity. Adiposity is fatal
to art. A woman with superintendent
curves, for instance, could not play
Camille, Magda or Gismonda without
provoking laughter. She should look a.
we'll as act the part she essays. Dumas,
for example, makes Camille die Of CON-
sumption. Oaustio critics might make .
stout lady who should attempt the role
expire Of dropsy. It 10 always we'll to
avoid cynical attacks. They are like
dagger thrusts. They cut into the ambi-
tious woman's fame. They arc quite
likely to relegate her to minor parts.
: How many really meritorious actresses
have met this fate a. years and physical
disqualifloations came upon theml
It is easy to maintain graceful pro-
portions do not mean to advocate
dieting, or any kind Of food fads, or
: even undue exercise. One has simply to
follow the laws Of nature to keep in
perfect, healthy condition. As for N.Y.
self, I eat anything and everything I
please. Fruit I am very fond Of, but
wine I never drink. never exercise.
Walking does not agree with me. gym
nastics dislike, and such games as golf
I abominate I only ride q bicycle be-
cause I enjoy it. I get all the exercise I
require in my work upon the stage, and
that is pleasing to me- I leave every
thing to nature, and that accounts for
my healthy condition.
It is rather unfortunate for ambitious
debutantes that we are at present pass
ing through a period Of transition.
Stage ideals are rudely shattered.
! Rough, coarse, barbarous realism is in
vading the domain Of gentle, refined
lrt. Even in Paris 1t has gained great
sway. When I left there, two coarse
plays were being enaoted-one at the
Vaudeville. the other at the Varieties.