New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-15
IN THE THEATRE AND OUT
MARY ANDERsoNs REcoLLEcT1oNs.

a
de- NAVARRO, With Portraits. Octave. pp H.
2ss New-York: Harper e. Brothers
In the first chapter Of this book Miss Anderson
explains her purpose in writing for puohca'ioh
II have written these. pages" she says more
for young girls (eyho may have the same amol-
lions that had) than for any one else, 10 snow
them that the glitte Of the stage is not all soio
and thus do little toward making them reahze
how serious an undertaking 1t II to adopt lie
SO full OF hardships humiliations ana even
dangers" This is a noble ambition. out 10 ha'o
realized 1t Miss Anderson shoufd nave enueu
her book at the sixth or seventh chapter This
would leave the young girls with conVincins
sense Of the hardshps to which the author al
,udes But IL the same readers continue through
ton cha nters more until the end is reached, the
odds re that they will consider Miss Andersohs
triu,nnh cheaply bought. She suffered In win
ming fame but Il came to her early in life' ana
when the prize was attained 1t brought recon-
pense with 1t In experiences for whch many
would gladly undergo pains as bitter as those
with which she became acquainted curing her
apprenticeship. It is no small thing 10 nave en-
loved the comparionship of such men ana won'e"
as are celebrated in the pages OF TINS DOOR,
Certainly Miss Anderson dwels more upon t"e
sunny side Of her life than upon Its trying
episodes, and she has more TO say 10 those WIN
for instruction Her memories may be few IN
number but they cover wide range OF SOCIAL
experience and give many attractive pictures
~ u,e 4, thew do not give much about art.
The whole trend of these recollections. indeed,
,s far less toward the philosophical elucidation
n, an artists life than toward the pleased mar
RI ton Of a successful woman's career MISS
Anderson enjoyed her triumphs on and OH the
stage she talks about them with the unaHec'eo
vivacity which Is expected In one VINO taxes an
unprofessional view of life. and when she says III
her chapter on Tennyson that she used 10 wri'e
down the good stories she heard "for the selfish
pleasure Of repeating them to him., she puts the
reader In possession Of her point OF view WITH
out sacrificing any of the artlessness ana charin
which belong to her whole book. Her anecdotes
are among the best things, but she can draw
personality with tact and suffciency, and her
nortra,t OF Tennyson, for example. is true and
sympathetic. 1t is not a set sketch. but Is com
posed of a series Of vivid "reminiscences when
bring the poet before the minds eye and convey
a sense Of his voice. his carriage, his methoo
Of reading his own poetry ana, among o'hei
things the character of his hands. They were
large and shapely; his fngertips square. ANY
enc understanding the subject would nave caileo
them honest trust-nspiring hands capable OF
doing good and great things. 1t is penetrat-
ing note and a useful one.
Miss Anderson does not burden her pages with
trivial matters. Nearly everything that she has
to say Of the people she has met is not merely In
good taste but interesting. and she reports con-
versation with the utmost discretion quoting
things that are worth quotation. There is the
following admirable passage. with It's exact por-
traiture of Browning, a man of whose friendly
human" traits It is never possible to hear too
much: His fearlessy enthusiastic appreciation
of anything beautiful. whether famous or I'M
known one Of his greatest characteristics.
On one occasion / saw him stretch MS mana
across a luncheon table to greet young artist
who has since sprung into fame. Are you MI
-r he asked. Sir, vou are genius, and
am proud to shake you by the hand Another
instance of his great talent Of appreciation was
told me by himself. Bulwer. said he asked
me to 90 to hear him read his new play, "Riche-
lieu" requesting that should take a blank card
upon which to write my criticism. On arriving
at the place of rendezvous. found Charles Dick
ems and Thackeray. If l remember rightly. as we'll
as Macready and several others. all similarly
armed with paper and pencil. When Bulwer had
finished Immediately handed him my card
with "A great play" written on It, So you see
/ was the first to pronounce judgment on "Riche-
neu"'"
Following this anecdote there is another which
quotes Browning saying that 1.-The theatre
going people Of to-day want plenty Of action and
not so much talk" In footnote to this we are
told of what Dion Boucicault Of Miss Ander-
sons oldest and best friends, said to her on the
same subject: whenever you see particularly
fine poetry In dramatic work stab 1t with your
pencil, or It will kill your play" 1t is suggestive
to be informed further in this connection. and
apropos of the production of 1.-THE Foresters."
Tam "yxil 10 ma
alterations for practical purposes was in strong
contrast to the tenacity with which less eminent
dramatists frequently cling to their every line.
There is still another passage in which 1t Is inter-
esting to see how firm-fxed Tennyson and some
other eminent men have been on a point relating
to the stage which Ia much discussed to-day Miss
Anderson begins bv quoting Joseph JEFFERSON
HE was very severe upon plays that drag one
through the mire Of immortality, even when they
show q good lesson at the end. What could not
invite my friends to hear and see in my own par
lor' he said, would not feel at liberty to put
before my friends in the theatre remember
that at a luncheon party years after the above
conversation, La Tosca' was discussed. and
James Russell Lowell was asked what he thought
OF the play I have not seen IT, he answered.
I refuse to have my mind dragged in the gutter.
II Mme.. Bernhard: will appear in such plays. I
for one will forego the pleasure Of seeing her act
have also heard Tennyson declaim against this
realism. this degradation Of the drama, as he
called It."
Miss Anderson has much to tell that is In the
vein OF the lines just quoted for she has known
some Of the finest minds and takers Of her day.
To refrain from reproducing her pages one after
the other Is difficult There are vgnettes like
those Of Cardinal Newman and the painter
Watts which as gracefully drawn as they
are clear and persuasive. But there are one
or two stories which refer more closely to this
authors actual adventures and doings. For these
space must be found. In London Miss Anderson
was playing Gilberts Comedy and Tragedy