New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-19
MANY INTERESTING PAPERS.
DRAMA DAY AT THE P. w. L. CALLS OUT
THE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN.

ELLEN TERRY. SARAH BERNHARDT AND Flea
NORA DUsE AMONG THE TALENTED WOMEN
DISCUSSED BY THE LEAGUE MEMBERS
II was Drama Day at the Professional Woman's
League yesterday and Mrs. Ida JeNreys Good
friend chairman of the ccasion The attend
of the largest Of the season. and the
programme OF exceptional interest from be.
ginning 10 close. After piano solo the chairman
introduced the reader of the first paper. Miss
Emma Field. who had for her subject Charlotte
Cushman." Mis- Field said In part:
Methods Of dramatic art change with the prog
OF succeeding epochs. but genius that H.
lunres genius that creates, is always the same
In all ages. and breaks the barriers OF convention
and crcumscrhed lines Of method Such the
genius Of Charlotte Cushman. who has justly been
called the pride the honor. the glory OF the stage
while she lived. and now. after the lapse Of
$50 decades the theatrical world st rhapsodzes
over her wonderful revelation of the emotions Of
tho human heart. Therein lay the great secret Of
her equally great financial success. This success
did not come at Her remuneration at first
was meagre. For a number of years she acted in
stock companies. In all sorts OF parts with but
small salary attached to her position Indeed.
Lady Macbeth one Of the roles which she en-
acted for salary which the present utility woman
would despisc hut soon the world realized
what a marvellous performance she gave Of one
Of Shakcspeare's masterpieces ii hocked TO see
Charlotte Cushman was never daunted by de-
feat though she encountered many bitter strug-
gle and had many years OF fight before the dawn
Of her great rcnown. No amount of essay writing
can reveal her great magnetic power. Hers was a
great intellectual force She wasted no time In
idle words. For her there was no hernoarng fa,e
and TO clamorng for opportunities. but with stead
fastness of purpose she fitted herself serny and
trustfully for all the honest duties OF her art
ELLEN TERRY
Miss Nadia Craigen followed Miss Field with
paper on Ellen Terry. Among other things she
sid:
What is It that Ellen Terry has used to bring
her such rich reward? Granted that she had
natural talent. beauty. opportunities. Many otheT
women have had the same. and even more. yet
they have not the world No amount Of
| r,sslvo genius could have held woman In her
rnexccptionabe position for twenty years. II must
| have been then some activity that has made
her such magnet How is it. we may ask. That
| Terry holds her own with such artists as heI"-
| hardt and Duse and with such memory a.
Cushman? Perhaps 1t Is partly because. not sigh
ing vanly for a hundred talents she did not pos
sess sho used and used until IL became Won
| drous power the one especial talent that was ner
own This gift not Cushmans heIole. hd-
jestlc dominant vitality. nor Bernhardts subtle
penetrating intense intellectually of passion;
neither was It buses subdued appealing agony OF
personal emotions and experiences. joys ana sor-
rows I think can best describe this quality ny
quoting William Winters very words IN MS Shad'
ows OF the Stage He writes: Ellen Terry IN her
assumption Of FaLsts Marguerite once more as
played that profound. comprehensive and paruc"-
lar knowledge Of human love which Il the sour re-
OF her exceptional and Irresistible power III hel
embodiment. she TRANSPORTED the character ana
maintained In an ideal world. II did not seem
like acting. but like the revelation or narrowed
experience upon which no chill worldly gaze
should venture 10 inrude'
SARAH BERNHARDT.
After Miss Craigen's paper. Mrs. Trella foi'@
Toland read sketch OF Sarah Bernhardt' 'He
said among other things:
We need not dwell the year, the time or
the place that delivered 10 this modern wof" one
OF tie greatest and most successful women III
dramatic history Like al seniuses. Sarah Bern
hardt can never grow old: genius alone Is master
OF the fountain OF youth In her maidennooa snr
and mother who were Jewish pedlers she joined
in their humble labors and trudged hal ooc hs
strange scenes and ordeas this marvellous Frenen-
f hr o 5ne Re has risen above
the multitude and to-day stands crowned me EN-,
All tbat Is artistic virile passionate and majestic
in the realm Of exalted fancy
ELEANORA DUsE.
The last paper was read by Mrs ida Jenreys
Goodfriend who, making Aunt Louisa CHAIRMAN
nro exceedingly lHt'rfStHk Sh''S''
NJ Elcanora Duse "WOrd-famCus as Elcahora
Dusc has become In the last six years. said MIS-.
Goodrrend lit il extraordinary that she should
have beon so long he Idol Of the Italian public
without any echo OF nor local fame having iouhu
,ts way 10 foreign countries. When Duse hrSt VS.
ted America four years ago she was practicaiIy
unknown outside of the foreign newspaper crit
,o,sr,s which were furnished the press. Her man
.y.r. claimed that she greater than Bern
b,rlt despife the advice and suggestions OF their
u.ll-vlsh.rs that such unbridlcd heraIdry would
raise i degree Of expectancy that even the mos
,ln.uaii6.d genius would Scarcey sdtlsif VIZ
hardt as the highest type OF genius IN uraihatl
an II is now mater OF the hls,oIy vi w
"a 90 thai she triumphed absolutely ana gioriousY
Du-. MAS born thirty-eght years ago. SIe ciiie
gr,S.r having been actors Of some repute her
,,fIrr WAS moor and she was no; ye; twelve years
Of ae. when she was put upon the stage 10 heP exc
am "a. toeagre family income ,
Mrs. (iooifried then gave graphic ana cIe. Yer
story of buses strusSe an ",i ho stands When
She finished there was gene Al W., u,s Show =
wnlch Mrs. Edwin Knowles, Miss Mary SHAW III.
20 Devareux Blake Mrs. ST. John Carney Aunt
rouisa E'idridge and others took part A dclghtiul
Ltnel Irene stewart the baby of the league, as
N Goodfriend styled her. being the Youngest
m"u,hor Tea was served at the close OF the pro-
Th~ mex, drama day will be in charge OF Miss
NitH, craisen Next Monday afternoon Is The
regular social day. ana MIS- flS"ai" 'i"" "
be the guest OF honor.
THE LISTENING FACULTY.