Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-01-29
A LETTER FROM MAY IRWIN.
The Well Known Actress Gives Her Views
Upon Things Theatrical and Explains Her
sf. Ambition People Laugh

business. received him in his Office sew
eral times during the day. talked with
him. argued with him. plead with him,
wrestled with him, fought with him,
conquered him and has been conquered
by him. Does he care, then, to be
brought face to face with him again In
the evening in n place of amusement?
No. sir; he has had all the Shakespeare
he wants and Is thankful for the means
of forgetting him. That means, 1t
strikes me, is comedy. OF all the drama
l think the comedy does the most good.
Time brings about many changes,
and 1 am sure that 1t has not disre-
garded the theater in this respect.
Years and years ago 1t was that this
was u place for serious thought, for
study and for teaching. Scientists, pro-
fessors and students attended the play
and there gave careful study to its
teachings and the art. They were the
most liberal patrons. They were the
ones upon whom its existence and sue
cessful maintenance depended. But as
evolution goes hand in hand with time
it's marks were also left upon the the
alter and on the play. The demand for
certain class of drama and art became
less because of the fact that the les
sons once learned from Thespis We're
being gained through other means, and
with It's decline came the clamor and
rush for art of n lighter vein. The
amusement, the enjoyment. the pleas
ure. which before had been gained else
where and through other means, grad
ually began to make itself manifest
over the footlights. 1t proved a means
which took with the popular mind and
which has grown In force and impor-
lance to this day and will continue do
Ing so until time and evolution on their
rounds again draw near and again
leave their marks upon the play and
the playhouse. The amusement of the
populace may be then obtained through
the means the conditions demand. but
at the present writing the demand is
for amusement. II want to laugh" says
the baker. the banker, the bootmaker.
the laborer. the statesman and ALL II
must laugh
This cry discouraged the Edwin
Booths and the Charlotte Cushmans
who We're strugglingfor a rise on fame's
steep ladder. They have fallen back
dlsheartened. The announcement OF
their few followers has been drowned
by the great cry, II want to laugh"
Laugh, and the world laughs with you.
Weep, and you weep alone" This uuo-
tation decided my career on the stage.
| Will admit that when I was quite a
small girl and had just commenced my
theatrical career with my sister cher
ished secret hope that some day I
might become a great actress. a TRACE
dienne. But when l grew little older
and saw life as It really is my ambl-
ton changed. 1t wasn't to become n
great actress. l couldn't bring sun
shine into any ones life by making
them cry. / might. though, IL made
them laugh. and 80 l began. 1t was
hard work, but I've found that nothing
can be accomplished in this life without
hard work. so plodded along. In time
| got nearer to the cry, II want to
laugh and be merry" and then nearer
stu. until now hear 1t from all sides.
l knew the closer came upon that cry
the nearer | came to success. and so
here l am working hard to make people
laugh. And it's hard work too. II you
don't believe it. Just try 1t yourself and
see. II you have never been on the
stage. Just get in front of lot OF peo-