The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-28
NETHERSOLE AS HERSELF.
An Entertaining Chat With the Bril-
Iian Young Actress.
Ambitious TO Create New Roles, One by
Kipllng---Meeting With Rostand.

News found her i'm her apartment at
formances fresh as a rose and ready to
chat amiably.
Yes, L had a delightful Christmas"
she said i'm reply to question from
the News man. I'VE left Washington i'm
the early morning and passed through
nine merry-making states. Dinnet we
had on the train en- route, and a merry
one ii was. too. with toasts. after din
ner speeches and general air OF
Christmas geniality."
us IL true that you have reformed
the Carmen kiss?" asked the reporter
suddenly.
Miss Nethersole's face clouded.
THAT was an unfortunate affair.""
declared the actress spiritedly. THE
caress of Carmen was never extrava-
giant. Less of it would have presented a
different Carmen than the one Prosper
Merimee created The newspapers
found an easy subject OF discussion I'm
the incident. and made the most OF it,"
But IL brought you fame?" ventured
the News man.
''Notoriety, rather" declared the ac-
tress, her eyes glowing. After the con-,
sideration generously bestowed on my
Camille and other standard heroines,
1t isn't pleasant 10 find a wholly natur-
al phase of character multiplying the
artistic interest OF the character of
Carmen as an entirety"
But it is profitable" persisted the
reporter.
Yes, but that is not everything"
answered the actress convincingly
Then you have reformed the kiss"
suggested the reporter.
Come i'm yourself and see If / have"
responded the actress archly.
You are the only foreign stage star
To visit America regularly i'm recent
years: why is il that the others don't
Gomez queried the reporter, with an
ambition to PROFOUND a fresh question.
II really couldn't tell YOU" answered
Miss Nethersole, Il am very poor
business woman. My manager, Mr..
Marcus II. Mayer and my brother.
Louis, might be able To answer you /
shall send for them.
While the bell-boy was away on his
errand Miss Nethersole chatted in a
DSnt ana entertaining mOOu.
Yes Like Providence very
much, and i have had ample evidence
in the past that your playgoers like me.
i like American audiences tremendous
ly. They are more sympathetic than
our own. They are like the Parisians.
Their emotions yield readily and they
feel impelled to let the player know by
encouragement that they are with the
situation.
Nat
ed at this moment.
It's largely matter of expense"
said MIR. Mayer, in response 10 the re-
porter's query. Irving and Terry drew
tremendously whenever and wherever
they appeared: John Hare. Beerbohm
Tree. Sara Bernhardt. Coquelin and
the other big European celebrities all
attracted big audiences continuously.
But the general public has no idea Of
the magnitude of investment necessary
to bring "A big series of productions
across the water with foreign organi-
zation. Irving and Terry rarely played
a week TO less than $4,000, but anyone
who remembers the splendor of his out
fit does not need to be told that even
those receipts did not leave any great
harvest over what would surely have
been his portion with permanent stay
in London without the discomfort of
travel. There can be no charge OF brag-
gadocio in the statement that Miss
Nethersoles attendance everywhere is
record breaking. Your playgoers know
il TO be true of Providence, and the
Associated Press dispatches have ad-
vised you of the condition i'm other cit
les. Yet, when you reckon our enormous
expenses for the transportation of all
of the productions we carry and their
transport across the water, about the
country and then back to London. you
will find no great cause for exhaltation,
in the cash balance
sick" interjected Miss Nethersoe,
sympathetically
do you?" asked the News man.
I've spent the bigger part of the past
four years i'm America" answered the
actress naively.
Your new plays, you have some, re-
port says pursued the News man.-
Several" replied Miss NethersoIe.
"The Termagant," by the authors OF
Rosemary I have just produced sue
cessfuly in Philadelphia and Washing
ton. Then have THE Price of Wealth.
a new satirical comedy by Max O'Rell.
which will be ready for production
shortly"
About the play Rostand is said to be
writing for you"
Il met him and his wife i'm Paris last
summer through the kindness OF Nine.
Sara Bernhardt who has been a sister
to me i'm the kindness she has shower
od on me since we met, first, / found
Mr.. Rostand n brilliant man of youth
and good looks. but with a fad for the
costume Of lS40. But you forget his garb
the moment he begins To talk. IL is said
openly i'm Paris that the delicacy and
beauty of many OF the lines of his fa-
nous "Cyrano de BergeraC' he owes TO
his wife n woman of rare refinement.
who Is also a writer. NJ. Rostand has
an order from me and such of the work
AZ he has outlined TO me gives surety
OF splendid dramatic material"
"And now" said Miss Nethersole. and
her tone became confidential, II shall
tell you something else. OF recent years
the novels Of the world have been over
hauled for dramatic possibilities No
one has thought OF Kipling. At any rate
7 believe ' am the first TO secure the
dramatic rights 10 one OF his stories"
(which one" asked the News man
bluntly.
Miss Nethersolc pursued her pretty
mouth mcditatively for a moment. and
then her eyes assumed a playfully ssec-
termined expression.
NO" said she. that I shall not re-
veal: that is. not yet IL should make a