Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-01-04
Theatrical Pencilings.
To the Editor.

IL tiit i4aitoi
Cincinnati, Dec. 2S, 1897.
Mr.. Clement Scott, the famous Eng
lish critic, by attacking the morals of
stage has not only stirred but has up
set the nests of an entire colony of
hornets. and has made himself the CEN
ter and target of denunciation and
nnathemas of entire stagedom. In
an interview with n London editor.
among other things he said that 1t was
impossible for women to remain pure
who adopt the stage-that the freedom
of the life, speech and gesture behind
the curtain renders 1t impossible for
woman to preserve that simplicity of
manner which is her greatest charm,
and adding that a woman who en-
deavors to keep her purity is almost as
necessity foredoomed to failure in
her career. Then later on he contra
diets himself by saying that many ac-
tresses lead noble lives and the chill
dron of actors who are forewarned of
the dangers seldom go astray. The
astute Clement has happy facility
of blowing hot and cold and he must
bring this talent into use in extricat-
ms ulIH6tll llOll Oul VI HltocAl
predicament.
1t is beautiful Latin proverb which
says, "If 1t be a rose 1t will bloom"
and it was poor Ada Isaacs Menkin
Who said that 1t was impossible to
smother the fire of genius-that it
must assert itself This has been so
at least with the march king, John
Phillip Sousa. When he was IS years
of age he played second violin in the
orchestra at the opera house at Wash
lngton, ID. C. Milton Mobiles of "Phoe-
nix fame was then struggling for rec
ignition. His attention was attracted
to the misunderstanding and unassum-
ing youth and he Immediately en-
gagged him for musical director. From
this he rose step by step to the top
most pinnacle OF fame where he stands
alone in his chosen profession.
The other evening In Waterbury,
| Conn. Richard Mansfield thrashed the
| electrician of the theater because of
an error in turning on one of the lights.
The manager called for light-blue, and
the electrician unintentionally put on
a deep bottle-green light. This so en-
ragged Mansfield that he rushed off the
stage and sought peace of mind by
furnishing the electrician, which he
did in an effective manner
I y
acting and rigid disciplinarian before
| the American public, and woe To the
| person who unfortunately treads IL
front of him or brushes past him! Lei
any one on The stage be so indiscree1
as to speak above u Whisper chew
tobacco, or carelessly pick his teeth
In his presence. and he pounces dow
on the victim like the eagle, and wher
he fint'hes the offending one has nc
more taste for tobacco or toothpick,
ever after, and 1t is as much as h,
can do to contain himself whenever thu
name of Mansfield is mentioned.
In his younger days he was AZ
artist and had studio of his own; blu
his pastels brought no purchasers ant
he became so Impoverished that III
actually sang In the bleak and COLI
streets of London for pennies that tn,
more generous-hearted would drop IL
his shivering hand. AS he himsel
SAYS, many the time he went to hi,
lodgings cold and hungry and fain
for the want Of food. Then the prom
tiny specll on the horizon OF his future
of the famous Gilbert and Sullivan
aration Pinafore. Through his in
Sir Joseph Porter, X. c. B., at tn,
princely salary OF Sl5 per week. II,
played the part for three years, thei
opportunity doomed up big and b,
diligent study and application he pavet
the way to his present greatness. Tria
and suffering, the poet sings, SOFTEN