The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-27
'7OSUgG80d as an Actress
Helena Modjeska's Counsel to Young Women Who Seek
Stage Careers--Her Own Experiences.

clink of glasses at once recognized the
violin-like timbre of Helena Modjeska's
voice as, in response TO my knock at
her drawing room door one morning last
week. the lovely Polish-Amcrican bade
me enter
Coming towards me with both hands
outstretched and a smile Of frankest
welcome upon her charming face, | fell
an immediate victim to the allurcmente
of a personality foreshadowed in the
melodious sympathetic speech
Nine. Modjeska had just arisen from
her breakfast table. Indeed. my en-
trance was a signal for the dispensing
of a merry party. The actress was
gowned in robe of diaphanous black
material, made in the prevailing fash
ion, extremely simple and elegant, hit
ting her form closely and relieved here
and there with a garniture of steel ana
lninestones.
If woman be as old as she looks.
Nine Modjeska in her sumptuous apart
( ment at the New Netherland hotel the
other morning was certainly not day
over five and thirty.
Tall and 1.-THE, with the figure of a
girl of 1S, slender but not thin. made up
Of delicious curves, Nine. ModjeSka's tig-
IRE gives no suggestion of the word so
harsh to the ear of The actress-"ma-
tronly."
1t is girlish. poetic in it's reed-like UNI
: dnlatiDns, but without Il Shadow of the
heaviness that memorable time usually
insists on bestowng upon the woman
past her 10th year. Like a Hebe in her
early bloom, Modieska's figure deties
criticism.
DAINTY set upon this girlish form the
small shapely head of the actress looked
almost fiower-like as it was sharply
silhouetted against the pale draperies of
her apartment. Her face is so intensely
spiritual as to be almost startling. Moth
ing further from the material world Of
sense. of flesh and blood. can be imagin-
cd than this wonderful face-pale, eager,
delicate. with its dark, glowing eyes,
that seem permanently imbued with sad
and wistful sweetness; the mobile mouth
delicate nose, low brow, crowned by an
aureole of dark brown hair, simply
gathered in knot at the back and es-
Gaping in tiny tendrils about the face.
Inyoluntarily one recalls Bernhardt
with the story Of fierce defiance written
in every line of her countenance; Duse,
the incarnation of tragedy; and Mod
jeska appears, by comparison. the per
sonification of wistfuness and romantic
pathos.
Are these the lines Fame stamps upon
the children of the gods? one is tempted
to inquire.
When | looked at Helena Modjeska,
the consummate artist. and noted the
pathetic tenderness of her smile, and
the never-lifting sorrow in her eyes, |
wondered if indeed the race for glory
were not a weary strife, and the sue
cess of the great actress seemed to me
for the first time to show itself in its
true character--a wili-o' the wisp, scarce
worth so noble a sacrifice.
But this is what Helena Modjeska
says of that tickle goddess who has been
her friend, and who is known rs Success
Success. success. who can define it?
| cannot even admit that ] have it. for
although / have for many years wor-
shipped at the shrine Of art until | have
satisfied myself. / shall never know sue
cess and as yet have never been content
with my own performance. am always
disappointed in myself, am always
short of my ideals"
''Yop represent success in a very lofty
form to the public" / said, and every
woman is anxious TO know how you
have made of yourself the eminent ar
tist the whole world acknowledges you
10 be. Has it been by talent, which
God alone can bestow, or study, which
is said to be the synonym of genius, or
is There n secret art that leads alone
to glory, and that you, and perhaps one
or two women of the century have been
gifted with, or have learned or OWNED?
the world is overlooking with wo-
men who have made failures, who rep
resent defeat in IFS most tragic, despair
ing and, alas, sometimes almost gr0tes-
que form. The coming race of women
want to know how to avoid failure. They
are full of life and enthusiasm and hope.
They turn aside from the spectacle Of
disappointment which is everywhere.
and with the glorious courage of youth,
they fix their eyes and their ambitions
on the women who, star-like. have at
tanned glorious nights. They all honor
and love you, most of them can never
get nearer to you than the other side of
the great divide which separates the
actress from her audience. They are
eager to know how you reached Olym-
DidL >
"You want TO know how | became a
successful artist?" said Modjeska, once
again turning that lovely smile upon
me- And you expect me to say it was
by study-herd study and Spartan per-
severance. This is what You expect me
10 say. ] am sure of it.
Yes / replied, with enthusiasm.
THAT is it, Tell us just how you work.
An about the terrible feats you must
have to accomplish in memorizing. l
have read how you study constantly,
and carry your lines about with you.
day and night, wherever you go.
Now ! shall disappoint YOU" and
Mime Modjeska's voice was as sweet as
the notes Of the stringed instrument it
resembles
Il have never studied hard at all. Ac-
cording TO the common acceptation, |
am no student. l do not deserve praise
for application or for hard work; / do
not merit it at ALL
'.The longest role | have ever mem
orized was in Polish-a five-act play in
which / was upon the stage nearly all
OF the time. ] was dead-etter perefct
in it at the end of two days