The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-07-21
RISE OF AN ACTRESS.
HUMBLE BEGINNING OF MARY
ANDERSON'S CAREER.

-
She Was a Poors Stagestruck Girl il.
louisville Who Persisted in Recitius
Before Every Actor Who Would Lis
ten to Her.
Have you ever heard the story of the
humbleness of Mary Anderson's begin
ming? Probably you will find it worth
listening to. Mary Anderson was Il
poor Louisville girl and as green as
grass. She was fired with desire to
go upon the stage, and insisted upon
reciting to every prominent actor who
came to Louisville and who would give
her an audience. In this way the late
John Mccullough heard and was so
much impressed by her that he wrote
about her to his friend, John w. Nor
ton, who was then the acting manager
for Ben de Bars Opera House in st.
Louis.
Norton came to Louisville and listen
ed to the overgrown child-she was lit
tie more-and agreed to get her a stock
company for one weeks engagement.
her stepfather promising to pay the
rent OF the theater. The latter stipua-
ton, when the time for payment came.
| Dr. Griffin was unable to fulfill, and
Norton assumed that risk also. The
opening night in her home city Mary
Anderson, in the part of Juliet play
ed to exactly $40. The remainder of
the week was little better, but it con-
vinced Norton that in the gawky Ken
lucky girl great actress was conceal
ed. She was then II years of age. That
was nearly twenty-three years ago.
How time flies.
Just here should be related a story
concerning the late General Sherman
which is too good to be buried To
build a house-in theatrical parlance,
Of course-for the Friday night of that
first weeks engagement John Norton
went to st. Louis and invited num-
ber of prominent people (amoug others
General Sherman, who was then a citi-
zen of st. Louis to come to Louisville
to see his dramatic wonder
After the performance several Of
them were taken behind the scenes and
presented to Miss Anderson, who at
that time was a perfect vision of beau
ty, but awkward. General Sherman
kissed her in his usual fatherly way
fatherly is what he called it-patted
her on the head, complimented her ex-
cessively and predicted a great future
for her. After the men had retired
from her presence Norton asked Gen
eral Sherman what was his frank opin-
ion of the actress.
The old warrior patted the young
manager on the back compassionately
and said: My boy, she doesn't amount
to shucks. There is nothing in her. She
will never amount to anything, no mat
ter how long she lives" That was in
November, 1875.
The following April Mary Anderson,
after having played in New Orleans
and then at a number of one-night
stands, during which John Norton was
her manager and the leading actor in
her supporting company, and after a
brief rest given up to study and prac-
tice. under Norton's direction, appear
ed in st. Louis as Meg Merrlies. The
people went crazy over her, and the
widest man in the audience was Gen
eral Sherman. MY boy be said tc
Norton after the performance, shes
great
What did you tell me in Louisville?'
asked the manager smilingly.
My boy" said the hero, throwing uI
his hands, please don't say wore
about that
During her dramatic career prosper
ity never ruined Mary Anderson
Those who at that time falsely accused
her of seeking notoriety to enhance
her stage attractiveness should have
witnessed the manner in which she
performed her religious duties. She
avoided the cathedrals and the fashion
able churches through a fear Of at
tracing unpleasant public attention
and for that reason worshiped her Goo
in obscure chapels.
When in st. Louis, for instance. She
performed her devotions in a little
church down on the levee whose con
gregation numbered less than three
hundred souls. Noticing that it's floo1
covering was threadbare and its fur
nishings shabby, she unostentatiously
had it handsomely carpeted and prop
erly equipped throughout.
She kept this so much of a secret tha
even her manager was not aware of it
and only learned it accidental.
through meeting the p'est Of the par
ish. and from Norton the narrator be
came acquainted With the fact. Sht
did thousands of such things of which
the world knew nothing, and to this
day there are many men and wome1
in the dramatic profession who OWE
their preservation from serious disas
ter to a looseness of Mary Anderson!
purse strings. Yet she put aside fame
high distinction and honor for the SAX,
of the man she had learned to love.