The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-31
ELIZABETH ROBBINS, THE ACTRESS AND
AUTHORIZES, AND HER SENSATIONAL BOOK.
1.-The Open Question the Product Of Ohio Gher Old Home in
Ohio, the Haunted Old Stone Iiouse-Bee Robbins Early
Days in Old Zanesvle-- Gained Renown
Interpreter Of Ibsen

n RECENT sensational work in the
world of fiction Is by the actress,
A Elizabeth Robbins. After creating
y a great deal Of talk In England. It
was short time ago published ty
Harpers' in this country, ana bids fair to
achieve equal success here.
Miss Robbins II not unknown to farne
in histrionic matters. as 1t was she who
in 1891 created such furore by her In
depreciation Of Ibsen's dramas that the
st. James Gazette stated that sucu an
excitement had not been produced for 200
years by any theatrical representation.
Miss Robbins theatrical career began
early in life in the old town of Zanes-
Vile, o., on the Muskingum river. the
county seat of Muskingum county. and a.
one time the capital Of the state. 1t was
on July I, 1881, that the manager ct a
local theatrical entertainment called on
her at short notice to take an untitled
part She was then 10 years Of age and
without any experience of this kind. Eut
1t IL said that she did her work credit
ably, but with no especial forecast Of the
great talent that she pegan to show a
few years later. This performance OF
who's to Win Hmm" at Schultx's opera
house was followed some time after by
visit OF Lawrence Barrett to the same
house. Miss Robbins secured an inter-
view with the actor at the close OF his
performance, and confded to him that
she had determined to go on the stage,
and asked his advice In the matter. Bar
ret naturally regarded her as one OF the
large crop Of stage-struck girls. and in
short.words told her to go home and stay
there.
Shortly after this Miss Robbins moved
to Louisville, KY. and as the occasion
came she again presented herself to Bar
rett, this time reciting for him and gain
ing some slight appreciation. In 1884 she
managed to obtain an engagement with
James O'Neil, in HIS well-known Monte
Cristo," and remained with his company
for some years.
In 1888 Miss Robbins went to England.
and from there to Norway In the COM
pany Of Mrs. Ole Bull. In that country
she became infatuated with Ibsen's dram
as. and thoroughly absorbed their spirit
at first hand.
Ibsen had not been. well received in
England up to that time. and this young
lady, with but few years experience on
the stage, took up the self-appointed task
of interpreting that author to the people
in such way as would cause reversal
Of the popular judgment. This. as may
be imagined. was no slight task, as the
Englfshman is nothing If not satisfied
with his own opinion on all matters. the
atric included.
It was no light task to undertake to
revolutionize the public verdict. but she
went at 1t with unbounded enthusiasm
and faith in her own ideals; and the re-
suit was that the English play-going
public went wild over the warm-blooded
Interpretation she gave to Ibsen's hero
ines, IL such they may be called. The
enthusiasm she created was almost un-
paralleled.
Not satisfied with the reputation she
had gained on the stage. Miss Robbins
undertook to enter the field Of fiction and
made her debut with the novel George
Mandeville's Husband" The nom de
plume she selected was &c. e. Raimond,"
and 1t was under this name that her Sec
ond and more important work was is-
sued. But the pen name did not long dis.
g,iise the author. 1t was soon discovered
that the writer of this work that imme-
diately created SO much comment was
none other than the actress, Elizabeth