The age-herald., 1899-03-05
An Evening With This Charming Stage
 Celebrity.
HOWARD GoULD'S DEVOTION
To Her Once the Gossip of Two Conti- nents- In Private Life She is Mrs. Shepherd -GolfLinks Being Put
 in Order-Events ts in Society.
BY ANNIE KENDRIoK WALKER

BY ANNIE KENDRICK WALKER
 Juliet, Portia and Desdemona-three Shakespearean heroines within week. Society has not been as classic in a year. That Odette Tyler included these plays in her repertoire occasioned surprise from those who remembered her comedy roles, which in her hands had reached that de- gree of perfection which gave them almost the permanence of classic. Miss Tyler's return to the stage this season as Juliet has, however, been an undoubted success, and has brought her for the first time upon absolutely classic ground. Her impersona- tions of Shakespeare's women have na- turally placed her in sharp contrast with other artists of distinction, and with mem ories of other Julets and other Portias, 1t was not easy to view Miss Tyler's imper- sonations with entire impartiality.
 There has been. however, no Juliet of re- cent years quite as winsome as that en- joyed by play-goers on Wednesday evening. Such tired Juliet," Miss Tyler said to me the day after, in her dressing room. She lay back against the customs in a de- liciously restful way. She still wore the white gown in which she was so charming in the last act as Portia. The pink and gray cloak almost enveloped her. Her hair worn high and fluffy looked more vivid, and there was charming air of abandon about her that was very fascinating.
 T was frightfully tired last night" she went on. You cannot imagine the incon- veniences and the fatigue of being on the road. You would probably start out just as l did. l thought 1t would only be lark But there is not anything worse than to be eternally keeping up with schedules. The trains are always late One is always in hurry. It is a hurried exit from the train, moment at ones hotel, a dash for the theater and a belated train at mid. night" She shuddered at recolleetions.
 we have been travelling through Texas" she said presently. ''It was horrible. The trains were never on time. I realized fully the horrors of fiy-by-night towns. I could not get anything to eat, either. Do you know they do not eat butter in Texas? I am very fond of butter, but did not any the entire time that I was there. They use white something in place of butter" She laughed delightfully."-, and after this little slam on Texas, I begged her to tell
 mething of herself, and of how she
 to go upon the stage.
 many know, who are at all familiar
 the southern colony of theatrical peo-
 ltlSS Iyler IS a savannah Slrl, ana that ste Tyler is her stage name. She was
 ie Kirkland, and is a granddaughter
 ieneral Hardee, of Alabama, who was
 distinguished in the confederile ser
 }. Her family, as is so frequently the
 e with the old families of the south dis co lraged any stage aspirations. In the end.
 wever. Miss Kirkland went to New York i'd was engaged by Frohman, appearing in comedy parts, and taking for her stage name the one familiar in later years to play-goers in this country and abroad.
 Tt was Mary Anderson" said Odette Ty Ter, "who lifted the odium from the stage. She was In the height of her power and the younger women at that time who went upon the stage realized that 1t was Mary Anderson who was moulding public opin- ion in regard to woman and the stage" Miss Tyler spoke interestingly of the number of southern girls on the stage.
 'The Memphis girls" she said, "one hears of frequently. In Memphis a few evenings ago we needed several young women for the minuet in Romeo and Ju- liet,' and there was no trouble in securing them"
 "It is very fascinating" she went on, in speaking of the stage. T gave it up for two years, and this season persuaded my husband to take up the old life again. So that you see that I cannot complain = when the trains are late and cannot own up to being tired"
 This was said with charming pretense. She closed her eyes for moment and gave a little sigh of contentment.
 I've will be in Virginia" she said, after a pause "at our country place for few days before our New York engagement. You cannot imagine how happy 1 am over the thought of going home. We have a beautiful country place in West Virginia. My husband is very found of country life, and we spend a greater part Of the time at our country house. During the season we go up to Washington, and l always come back wearried of society. It has been two years, you know, since l was on the stage.
 Miss Tyler has played almost exclusively in New York and London. On one of her trips abroad MT. Mclean, who is now her husband, crossed with her, and their mar riage would probably have occurred earlier had 1t not been for her contract with MT. Frohman Her wedding occurred two years ago, and since then she and her husband have divided their time at their Virginia place and visits to the national capital Tor the winter season. In private life Miss Tvler and Mr. McClean are MT. and Mrs Rezin Davis Shepherd. MT. Sherpherd is Thoroughly charming himself and is superb ly handsome. .,..
 Miss Tyler was perhaps more beautiful as Juliet than in other roles. She was quite regal in her satin and pearls, which all Juliets affect. As Portia, too, she wore inc most exquisite gowns, that fell about her nerfect figure in long, shimmering folds. She was perhaps loveliest in al white. In the trial scene in 'The Merchant of Venice" she wore a black velvet gowI and hood with Things of vivid crimson satin. It is as Juliet that one remembers her-the court beauty or In the balcony scene. The tomb of the Capulets and Julie with a dagger in her heart has alway: