The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-26

meant to do, what Miss Russell meant he
should do. and what the two of them finally
did. to the everlasting satisfaction of the
noisy old city on the Thames.
London approval is n very good thing
for American artists Of any sort-cabinet-
makers. actors, vocalists. or essayists-and
both the little woman who appeared there
in "Danger1ield 81" .nd her manager
doubtless appreciated this. So they were
more than pleased when all the city nodded
approval from the stalls on her first night
there and by hand-clapping and cries of
bravo brought Miss Russell before the
curtain again and again. But they did
not expect what followed. London was not
content 10 judge the star from a one part
appearance. The English demand ersa-
tility." wrote the critics. Would Mr..
Frohman give her another role to play?'
Then the American manager took long
chance, presumed on the Briton's love for
Bret Harte and brought Miss Russell
forward in Sue notwithstanding the
American verdict on the production. Ii
the proof of the pudding is in the eating
thereof this was 4 master stroke. for 1t
made the actress fame in London and put
the Uni.ed States in mind 10 try ner
in more serious parts than that OF the
heroine in The Salt of the Earth.
1t is a pleasant experience-going TO see
Miss Russell. The interviewer Is met at
the door by very soft-voiced maid and
llen presented 10 lDc star HGlStil d
though she were a queen on her throne;
and the conversation that follows. as long
as it is dominated by Miss Russell, IS as
quaint in its quality as LEAK Naltons
'Compleat Angler and as full of meat rs
a lark is full OF song.
I am very glad 10 be looked for in old
parts." she said-'more glad than you
might think at first The experience car
ries with it something like the freedom
from restraint one feels when before good
friends This il is / guess, that makes
me so happy to appear in Catherine, be
cause the role is very much like others
have done. 1t is, however. gratifying to
know that one is working forward all the
time ard that is what | feel am doing IN
producing this new play. Catherine is just
one OF my old parts grown a little more
broad. Every woman hopes TO accomplish
a woman's work. ! think that is the secret
of my ambition TO do Catherine well. So
/ am content all the while l am engaged
in presenting il and anxious to make it
better and better and perhaps, after
awhile, ! may step forward into something
more pretentiOus still.
Hard work, like virtue, is its own re-
ward. / think ] say that because / like
TO work But you have no idea how tired
the hard worker gets sometimes unless
you are a hard worker, too. Today, for
instance, we had two performances.
suspect you have tried some art very much
like mine and know, but most people
couldn't understand at all how thoroughly
weary am now. However, the hard worker
gets a sound nights rest always in addi-
tion to the other reward labor brings so
tomorrow morning will find me all rested
again."
1t is easy to see that Miss Russell is not
dismayed, from the plans she and her
manager have made for the future. AT
the end of this season / expect to go back
to Londcn for the season there. That will
be nearly ideal, first the American year,
and then several months in London, and
| shall be happy all that time because /
shall be as Industrious as l know how"
But are you not afraid to undertake
so much2 II two performances tire you
so, isn't it attempting great deal to work
twelve months out of twelve?"
No" she answered. Il don't believe
am afraid at all. Because, you see, will
still have several weeks in which to re-
cuperate and possibly many changes OF
bill fer relaxation. A little later when the
spring has come, then nothing can tire
me-not hard work. or two performances
a day, Or travelling, or anything. For
the spring always makes me feel like
toilng as hard as | can, and the days seem
very short when one is in such Spirits
When you have seen Catherine you
must tell me what you think OF il. / be-
iltNt IL W Dt al N6lH dDlt pay d III
tie Gallo, perhaps for America, but not so
much so as TO make it unintelligible. The
true test of money is what you buy with
it, as poor Richard said, and the true test
of a plays text is whether people under
stand it and approve il. / think they do
this with Catherine and / am very anx-
ious to have the critics think so. too.
VIII you try to agree with me If you CAM"
Here the soft-voiced maid drew the
curtain and announced that it was time
for Miss Russell TO "go on and the lit
tie woman who has already captured New
York and London, went out to the stage
to add Washington to the list of her con-
quests.
Perhaps the most able bit OF work done
in Z. H. Sothern's company last week was
the "Miladi of Edith Crane in The
Kings Musketeer." Hence it was but nat
ural that The Times man should have
searched Miss Crane out in his quest for
an interview. The actress was ultimately
found at the Riggs and readily consented
to talk of her past achievements and her
future plans. 81 am the product of a
school of acting" said Miss Crane on be-
ing asked to detail her stage career. what
knowledge have of the technical portion
Of my art was got while studying with Dion
Boucicault at the Madison Square. That
was about seven years ago, and Immediate
ly after my graduation / was engaged for
Kate ClaXtons part of Helen Grace in
Boobies Baby You know how great n
success that piece was. and / remained
with the organization for quite a term.
Then I was secured by Arthur Rehan for
Ada Rehan's roles in an extensive roper
toire, which was presented in the South
ern part Of the country.
This work acted az a stepping stone in
a way, and / was soon appearing opposite
Miss Rehan herself in Augustin Daily s
company. Ny experience with that combi-
nation lasted three years, and during the
time I visited London and achieved some
degree OF success there. While on
the other side l created the char
acter of Mrs. Tyrrel in The Tex
an and returned to America for
a season with Daniel Frohman as the
adventures in "A Country Cousin. which
was done at the Lyceum. Next / was EN-
ployed by A. NJ. Palmer for the title role
in "Trilby,' and under his management
toured Australia, New Zealand. and all Of
the United States as far south as Wash
ington. The engagement lasted two years
While in Australia ! was i'll for some time
with an aggravated case Of grip. and
have never been completely well since.
Directly upon returning to New Yorl
was especially contracted for to appeal
as Catherine in The Tanning of the Shrew,
with Sol Smith Russell. Next came tn,
creation OF a role-I forget its name-iI
Wilton Lackaye's Charles OMalley.' An,
now you see me with E. II. Sothern. Tn,
part OF MiladI is by all odds the mos
difficult | ever attempted. You can hay,
no idea how hard IL is to go through al
evening exciting only the repulsion ant
dislike Of an audience. / have always ap
peared in sympathetic portrayaIs before
and ! feel the loss Of favor keenIy. An,
then there is great deal nf uhySiraf OK