The times., 1899-02-12
STUDENT STARS
About Girls Who Win HistriOnic
Distinction at College.


The drama plays a much more impor-
tant part in the college girls career than
| might be supposed by the uninitiated. 1t
has passed through many stages of evolu-
tion in the past twenty-five years since its
first introduction into the classic halls by
the timid young pioneer in the field of the
I higher education for women. Then some
unambitous little play was undertaken
} and presented in the gymnasium or COL
lege parlor without any particular drill
or preparation on the part of the perform
ers. Today Shakespeare is the most pop
ular playwright, bona fde theatre oc-
casionally the scene of action. the acting
excellent the dressing and scenic effects
artistic, and perfect in detail.
1t is astonishing how universal has be-
come this playing at all the women's col
leges. Even Mount Holyoke has its
senior dramatics"- to assume the college
vernacular-and the Women's College of
Baltimore, which is so conservative as to
forbid dancing, card playing, and attend
ance at the theatre of its women students,
yet sanctions theatricals among these lat
ter, regarding the study and performance
OF the drama as a potent educator.
The case of a college bred woman be-
coming an actress after taking her bache-
lor's degree is almost, If not quite, un-
known, which goes to prove that amateur
indulgence at her alma mater does not
tend to make her stagestruck.
The heads of the English departments
at all the feminine seats of learning be-
lieve that constant and active familiarity
with plays and playing by the students
broadens their culture, sharpens and
strengthens their faculties of perception
and judgment, and aids better than almost
any other manner of training in producing
an ali-around development of mental poise,
graceful bearing and ease of address.
Smith College is one OF the leaders in
college theatrcals. and undoubtedly the
annual play presented by the seniors in
June, the week preceding commencement,
is the most finished and scholarly perform
ance given regularly by any of the wo-
mems colleges.
For this occasion the Academy of Music
at Northampton is hired and three consec-
utive presentations afford opportunity to
all the college world and its guests to wit
ness the senior dramatics." The price
of seats is so and 70 cents. and so pre-
cious are the tickets that each freshman
and sophomore is only allowed her indi-
vidual one. The two underclasses attend
on Thursday night, when the performance
is really the dress rehearsal; on Friday
the juniors and their friends form the au-
dience, while Saturday is the night Of
nights for which the seniors have sent out
formal invitations and when the crush oc
able an assemblage of men and women as
may be found at any Of Americas most
representative or state functions.
The class of '95 introduced the Shake
| spearean era with Midsummer Night s
Dream Often as many as twenty stu
dents will be in training for one charac-
ter. trials being given to see which IS the
best for the part, the committee deciding
and the trainer. Alfred Young of New
! York, giving the final decision, and the
| cast settled upon by the end of February
These plays have produced number OF
genuine stars, although the aim is to have
every part so well played as to debar star
ring As Shylock, in The Merchant OF
Venice" Miss Gertrude Dyer manifested
such force and such comprehension OF the
characters subtleties as TO antonish her
auditors. Miss Cornelia Sherman Harter' S
impersonaton OF Beatrice in Much Ado
About Nothing was compared to that OF
Ada Rehan. losing nothing by II, and IL
has been said of her that she took hold
OF the part with no uncertain amateur
grasp. Miss Grace E. Blanchard is anoth-
er of Smiths shining lights, making her
mark in masculine roles as the comedian.
Miss Ruth H. duncan and her sister Alice,
with a long list of others, have made repu-
! tatiOns stars.
Wellesley and Vassar also rank high for
the quality OF their theatrical perform
I anCes, Ndssdr Gaining tne diltutlOl anu dp-
proval OF even the professional critics to
its Greek play. "Antigone, given in the
town OF Poughkeepsie some five years ago.
Miss Emeline Bartlett who portrayed the
leading Greek, graduated head of her class
and took the University of Chicago fellow
ship.
But long before the days of "Antfgone, 3"
the Nassar girls were attempting ambi-
, tious dramatic flights and in George Eli
OTIS The Spanish Gypsy" Hattie STAN
ton, now Mrs. Harriet Stanton Blatch, the
eminent lecturer and student of economies,
and daughter Of Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stan
, ton. gained laurels for herself as the vel
vet-clad Spanish cavalier.
The four chapters that compose Phila-
lethis give little plays, usually of the bur-
lesque type, at their chapter meetings. and
these are excellent, the character work
often Indicating real genius on the part
of the.gay young actors. Among some OF
the recent stars are Miss Eleanor Belknap,
Emma Lester Baker. Eleanor X. Ray Ma
rie Reimer. and Anna G. Richey. Miss Ba-
ker holding the office of president OF
Phil during her senior year.
The Shakespeare Society at Wellesley
College has for years been the promoter
of the drama there 1t is notably strong
organization, branch OF the London enc
, of the same name, and regularly receives
its publications 1t has this season erect
among the colleges. Each spring it gives
a Shakespeare play, when its girlish mem
bers display remarkable gift for both
Shakespearean comedy and the legitimate
drama They have already interpreted
Midsummer Nights Dream" "a Win
| ter's Tale" Twelfth Night" and severa
others. An added charm is now and agar
lent by these plays being acted on tn,
broad and picturesque college campus, il
the afternoon. or, more bewitching, by
moonlight, when the throng of invited
guests are filed with delight.
The seniors usually undertake a pla,
for commencement week. recent efTor
being The Rivals" when Miss Edna V
Patterson, Miss Betty b. Scott Miss Grac,
NJ Hoge and Miss Mary L.. Dodd wer
particularly clever and funny.
The affiliated colleges Radcliffe an,
Barnard. are especially fond of "the play,
and seem to take pleasure in writing the
4 own productions. Recently the so-calle,
d Glee Club theatricals in the auditorium o
Fay House. Radcliffe's main structure
consisted of the opera, THE Orientals.
, the music by Miss Josephine Sherwood
90 was voted charming the libretto b!
= Miss Kate Berry. 'aS clever and piqpant
Al Barnard the freshman play writer
n by Miss Florence Sauvlle and Miss Cor
della Wendt made these two college maid
the heroines of the hour. The sophomore
were not to be outdone and one of thei
number wrote "A Sense of PrOpriety, act
ed with much zest by her classmates.
Al all the co-educational seats of learn
ing the drama is also regarded as par
OF a liberal education. and the "co-eds'
Join forces with their confreres of the op
posite persuasion. thus being enabled t'