The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-26
dicial bench. who. as legislator, doe'
such things?

III
read paper on Shakespeares Hero
ines, Rosalind and Viola. atithe Staten
Island academy. William Winter, po-
et. and critic OF theatricals of the
first class introduced the lady in these
few, but very beautiful words:
You have not assembled TO listen ia
me. and therefore ] shall detain you
only for moment. The cause Of our
happiness today is obvious 10 every
eve and is known to every heart In this
eager and brilliant assemblage. and.
but for an irresistible impulse of graf
itude. / might well be content to re-
member, and practically to observe the
precept of Shakespeare. that "silence
is the perfectest herald of JOY The
emotion OF grateful spirit, however,
is very strong, and perhaps few
words will not be inappropriate TO ex-
press, or TO try TO express. our sense OF
obligation to the eminent actress and
gracious and lovely woman who now
delights our eyes by her presence, and
who will enrich our minds by her
speech.
zone of the sweetest and most sig
nificant tributes ever paid TO woman
is enshrined in a remark by Sir Rich
ard Steele, as to reigning beauty or
his period, that TO have loved her was
a liberal education / know not wheth-
er that tribute was deserved. in its
original bestowal. but i am sure, and
I know that you will agree with me.
that those words are entirely appro-
pirate in my present application of
them to Nine. Modjeska. She is known
only TO be loved. and all persons who
have seen her upon the stage have
been drawn toward her by an over
whelming ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the
senses and filing the mind and heart
with affectionate admiration.
Mime. Modjeska Is representative
OF poetry and beauty. and wherever she
has come she has diffused the blessings
OF gentIeness. refinement and peace. Ii
has been my great privilege 10 possess
her friendship, for more than twenty
years. and upon that friendship there
has never been a cloud. To most of you
she has been, 1 suppose. chiefly known
as the actress--as the co-worker with
Edwin Booth and Lawrence Barrett
as one of the most illustrious of con-
temporary exponents OF the classic
drama of England, Germany apd
France and as such you have found
her an exemplar. a benefactor. and
a guide. 1t is not essential that
should dwell upon her career. Its splen-
did triumphs are bright In your re-
and they are recorded
among the lasting glories Of the stage.
In the salntlike majesty, the calm holi-
ness. the patient anguish of Queen
Mary Stuart, as drawn by Schiller,and
in the sweet, sad pathos of Queen
Catherine. as drawn by Shakespeare,
she has no equal. and she cannot have
had a superior. These are the sufficient
types OF her great achievement. Moth
ing ignoble clings TO her name, and, in
this theatrical period of the vulgar,
plebeian and mercenary huckster, It Is
no slight victory to have kept the
whiteness OF the soul. and TO have fed
with purity and beauty the sacred fire
that burns upon the altar Of art.
MY philosophy OF life is often ex-
pressed for me Gas l. find with deep
gratification). by the great Irish poet,
Thomas Moore. He said many fine
things. and this is one of them:
Let's take this world as some wide
scene
Through which. in frail but buoyant
boat,
With skies now dark and now serene
Together you and 1 must float;
Beholding oft, on either shore,
Bright spots where We might love 10
stay
But Time plies swift his flying oar,
And away we speed. away-away.
AT this happy moment Time suspends
his flying oar, and in this bright spot
we make golden pause. have the
great honor and pleasure Of presenting
Nine. Modjeska. who will speak to you
of shakespeare's heroines, Rosaiind
and Viola"
Madame Modjeska has many friends
here in Providence, who will read with
delight this very fine tribute from so
able a writer as Mr.. Winter.