The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-28
CAMERAS
THE III LIEBER COMPANY.
"a West Washington Street.
A CHAT WITH AN ACTOR
CLAY CLEMENTS COMPANY SPENDS
SUNDAY IN THE CITY.
Charles Garfield, Member of the
Company, Talks of Theatrical
Ways and People.

The Clay Clement Theatrical Company.
playing 1.-The New Dominion" spent Sun
day at the Bates. The company arrived
Saturday night, after playing an engage
ment at Shelbyville. Mr.. Clement and his
wife took dinner with friends at the Column
bia Club last night. Charles Garfield.
principal member of the company, is
friend of Charles Field. chief clerk at
the Bates. and in addition to being a tai
ented performer in his particular line of
work. is a good story-teller.
Mr.. Garfield was a member of one of the
original Trilby companies put on the road
few years ago. appearing in the part of
the Laird He IS thoroughly an American
and when he took the part he overlooked
the fact that a pronounced Scotch dialect
would have to go with it. At the first re-
hearsal in New York he spoke the lines in
good old English, without a suggestion of
dialect. "Canfeld." said the stage-man-
ager. after the rehearsal had progressed a
little way. ''you do this part very well,
but how about the dialect?'
ooh. never thought of that" said Cam
field. The next morning. however, the
actor started out to get his dialect. He
bought a book OF the best Scotch stories
he could find and set himself to the pro-
unciation very studiously. He soon
found. however, that he could not get the
proper accent IN this way. He was I'm
despair for awhile, until happy thought
struck him. He hunted about New York
day or two until he found a Scotch fami-
~. They were somewhat astonished when
he offered them 81 day for permission to
eat two meals a day with them. He told
them his scheme and they consented.
Breakfast and supper he took with them
regularly until he mastered the dialect so
completely that he could do the part of the
Laird 10 the satisfaction Of the stage man
ager.
TRUE TO NATURE.
TT was necessary said Mr.. Garfield.
yesterday, 'for me to have the real Scotch
dialect-no imitation would do. BY my daily
intercourse with this Scotch family 1 was
able TO play my part with satisfaction to
myself and the people because 1 knew and
they knew ii was the real article. The
things We see on the stage must be true
20 nature, and after all there Is not so
much exaggeration. 1 have spent a good
theatricals and / visited Whitechapel
a good deal. / recall a few years ago
was playing with a company in which
Nance O Neal who, by the way, is becom-
ing quite a star, was one of the leading
women. One night we were playing oliver
Twist and one of the young women of the
company-a nice little girl who didn't know
much about the stage-had the part of
girl of the streets. She said to me that
she hardly knew how TO make up for the
part. / said to her: III make you up, and
/ Id. 1 painted her lips and 1 painted a
great black spot under her eyes. 1 painted
her teeth so that ii would appear that
some of them were out. OF course she was
what one might call a horribly painted
creature and when she looked at herself
In the glass she cried: My goodness gra-
ciors. no woman ever looked like THAR
Don't theyf My dear young lady,
replied, you must go into the Whitechapel
district and you'll find plenty of women
who look just like that As a matter of
fact the girls makeup was not overdone
because il was true to life. If 1 were to
play the part OF a tramp / would go
clothes from some tramp. OF course
should probably have them refined, but
would want the rags and tatters that one
could get in no other way
EDNA MAY IN LONDON.
Garfield was in London while Edna May
was having a great run of popularity. He
went across with Mrs. Mckee Rankin. who
was taking Phyllis Rankin's two little chill
dren over 10 the mother. The latter lived
in St. Johns Wood. where Edna May also
kept an establishment. "One afternoon"
said Mr.. Garfield, Miss May gave a garden
party end / invited over by Phyllis
Rankin. We went and L was introduced TO
the fair Edna. | was somewhat astonished
at her limited knowledge OF some things.
The Earl OF Devonshire. who was quite an
admirer of the young woman. had sent her
over that day a very handsomely mounted
elephants hoof. The carl was a great hun
ter and / suppose had killed the elephant
from which this hOOf was taken. While we
were there Miss May picked up the earfs
present and said, 'DevonShire sent me this.
Then. turning to her friend. she remarked,
innocently: I wonder what It's for, Phyllis;
TO put goldfish in?
Anybody could see" remarked Garfield.
with shrug Of disgust, that 1t was Gen.
terpiece for flowers"