New-York tribune., 1901-11-16

Phillips & CO.
What is better than Fiction?
Truth!
What is. or should be. the Of Truth?
Biography
Then what is better than Biography?
Autobiography.
What is better than Autobiography?
Nothing in the whole Wide World OF BOOKS
to my thinking.
Autobiography, It IS the and substance
of the authors whole experience. 1t Is an eA-
annie. q warning; an encouragement; even an
inspiration.
Clara Morris. in her Life On the Stage" has
given us an admirable example Of what an auto
biography should be. 1t Is astonishing that
woman who has given all her life to the arduous
duties of the dramatic professional delicate
woman whose assumption Of emotional roles
was sure to leave her prostrated at the fall OF
the curtain-should turn suddenly from the stage
to study. and, quietly seated at her desk tell
stories draw character sketches, compose es-
Saws upon the women OF the Bible and finally
reveal herself in an autobiography at once
naive, natural, sad-even narrowing slao-eVen
jolly, philosophical, analytical keen, pltlng'
touching-and all given with confidence that
usually comes only with long practice. book
written from foreword to fms with the pen OF a
ready writer.
She IS TO me a perpetual plisc- AASA --SO-
ary style is one that many professional writer's
have tried in vain to acquire 1t has come 10
her like a birthright just discovered. and 1t has
come in its completeness. Its sympathetic quail
itv must appeal to all readers she is stH at
times The Great Emotional'-this also is her
birthrght; she has the gift OF tears. Ihese
pages are sprinkled with them, and some OF them
are sure to call their fellow into the eyes OF the
reader; note the first paragraph on page <lo'
concerning the meeting Of Lawrence barrett
and his brother Joe" at the new made grave
of their mother. Clara Morris is proud OF her
profession, as she has right to be- for she has
helped to make it what it Is. That she improved
her every opportunity is evident, and they were
many. She says:
Therefore while regular school education is
q thing to be thankful for, the actress VINO mas
been denied it need not despair II she De "iii
ing to work, the stage VIII educate heF-ioi wi-t
If curtlv turn her away at the end OF Few
wears telling her her term Is ende0 ciuhs
tightly to its hand for many a year, and was
taken a little way through musics halls. loitered
for time before the easei, ana even Ildue
little rush at foreign language 10 help me 10
the proper pronunciation Of names upon the
stage: and no man. no woman all tnat tllie rose
up to call ignorant. So | give all thanks ana
all honor to the profession that not only teo ana
clothed me, but educated me, too
She began at the beginning, and Is not
ashamed to say SO, as appears from the follow
ing candid passage:
Ny pleasantest moments as utility man came
TO me when, in very brief white cotton ffofnan
shirt and sandals, 1 led the shouts Tor the
supers, who are proverbially DUMP creatures
before the audience. though noisy enough 9ei pe-
hind the scenes. So all the furious and oestruc-
tive mobs of that season were led on by niue
whipper-snapper who yelled like demon with
copper lined throat and then stood about AFTER
ward peacefully making tattlng
That she was predestined to the stage is evil
dent:
Even then possessed that curious sixth sense
of the born actress. and as a doctor with the aid
of his stethoscope can hear sounds of grim
warning or of kindly promise while there is but
the silence to stander by, SO an actress, with
that stethoscopic sixth sense, detects even the
forming emotions of her audience, feeling incip-
tent dissatisfaction before it becomes open dis
annrova or thrilling at the intense stiffness that
ever precedes burst Of appreciation.
And that night meeting with a tiny mishap;
which seemed to amuse the audience, l seized
upon it. celebrating 1t to its limit and making 1t
nv own after the manner OF an experienced
actor.
I do not see why this book, the record Of
most interesting experience, should not be an ex-
celent guide for the Thespian aspirant to fol-
low The young actress had made little hit,
quite to her surprise, It seems. but she paid for
It as one pays for everything worth anything In
this world:
The publici The public. had never feared 1t
before because I had never realized Its power.
II pleased. we'll and good. If displeased It,
should be driven forth from the dramatic Eden
I loved, in which I hoped to learn so many
things theatrical and to become very wise, and
! should wander all my life In the stony places
of poverty and disappointment! I clinched my
hands and writhed in misery at the thought
seemed again to hear that applause, which had
been for rn@-rny very self! and thrilled at its
Wild sweetness All. the public! 1t could make or
1t could my whole lie Mighty monster.
without mercy, The great mapy-headed Great
ure ali 1ewelled over with fierce, bright eyes,
with countless astrain for error OF any
kind, That beat the perfuMed air with its
myriad hands when pleased-when pleased! A
strange. great stiffness seemed to close about
me: something murmured: In the future. in the
dim future woman may cause this many
headed monster you fear to think as one mind,