The Washington times., 1901-12-15
News Of Plays
and Players.

satisfying attribute Of artistry. financial
reward. and the plaudits OF fashionable
and brilliant assemblages must certainly
accentuate the interest already felt in
| this very talented woman. friendly
and curious public is more eager than
ever to know who she is. what she does.
how she does it ana why she does it. and
| to acquire knowledge on a lot OF other
matters, perhaps personal to the actress
, herself
In this connection it is interesting to
remember that Miss C-osman has not
been exploited in the customary or ste
reotypcd way.
The public has not been asked to con-
slider her opinions on everything under
the sun, and not a word has come from
the press agent concerning his stars
great happiness" to be in "the beau
| tiful city OF Washington the mecca OF
| the nations population, the symbol of
her greatness" etc. The books she reads.
the charities she supports. the Jewels she
'adores'-of these We wot not OF And
she refuses TO permit us to do So For she
believes that she should be known only
by her work across the footIights. and
| be judged by it.
Her home life. her personal predilec-
tons-these she thinks are hes own con-
Germ, that she Is enough in the gaze OF
the public. that there are times when the
glare of the limelight hurts. and that in
the softer lights OF private and domestic
life and activity she should be let
alone.
= !. !.
Many will believe Miss Crosman is right
in this. but there are others who will still
want to know" There Las been so much
managerial exploitation of the other
kind that the people have become used
TO it. and we cannot be blamed for again
seeking that which We have for SO long
fed upon.
II has seemed SO easy to become IA
miliar with every detail Of an actress
life. And yei the harp Of variant press
agentry could be played uron these facts
known because they are facts-that.
| though ''patronized" by society. she is a
society woman in her own right. that she
is the daughter Of Major George II. Cros-
man, jr.. U. s. A., retired. who won fame
/ in the winning OF the West" that she
is the granddaughter OF Brig. Gen. George
I
war; that she is the niece Of that Lieu
tenant Commander Crosmar who. in the
early sixties. while in Panama waters
was eaten by sharks when trying to res
cue two of his "conmon' sailors: that
she is connected with the best and most
strenuous Of the nations workers during
Revolutionary days. and lives in their
blood. that she Is many other things in
which the ordinary exploiting entrepren-
eur would exuit
But the harp has not been played. and
Miss Crosman has won her success by
her art alone
Miss Crosman's reticence as to publicity
of the usual kind came startIingly home
10 Times representative. who wanted
to interview her on some OF the matters
, suggested above; for she politely declined
to talk Of them.
The more startling fact was that her
manager did not urge her to do so. and
that he believed that sort OF publicity
was undignihed." II ali seemed humorous
until the second thought brought its phi
losophy to view, and made its thorough
rospectability clear.
Maurice Campbell the manager. was
not unwise-that was apparent. Henriet-
Ia Crosman, the actress. was really wise
that was evident. The manager might
be diplomatic; bis star was certain and
determined.
But let the newspaper man boast a bit.
4 He did interview Miss Crosuan. by and
{ with her consent and that of her manager,
and the interview did not in any way vi
J tiate anything that has gone before for
she talked only on a subject concerning
her work Briefly. 1t was as TO her plays.
/ how she got them and their evolution into
productions" The facts are interesting.
!. :. =
we get our plays in the usual way.
suppose" Miss Crosman said. answering
the query. And yet perhaps not" she
added. because Of the peculiar position
We occupy in this theatrical world"
Then after a pause: No; we don't get
them in the usual way. In fact. the way
has been rather unusual. Take Mistress
Nell. 1t took US many years to get that.
/ Speaking for myself. l wanted Mistress
Nell six OF seven years ago. ! tried to
get it. but Mr.. HszeltOn, though a young
and naturally ambitious playwright, was
a very expensive one.
THE opportunity came later, as you
know: but in the meantime Nell had
been hawked and hawked. Perhaps MIR
Hazelton would not like that way OF put
ting it, but ! certainly did some hawking
with II on my own account. He took II
from manager to manager. They could
not see it l could see it, aad 50 could
my present manager, Mr. Campbell. After
making arrangements to possess II ! took
IL to managers / hal known. under whose
direction l had worked. Some OF them
kept IT for months at a time. while |
p!ned and suffered for an opportunity to
appear In il. / even offered 4. VI. Palmer
to act in IT for six months without salary
but ne would not listen to the PROPOSE
tion. But let me tell you
Miss Crosman's color had heightened
as she seemed TO hesitate to go on.
Then
Yes; let me tell you, though II may
seem boastful. Mr.. Palmer refused Mis-
tress Nell.' he refused to give me a chance
in it, when | felt in my heart that such
a chance would mean great things for
me- and yet last season for quite while
my name in great electric letters ap-
peared over the entrance OF the theatre
he once controlled, and | was starring
there in the play that he rejected. Isn't
II funny" and the actress broke laugh
ingly away from the half joy, half sorrow
OF reminiscence. "but the stone which
the builders rejected-the same hath be-
come the head of the corner No ir-
reverence aud no pun. please, for Wal
lacks is on a corner you know"
+ !. =
What's the use OF telling those
t.,ings?" asked Miss Crosman. THE
story is the same. l hawked and hawked
and came back with my basket full Once
| hawked successfully, however. / took
1t with few remarks to a gentleman
named Maurice Campbell. He is my man
ager. you know. and-oh. yes!-a rela-
tive of mine by marriage. He hadn't any