The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-03
SARAH CoWELL LEMoYNE.
SPIRITED INTERVIEW WITH THIS
SUCCESSFUL ACTRESS AND IN
TERPRETER OF BROWNING.

She Is an Apostle of the OOctrine III
EndIess Work-IsoIafion and Con-
centration Necessary to a Woman
Professional Successful Is Utterly
IncompatibIe with Society Pres
tire-To Really Touch the Goal
would Mean Death-HOpe the Vital
PrincipIe of Youth-American
MANAGERS Insist on Young Actress
es-French stage Considers Only
Genius.
81 have lived ten years in New
York" said a clever literary woman
recently, and have never personally
known a native born" Sarah Cowell
lie Moyne. the talented actress, is this
phenomenon. Quite as strange to re-
late of a resident of this restless
shifting metropolis. she has occupied
her present apartment for twelve
wears. And most incredible OF ALL
considering the fact that the servant
girls problem and the Browning stu
dent have for years divided the honor
of feeding and clothing the funny
paragraph man, Mrs. lie Moynes COOK
and housemaid have been with her
for these same twelve years.
One always reads of the homes OF
nubIic people that they are filled with
rare and costly things. In this re-
spect. too, Mrs. LIE Moyne's home Is
unique. The furniture has been Sc
Iected with a view to inconspfcuous-
ness. comfort and wear. There is no
aggressive spick and spanness, no
a.we-inspiring antiqueness, and no
purposeless accumulation. One Won
ders if this simplicity is the key to
Mrs lie Moyne's exuberant vitality
which is really remarkable, consider
ing the vast amount of work she does.
Among her acquaintances she has
the reputation of being a deft and ad-
mirable houSekeeper.
To do so many things. and do them
well. means system. A place for ev-
erything and everything in its place
is suggested by the tall chests OF tiny
drawers for clippings, memoranda,
etc. which stand near the writing
desk in her study. The pictures, OF
which there are many, deal chiefly
with things dramatic, including some
fine engravings and one or two rare
old bills of the play, all framed in the
simplest possible way.
But such a wealth of books-six
thousand volumes scattered about In
low bookcases-and always a conven-
lent easy chair and a light by the
touching of a button! Hundreds for
essentials and not one cent for dis
play" seems to be the principle adj
hered to. This fine library has been
gathered by her husband, William j.
LIE Moyne, the we'll known actor, a
man of rare ability in his profession
and as indefatigable a student as his
wife.
The same looping off of the cum
brous and the unnecessary, so noticea-
BILE in the ordering of her menage, is
characteristic of Mrs. LIE Moyne's con-
versation. She talks with much ANNA
ton and emphasis and goes straight
TO the point.
Twelve years in New York fiat.
You must be the oldest inhabitant."
II really think Mrs. lie Moyne
said. laughingly, that I have spent
eight of those years alone. 1 mean alb
solutely alone, when Mr.. lie Moyne has
been at the theater and the servants
off somewhere. 1 firmly believe that
isolation and concentration are indis-
pensable to the woman who aims to
succeed in any line OF art Society
prestige and professional success are
incompatible. You must forsake the
don't misunderstood me. 1 do not I'M
dervalue the society woman. The gra-
cious woman who charms and pleases
is a very important factor in any ad-
vanced state of civilization. She fills
place and a high one. The artist has
place, to, but a different one"
Work, work work, is the portion or
the artist, who is continually approach
ing goal which is never quite reach
IT. - hod raallU fnurhnd
ii would be death; but the exhilara7
ton of coming just a little nearer is
the stimulant. which is perpetual
youth to the artist. Work without
ceasing' is the message of the two
greatest teachers of this age, CARLYLE
and Browning Never ending work is
Browning's whole scheme of salvation,
and this is why he is to me most slim
ulating of poets. The artist who is con-
stantly working to an end has hope,
the vital principle of youth. Age can
not wither such one, for age is a
mere question OF tissue"
Nevertheless, the ingenue seems 60
take the center of the American stage,
doesn't she?'
AS Mrs. lie Moyne crossed the room
one observed that intimacy with Car
lyle and Browning had not warped her
Judgment as to the fetchingness of
fine gown. The long trained silk house
dress, black and white, of the elabor-
ately simple sort, added even more
grace to her stately figure.
1.-THE American manager nails his
flag to the mast for the ingenue, it is
true. Occasionally he will reluctantly
admit a hero in the sere and yellow or
tbirty-five or forty, but on keeping the
heroine in her teens he is fixed and i'm
movable. They order these things bet
ter in France. In Europe the boy and
girl love affair occupies minor place
dramatically, as do the boy and girl
socially. But, dear me, how old are we
even as a country"
Mrs. lie Moyne talks with a slight
rising infection, in a confident tone,
softened by tolerance, and a ring of
cheerful optimism which carries one
along with it.
GIVE us timel We are not two hun
dred years old yet. Oh, we'll grow up
by and by and take an interest in the
affairs of the grown-ups. 1t is a pity
that some of our best actresses are tied
down to ingenue parts. But here again
one bumps into another cherished de-
fusion of the stage manager. What one
has done, one must continue to do al
ways. You go joyously to this function
airy and say. Here is a part which
perfectly comprehend-which I know
can present Great heavens he gasps.
This part is written for a brunette,
and you are a blonde'
Nov, physique is not the artists
sole reliance in presenting a picture to
the public. Manner, voice. action, a
knowledge of the character, are all part
of the equipment. / knew as well as