The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-03
Next Week,
STUART ROBSON
FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK.

1t was while playing with Mr.. Mans
field back in 1887 that l determined to
emulate the style of costume / now
wear" said tombstone Bennett at Chase's
after last Wednesdays matinee. I had
determined then that / should adopt the
stage for good and all time, and so 1
wanted to get myself talked about, to be
perfectly candid with you. and l thought
TO affect a new style in dress. to invent
something. as it were. was about the most
legitimate and effective way of gong
about it. In my younger days at school
when / should have been studying / was
reading theatrical books and stories. In
one of them l came across the informa-
ton that to be successful, a woman on
the stage must do something, any thin
almost in fact, to make the people talk
If they talked they would naturally have
to come and see the subject of their con-
versation when she visited their town
That story made a deep impression on
me
Like all beginners, went to extremes
right 10 the limit you might say. / de-
clded upon a striking. mGnnish attire for
my street clothes and for the stage wher-
ever the character would permit OF such
thing. oh, no, / never thought OF dis
carding skirts. believe me. My first cos
tune that was to bring me notorie. y was
something of a wonder. Skirt, coat, hat.
and spats, were all made from the same
bolt of cloth. And that CLOTH l often
think that all the plaids running round
IA Old Scotland were eorralled especial
Il for that pattern. / had waistcoat.
too, and had gathered unto myself neck
tie, collars. and cuffs. and was all pre-
pared to blossom out in my new costume
when ! discovered my wardrobe was
minus shirt. / couldn't wait to have
one made, so after a search of the little
shops On Sixth Avenue, in New York. sue
ceeded in finding one of those funny little
bosons that so often serve our comedians
for shirt Then l was ready.
We'll. as you know. this striking style
OF dressing has got me talked about and
/ have been successful. Thank goodness.
however. my friends declare that there
is a wee bit OF talent mixed up in it ALL
Starting out to wear the severe tailor
made clothes as Il fad. / soon fell head
over-heeis in love with their comfort and
the common-sense PRINCIPLES of the gen
eral makeup. and now / wouldn't discard
them for anything. OF course my cos
tunes have been toned down a good deal
since the first suit and now are hardly
noticeable, for great army of girls have
followed my lead to a large degree, and
are enjoying with me the comforts OF the
new mode"
lenton Cronise. She was born at sea
near Cadiz of French-Spanish parentage
When her mother and father died she
was adopted by a lady named Mrs Ben
nett. That estimable woman also died and
the little Crcaise went TO live with Sibyl
tombstone. Tine origin OF her present cog
nomen, therefore, is apparent.
In the quiet solitude of her dressing
room at the National Theatre one night
last week the voluminous Miss May Irwin
told Times interviewer the true story
OF her early life It is not generally
known that Miss Irwin is not Miss Irwin
al ALL paradoxical as II may seem. but is
or was. before she made an appearance be-
fore the aitar-Miss Georgia Campbell,
while her sister Flo was first known to
the world as Miss Ada Campbell In de-
scriblng her early efforts to earn liveli-
hooa on the stage, the Madge Smith of
the play seen at the National last week
said:
so you want me to tell you of my first
experience on the stage. Well, / was
born. / had to submit 10 that. There Is
no royal road to life any more than there
is to learning-I was born baby-a tiny
little bit Of 4 thing. only so long imeas-
uF:ng of twelve fnehesl and so wide
measuring Oft half yardl and I have
stayed in that shape ever since. was not
Dorm Singing, Out can produce the pest OF
witnesses-my mother-to prove that I
sang duets. and sang them correctls. with
my sister Flo before / could talk. Where
was ] born? Oh. | honored the town of
Whitby. in Ontario, Canada a little ham
let not even famous yet. Whitby is about
thirty miles from Ontario, agd | lived
there until l went On the stage. From The
time l was eight years old until | left
Whitby. ] sang in the Episcopal church
there. ] was the only female soprano and
the only child in the choir. Singing came
naturally to me Ny voice never had any
cultivation. ] harmonized as naturally Rs
! talked, my voice was naturally placed,
and produced tones by the law breathing
taught me, and not by any other rule.
'All through my childhood / sang in I'll
the centatas and such folly that is a part
OF going 10 school. ] suppose il was my
success in those affairs that suggested 10
my mother. If ever these girls have to do
something for themselves, as all girls in
this age are liable to. | can put them in
the theatres
The time came when il was necessary.