The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-03-10
CLARA MORRIS'S FIRST HIT:
THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES ~ CLEvk.
LAND ~ 1865.
Effect Of a Long Course Of shak espears Upon
Actors Terror Inspired BY james Muir
doch'. Fits Miss horris's First Taste OF
Public Favor In Broad Comedy.

Copv-i.st 1901. bv ne 9. 9. Mcclure Co.
In 1868. Forrest. crowned and wrapped
4, royal robes. was yet totterins on his throne.
charlotte Cushman was the tragic queen
-, ,he stage. Nr. James Murdoch, frail and
aging. but still acting. was highly esteemed.
Jossph Jefferson. +. /. Davenport, J. X.
p,ckett. Edwin Adams. John f. Owens,
Dan setchell. Petor Richinss and his daugh-
,.r. Caroline. Mrs d = Bowers. Miss Lucille
Western. Miss Maggie Mitchell. Mr.. and Mrs.
Conway. Matilda Heron. Charles Couldock
Joseph Proctor. Mr.. and Mrs. Albaugh. Mr..
and Mrs Barney Williams. the Webb sisters.
Kate Reynolds. were all great favorites.
No., pausing to mention many more. while
Edwin Booth. the greatest light OF them all.
wa rising in golden glory In the East.
~ the above mentioned twenty-eisht
,,sr.. eighteen acted In S~hakespeare's plays.
All star, played q weeks engagement at
Tho cleveland theatre where Miss Morris's
career hccU. many played two weeks,
Therefore. a ..Ist twenty-four OF our forty
w. week season was given over to Shakes
rearcan productions. and every actor and
actress had the bard at his tongues tip.
Looking back TO the actors OF IS. | can't
haln noticing the difference between their
attitude OF mind toward their profession
and that Of the actor Of to-day. Salaries
were much smaller then. work was harder.
bl, life was simpler.
Thu actor had no social standing he was
70 longer looked down upon-but he was
an unknown quality: no was. In short, an actor
pure and simple Ho had enthusiasm for
his profession he lived to act. not merely
living bv acting He had more superstition
than religion. and no politics at all: but he
was rs patriotic and shouldered his gun and
marched aUay In the ranks as cheerfully
as any other citizen soldier.
Blu, above all and beyond all else. the men
and women respected their chosen profess
sion Their constant asso citation OF mind
with Shakespeare seemed 10 have given
them a certain dignity OF bearing az well
as Of speech.
To-day our actors have In many cases
won some social recognition. and they must
therefore give q portion Of their time to
soCial duties They are lubmen and an
o.ncr portion Of their time goes In club loung-
ing They draw large salaries and too fire.
Crentlv they have 10 act In lons-running
,,ays, that are made up of smartish wit and
cheapest ryn,Cisms mere froth and frivolity.
while Ia. elective smashing OF tho Seventh
Commandment has been for so long a time
the principal motif Of both drama and farce
I ~ I INV UNIV ~ ~ NAo
tone Of nippancy prevailing among the
theatrical people Of to-day. They guy everv-
thing and everybody. and would jeer at their
profession ~ readily as at an old man on
the street. wearing a last years hat.
They are sober. they are honest, they are
generous. but they seem to have grown
utterly fippant and | can't help wonde ring
II tn, alterA ton can have come ut through
the change IN their mental pabulum.
IL the family theatre was dlsllked by those
who had already, won recognized positions.
Il wa - least an ideal place IN which a young
gifl could begin her professional life. our
manager, Mr. John A. Ellsler. was an eX-
nan His wife. Mrs Enc Ellsler. was his
leading woman his daughter Ellie. though
ever there wlsa good pa RI that suited her
II" First singing soubrette was the wife
g ~" prgTpter and the stage manager
walking lady, and sol came about that there
wa not even the pink flush OF a Irritation
season was shaken and thrilled through AMI
tarQugh by the, elopement OF James Lewis
With Mss frankie Gyribprt. a young lady
year served In the old theatre, no real
scandal ever smirched II
JAMES URDoC IN OLD AGK.
One saturday night we were all corralled
home, and were gravely addressed by The
manager The whole thing was ludicrously
SlANe OF me TealllG OF tut not act but,
after reminding us that Mr., James Murdoch
would begin his engagement, on Monday
Night. that che rehearsals would be long and
important. he proceeded to poison the very
source of our Sundays rest and comfort bv
fell sugsestiQns OF some dire mishap threat
eninG the old gentleman through US We
exchanged wondering and roubied glances.
What could this mean?
Mr. Ell,ler went on: You all know how
your readings; how crochety aud exacting
about whore you should stand at this word
or at that. how quickly his Impotence or
stupidity has burst into anger, but YOU prob
ably do not know. that since his serious sick
nsss. he ~ more eGacting than ever. and has
acquired the h%abit-when much annoyed of
or er- well, OF having fts!'
Oh-hl" II was unanlmous-the groan
that broke from our oppressed chests.
,,s s's sisr W.o sa Wsn vs. ms inso "" st we're Hssa 6at
heavens, Good Heavens!
Rather snxiously. Mr.. Ellsler continued,
-any Sa ay'' he iST is al 100 sn olS a "a man ips saf sR9R fd X.
dulEe in them. so, for Heavens SAX do moth
ins TO cross him: be on time DO perfect dead
directions. II necessary, grin and bear any-
tiluis - long Is he doesn't have a Mt Good
The riot act had been read-the mob dis
rerset. but the nerve OF the most experienced
Wa shaken by the prospect oil acting a whole
, wFrS Wlt m,g an s old u sssh nnnns 70 Tho az any
Iuluk then what must have been the state
q m.Hd Of INV, other ballet-rnate., Hattie.
WIZ N ntT regular turn HhI received n s'nAl'
PAR bur Of real importance. and who had
10 address her line, TO MIR Murdoch. h'm-
self Poor girl ALWAYS nervous, this new
terror made her doubly so She reused
u" stars wrath even at rehearsal
Nreak louder! limperativelyl Will yor
sv"lk louder? lflriousivl. Perhaps in tho
interest Of those xho will be In front tonight,
] may suggest that you speak loud enough
e. %" heard by--ay the first row" sa tiricallyl.
Now a calmly controlled body ia genef-
ally the property OF a trained actress, not
o. 2 raw ballet girl. and II titles restless
,hl'unG about AMI wrggling drov" him
I"-t % rs. lie seemed To be tren hlin9 with
%lnnIo'i" IT. and I saw the property man
e'' Gls bat and take his stand by the stage"
cn'-, ready - fy for the doctoT-or a. las
called him, the At sharp
~" too, was to appeal as n pHse-shn
W. ~ enter hurricdlv. always a din7,ult
t..nR for q beginner 70 do She was 90 adj
q "-# Mr. Murdoch In blank versa more
G'l"lI' thin. and implore him to come
swiftly 20 prevent hlOndshed, "a n hostile
u'"'ug was taking place between Young
1 'gE' ~".pnd-Su. and your nephew. sir
, i'i- news was to shock the uncle 50 that
!" W'u.. stand dH2ed for a moment when
u" p. E". looking N the stage, should cry:
J., Fug aHs too lave, or, already their blades 40
- how W. tols vrI,ae &c.
NNI a CIV. tho uncle should recover HIM
17i iJrIou~lv order the pages 10 -
call the watch"
N's AMI alas when IN" night. The Ulav.
! 90. the cue cuIne HHt;lc-ts LHndsoIla
. H.. a. NuI could wiSh 20 soc wont hrtvcly
g. I~ quickly. too. - her 'eTro~-chIllrd
I"'- would carry her, but vh"n she got there