The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-03
NEFF'S TRIBUTE TO MISS MORRIS
Well known OkIahOman on the Worth
OfThat Actress

Newkirk O. T. March ITO the Editor
of the Eagle: The articles being writ
ten by Clara Morris relating her stage
experiences, awaken in the memories OF
the theater portions of a decade or so
age, recollections of one of America
greatest emotional actresses. It IS safe
to say that no American actress ever
received as much love, respect and esteem
from the public as did Clara Norris.
Never during her entire professional ca
reer was there ever a single word utter
cd derogatory to her good character. She
was pure. kind and gentle Christian wo-
man. loved by all who knew her. from
the very highest in her profession down
to the most humble stage-hand and super.
During a great portion Of her life as
an actress she was an invalid, but despite
her bodily pain, so liable to make per-
son peevish and cross she always had a
smile and a kind word for those around
her theatrical life is not one of con-
tinuaI sunshine by any means. The IN
initiated public only sees the bright side
of It. It has its ups and downs-mostly
downs-together with its sorrows and
bitter Disappointment that the general
public never know Of Every member
in the profession is ambitious, for even
though he has talent it requires ambi-
ton to bring out, develop and fan It into
fame. However ambition is not always
indicative of talent and where ambition
exists without the talent to back it, grief
and disappointment naturally results
Hence there is q great deal Of disappolnt-
ment among the members of the dra.
in reaching the highest pinnacle of ORA,
matte fame thousands fail, although ii ia
almost Impossible 10 convince The ma
jority Of those who fail that they are long
on ambition and short on talent The
average failure attributes his lack Of sue
cess to the ignorance of the public and
secretly cherishes the belief that some
day he win be cast for a part wherein
ne viii electrify the world and make his
name famous. And some times just this
very thing happens. so you cant blame
him for clinsing 50 desperately To hope
There are many in the profession to-
day VINO owe their success to Clara Nor
ris. Being possessed OF more than ordi-
nary talent herself she was enabled to
discover the undeveloped talent in others.
and often times when some young person
was about to give up the profession in
despair Clara Morris by her kind and
gentle advice. has encouraged the des-
pairing one on 70 efforts that finally cul-
minated in success.
People in the dramatic profession are
exactly like those who are out Of 1t. They
are good and bad. Just like other people I
They have their JOYS and sorrows. their
,,-f,-r,,r.s+- .-,s r,.-v-s.r+r-
sunshine and Of black and lowering
clouds Unlike other people however
their sorrows they must keep 10 them
selves. and have seen the comedian con- (
vulse his audience with laughter while
his own heart was almost bursting with
grief. and his tears washed the make
up from around his eyes. a dramatic
performance is like great machine. ana
the actors and actresses are tia various
parts os the machine II VII not work
unless all the various parts are n place
The operator of the machine is the man
aeor. and he lubricates Il with the saiary
list although I have known some n
these machines II run q friehtsu3y long
time without being fabricated As 81
say. each member nust IS IN place and
gr5ef and Sickness must not aa considered .
q Sufficient excuse fer remaining our ~
the performance, If the member IS pay-
s-caly aele e crawl through tae PART.
A scsat many stars are trouaa3 Tlih
What is commonly termed svelI-hess
They hal6 themselves al1os sr5m the
resr u the company. ana lve IN 3 iistls
realm altogether their oNn. Saeh peoale
are net only aisas ,R % she members
81 the3r supporting comps s hlt arA