The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-06

fascinated with either Mr. CLAYTON or MFR.
jenkins, but not knowing which of the
Trio was her particular favorite, she
hazarded a guess, and. OF course. went
wrong"
Manager d. v Arthur last night an
nounced that the tour OF Marie Burroughs
| in The Battle Of the Strong will be
abandoned until such time as he can Sc
cure an opening at one of the Broadway
theatres. The adaptation of the Gilbert
Parker novel has not attracted as large
audiences in the cities in which Ii has
been presented as the merits of the pro-
| duction would seem to warrant. and while
the newspaper criticisms have been of a
most 1attering character. the public has
! NOT evidenced very strchg desire to see
Miss Burroughs in the play.
While Manager Arthur is particular in
emphasizing the fact that the tour Is only
temporarily halted. such closings are al
most invariably permanent. 1t Is a re-
srettdbie occurrence. as Miss Burroughs
| is one Of the most talented actresses on
the American stage. and her piece is I'M
doubtedly the best sample OF a book play
that has come this way during the present
season.
1t is great achievement in the life
OF man or woman to have attained such
degree of greatness and distinction that
the small details of their early days
which hitherto have appeared common
place and ordinary. now assume an ele-
ment of public interest. 1t is allotted to
few to arrive at such a point during their
lifetime. and exceptionally rare is IL for
one yet in the twenties to achieve SO
marked a position. Rarer still is 1t 20
find such an individual in the dramatic
profession, which usually demands years
OF toll. hardships. self-sacrifce and pro-
found study before the individual can rise
to height towering beyond the interest
and distinction which attaches to their
fellow players. Such an individual is
Miss Maude Adams. the little American
girl who. yet in her twenties. has already
carved out for herself niche among the
greatest players OF her time. 1t is pc
culiar that the most interesting period
of a great personalities life is that of
early childhood. The public seems to have
special fondness for such "reminiscences
and loves to trace out. If possible. the sig
nifcance Of early Incidents as indica-
tions OF the subsequent greatness which
the individual has achieved.
In the case of Maude Adams however
the lapse of years from her birth TO her
present age is so short that fortunately
the days of her earliest years are readily
recorded in history As a narrator of
these events what better historian could
be obtained than the girls own mother,
still in the prime of life? Miss Adams
professional career began when she was
still babe and is told in the following
story by her mother:
Really, might almost say that Maude's
first appearance might be called an seci-
dent. Neither her father nor I had ever
given moments consideration about her
being an actress. | suppose If anyone
had suggested to ME Maude's being an
actress | would have raised a hundred
arguments and objections against life
on the stage, for the child, for 1 knew
how hard il was. l had had the expert
ence and could speak as one having au-
thority
81 was member of the j. K Emmett
Company. and we were rehearsing Fritz
in San Francisco. We were having
great deal of trouble with the child's
part. One child would forget the lines.
Another wouldn't know it's cues, and they
were all afraid of the big mill wheel.
There were only three days before the
opening night and not child had been
found to play the part.
Mrs. Gertrude Hart. member of the
company said Let Maude go on Mr..
Emmett heard what she said.
Have you a little grip he asked. DO
let us have her? | happened to sell my
husband that evening that they wanted a
child to play little Fritz and that 1t bad
been suggested to bring our little Maude.
He laughed and said. Nonsense, / don't
want the child to go down there and make
a fool of herself
I'VE unconsciously thought our frye
year-old was too much absorbed in her
dinner to pay any attention to what We
were talking about. Suddenly the child
lay down her knife and fork and looked
up at her father.
Papa, she said. I won't make fool
of myself
Her father laughed, begged the baby's
pardon, and consented.
"Maude learned the part Of little Fritz
in an hour. She thought acting was great
fun. In fact 1t was so much fun that she !
quite forgot herself and leaned out of |
the mill wheel and interrupted Mrs. Hart !
in one of the biggest scenes.
Aunt Dirty she called. Aunt Dirtyi |
Is it time for me TO scream
It 4. II ,fl