New-York tribune., 1902-04-21
A NEW CLAIMANT FOR OLD OCEANS THRONE.
MISS MORRIS'S LECTURE.
SHE GIVES "REMINISCENCES OF HER
STAGE LIFE AT WALLACK'S.

Miss Clara Morris returned the New-York
stage last night at Wallack's, introduced by Mark
Twain and welcomed by audience made up of
actors men of letters and admirers of the actress
Her welcome hearty and spontaneous. and the
lecture which she delivered was worthy of all the
applause that followed it. Mr. Clemens lead Miss
Morris the stage by the hand He said that he
a man of accident his birth was an acci-
dent and by accident he had been called on at
the last moment to introduce the speaker 1 VIII
Pay Miss Clara Morris compliments he said in
closing Her whole life has been her own compli-
ment.'
Miss Morris described ''the stage struck girl.
who dreams of faintng-in spangled tulle-into the
OF a delightful hero, to shivery music. This
kind she said. could be cured by giving her plenty
of ordinary dancing and excitement till she forgot
the stage hero for real one But the girl VINO
wants to go the stage" who rs drawn 10
acting Miss Morris said is hopeless case, and
had better be allowed go. Even If it is your
own daughter you had better allow her to have her
way" said the speaker She has been trained to
know the difference between right and wrong. and
il she cannot withstand the temptations Of stage
life she is in danger walking from your front door
to the public library" -
The create drawback and misery of stage life,
Miss Morris declared is its deadly Inonodony- HOW Tow
men and women can act in one play month IN ana
madhouse, she said is beyond me" She illus.
trssd this & wh story OF eTery Mondey
night wher ever she went tn & G96red rGz seTyan{ a o o.
did get berry tiresoIn."
The lecturer tod several stories of ACTORS ana
actresses who had failed because they f2Howed the
universal desire shine liz the kind or work iof
which they were unified, dwelling especlaLy on ths
case of young actress. VINO might nave peen the
best woman of her time In light comedy. out VINO
remained forever pretty and promising because she
refused to climb out OF the ditch Of mediocriy on
the comedy side her ambition being to shine IN
emotional parts. This young woman came from
Miss Morris also told stories of actors who
had even lost their lives because Of their devotion
TO ''the bill and OF an actress who had gone on 10
sing her comedy with the news OF her sisters
death Just come her In the middle OF the song
the words, My little sister dancing in the
sun" and at them she broke down. The orchestra
played piano for a moment to hide her break. and
then little chorus girl took up the next and
saved the singer from the audience and the mana
Miss Morris said. but as Christian think that
chorus girl mace good.
shake in his box. but it owed much TO her way OF
telling It. once she was rlaying Camille who.
Miss Morris said, is not dead yet though she has
been at 1t for thirty-four years. In the hrst act
Camille gives Aower-a strange fower-to her
lover. Miss Morris, when playing the part. always
looked down at her bodice before the moment OF
presentation to If the flower would come out
all right. One night, to her horror there was no
flower there. Il felt my blond wig turn gray" she
oh 10Y there the relics OF the feast. lay sprig
Of green celery Miss Morris looked around the
of see or smell celery. without recalling me.
she said. From then on, she looked at one point
in the audience and the audience looked there toe,
but they could not quite make out which man ii
was. Miss Morris then acted out the presentation
scene kissed tue celery, she crushed it up in
her hand. finally she presented the strange, odor-
less flower to her lover. At the door, he had to
press 1t 70 his face and kiss IT, and, as matter
Of fact. he hated celery worse than onions
a great art. worthy of respect and admiration. II
is temple. and in the heart of the temple is an
whose lips have been touched by the glowing coal
of genius.