The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-07

q real metropolitan Juror, such as she
had always dreamed of. She wasted no
pains over it. She gave to the part
Wondrous beauty hitherto undreamed
of, but when she was interviewed after
her first success her childish ingenious
ness most aptly contrasted with her
sudden rise to fame.
The critics praise my performance
entirely too much" she said, with the
air of gravity Of one three times her
age. Then she laughed and added:
But ike it"
You see" she went on again serious
~, that, although I'm only II and this
is my first interview, I have become
most horribly practical and human. I
love my art and am ambitious to sue
coed. I suppose I ought to say that.
Most actresses do, don't they2 But
know that I have much to learn and
that beautiful parts like Juliet require
a great deal of study
You are southern girl, are you
nOt?" asked the interviewer irrelevant
How did you know that?' asked
Miss Fealy in a startled tone.
There is a certain something in your
manner" the interviewer began.
What is it, An evidence of in
dolence? No, call it by its right name
laziness. Is that it?'
The interviewer protested.
You needn't deny it, protested Miss
Fealy, trembling under the excitement
of the ordeal as the criminal might
quake at an awful sentence. It's true.
Most southern girls are indolent, or
lazy But you mustn't forget the
southern climate"
Then you are a southern grip"
Yes. 1 was born in Memphis, Tenn,
though since my mother married a sec
ond time and went to live in Denver
I've always claimed to be a western
girl You know the California girls are
famed as the best actresses So it's
too bad that mamma did not go to San
IA
should have been ever so n ueh greater.
What It that all the interview Real
ly, I had expected something quite
dreadful
It was just about this time that the
startling though gratifying news was
sent broadcast that William Gillette had
engaged pretty little Maude F'ealy for
his new leading lady in Sherlock
one sudden bound, though. as she said
t'it seemed so funny to hear myself SO
constantly spoken of as the youngest
leading ladyaOn the stage.
Mr.. Gillette hadn't seen me when
Mr.. FrOhnan decided to engage me, and
when he said I looked too young ] hur-
ried downtown and got my first long
skirt When next I saw Mr. Gillette my
hair was done up for the first time, and
I wore high-heeled slippers so that J
looked a good deal more of a woman
He laughed and said I looked lots oldee
but I know I didn't.
I viii never forget that skirt Tt
didn't fit met didn't begin to. The
amount of trouble I bad to try and
make it presentable would only be APP
preciated by woman However. I
firmly believe that that skirt got me the
position, and as I consider myself a
very fortunate girl in getting it, I nat
urally cherish my first long skirt.
In her new role of leading lady she
learned the art of doing nothing and do
ing it so we'll that her part acquired a
new Importance never designed by the
author,
1t is a star piede, most assuredly. and
outside of the principal actor no one had
much Of a chance; but It was a notable
circumstance that in both the New YORK
and London run of the play pretty little
Maude Fealy divided full honors with
the author in every scene.
This is the new star who went from
the west to rise in the east. and who
now goes to Denver and San Francisco
for the first time to prove that she IS
a brilliant of the first order. She has
certainly had a meteoric career during
the past three years, which cannot be
altogether due to youth. beauty and
skillful advertising
would You for Five AIilIion2" is the
title of Willie Golfers play. which has
been sold to P. s. AIattox for production
next season. Mr.. Collier intended to star
in the piece himself. but his engagement
with Weber & Fields broke up the plan.