The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-17
STARTED N WICHITA
Leah Lessi, the Actress Visits
Father in This City.
HER LIFE, A STORY
Won Success by Love and
Determination to be Actress,


Leah Lessi, who has won success in the
east as Lady Isabel in East Lynne" i.
in wichita with her sister. Olga Lessi
visiting her father, Mr.. Anton Meisner
'.Lessr' is a stage name. Miss Leah's
maiden name being Anna Meisner. She
was raised in this city but left il when
she was "A years old. Her ambition and
determination TO be a great actress has
borne her through to the success she has
made She is an Austrian by birth. and
her beauty of olive tints and ebony black
is very striking. She excels in emotional
parts and one can see it in every move
ment Of her graceful figure. She is not
only an actress of no small fame but a
composer Of music that is of the stand
ard class. There are but few persons IL
/ Wichita or elsewhere who have not heard
Go Sleep. Ma Honey" This wonderfully
sweet pickaninny melody was written by
this Wichita girl and composed on a
homemade instrument, in a little home or
Riverside in this city.
Miss Lessi's life has not been the hap
piest, but she is reaching out to the goal
Of her ambition, national success on the
stage.
Mrs Ella Glenn Shields kept her as a
companion for some time when she was
but little girl. Even before then she
was stage struck. Mrs. Shields would
have to be constantly scolding her to keep
her at her small tasks. She would pose
and play the part Of any being she could
call up in her youthful dreamy mind.
Hardly would Mrs. Shields back be
turned until the black-eyed girl would
have a long, sweeping dress on or maybe
an apron. anything to have trail. Then,
upon the table she would get and take
the part Of the fairy queen or the fend.
Whatever she would have in her hand if
striking thought possessed her, the OBJ
ject would be laid down, no matter where,
just so she could try that particular ges-
ture or pose. She loved the tales of the
fairies and made up many one herself.
She went on the stage when she was
between II and IS year old. She began
with a part which ranked next to the
star. Here she remained but a short
time, when she became the star of the
company. Since her first success at Des
Moines, Ia. she has played in New York
City. Philadelphia, Baltimore and Wash
ington to the highest class of drama low
ers. She has covered the south and COM
pletely won that part of the country over
with her fine talent. 1t was a sort of
resurrection of East Lynne The stock
companies have played it till it has lost
some Of its grandeur. Miss Lessi brought
al this back. She is very serious and has
always been so. She declares she loves
the heavy emotional parts. Her life has
been fun Of dramatic incidents and sue
cesses. When the east is thoroughly con-
quered there is the old world which she
means 10 lay at her feet.
she was asked about stage life and
with little hesitation. replied that it was
Just as you make it. She can say for
herself that she has never been at cham
payne supper. Entirely different was her
life She put in her time studying. per-
fecting herself in her art. Between the
star and the company there is friendliness
but no familiarity.
ION going on the stage one must feel
her audience said Miss Lessi to a re-
porter for the Eagle last night. You
must have magnetism, as we cali it. If
one does not have it, it is better to cul-
tivate it. for without certain amount Of
magnetism you cannot be a success on the
stage When I go on at first I take in
all my surroundings and after that I for
get everything. Between the acts think
it only justice to the audience that the
star should keep acting her part. You can
not laugh and chat with the others up
till the minute of appearing on the stage,
and then act in any true sense OF the
word"
Miss Lessi was married before she left
Wichita to John Banford and now their
boy is in school in New York City. As
many know. ne is in direct line for \ big
fortune, as his grandfather was Scot
fish lord. titled Sir Thomas Banford.
1t was after her marriage that she
wrote the songs that hold a warm spot
in every music lovers heart. Besides the
pickaninny song she has written many
more. among the prominent Of which are
'.Violets' and "Leatra Schottische,r an
instrumental composition.
Miss Olga Lessi. or Hatty Meisner. is
the younger of the two sisters. She re-
sembles much her older sister in form and
face. but her style Of acting is entirely
different She has made quite a hit in
the melodrama. She cannot be too seri-
Gus On the stage. 50 says Miss Leah It
was by chance that she became an act
ross- She was travelling with her older
sister as a companion. when character
was missing IN the play one night It
was suggested that she take the part os
the old maid for that was what the char
acter was. She took the part 50 well that
she remained in the position. and has
since played with Della Fox and others
Of like import
The two sisters expect 10 30 here for
the summer TO rest and recupera.e from
the hard work they have been doing. for
being an actress Is not play. l. means
hard labor through the whole season, and.
in addition to this. the study az Ihe cna--
acter must De wrought out CT the book
ae The elements are separated
Aiiss Lessl is beautiful ard pleasing as
~. artist az the stage but she IS TO less
SO 5est as a woman Of everyday life Her
SucC6ssl have been gratifying 20 herself
and friends hut she is Just as unaffected
Is girl in her teens. Her lie has had
more thrilling chapters IN II than is usu-
aly FRI q dozen lives ~ common uortsls.
She has won before ali the world. and il
shews III her dark eyes and happy face.
FLAT IRON FRAUD