Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-14


Paris without its permission its sway over
them is universal. Now as the soci, ~
claims its invariable percentage IL Was
practically bound to admit Carmen to its
membership the moment that she had A
piece accepted at the Bouffes-Paris..n
There is nothing of the Infant prodigy
about Carmen d'Assilva. She has none OF
the Objectionable attributes of the child
phenomenon" She is a little lO-vcar-old
girl in everything but mind, and there. too.
except when she practices literature or the
drama. Her favorite playmate is an Eng
llsn girl or her own age with a sweet face
ana quiet manners. The two talk and plav
together like little girls all the world over.
except when the mood comes on Carmen to
write
When She Creates.
Then she throws herself upon a great old
fashioned sofa, and lies there at full length
-four feet and one inch), upon her back.
She gazes at the ceiling; and there upon
Its dead white expanse. as on the sheet or
magic lantern outfit, she sees her scenes
and characters from life
When she has worked out her pIot She mr.
ranges entrances and exits takes broonls
small tables, chairs and any other nloyables
LOT characters, and acts the play through
VIII win them: 1t is only when she has salts
neu herselt that-to use her own expression
the thing will go''-that mademo .selle com
mlts the piece to paper. 1t is all practically
written in her mind beforehand.
Hre.-
agination?" l asked.
Yes, she answered without hesitation.
And hear the characters speak,"
l believe she does.
Cntll couple of years ago Carmen
llNed almost entirely in London where ~.
mother the COmteSse de Charnnnnn,-,,-
was an intimate friend of several we'll
known society ladies' After hearing the
ille authoress reCite in French and Eng
llsh pieces of her own. and having read TWO
OF OF her plays, Lady Churchill one day took
the child to the queen, before WHOM, -
recited. Her majesty, II is said vs.
charmed with the precocious genius of lii
Tie Carmen. Queen Alexandra then prIu-
cess OF wales. was also present at the reel
tation. and it was she who finally CON
WINGED Nine. de Champmoynat Of The
chllds unusual powers, in which the
mother up to that time feared to altogether
Yet little Carmen was writing things.
from her fifth year. Her first dramatic
production came about this way. She told
me herself:
Began at Five.
AT the tender age of five or half-pas.
four" she said, I'VE lived in London. at
Dorchester Terrace. Mother had gone out
ana was in the kitchen. An admirer
came to see cook. who was a comey body.
but weak in her aspirates. and with a lean
ing to unsweetened gin / was hungry and
the inspiration came to me to help it on
The outcome was far from perfect | was
whipped and put to bed, and lying there
alone, filled with my wrongs | Thought our
Carmen in the Kitchen l said to myself
Il will defend my innocence before poster
ity. Posterity shall judge if I were justly
whipped"
''Of course 1 was a small child then. so
[ do not show Carmen in the Kitchen
nowadays. Since then l have written many
things. ten plays (two Of them successes
both in Paris and the provinces), a number
of prose monologues and quantities Of
verse;
Would you like to get an engagement 70
play in England or America" l asked.
"Oh, no. she answered. My idea is to
stay in Paris. Nor shall l play much. be
cause one cannot be both actress and play
writer. | have chosen"
But you have just come from Playing
the principal part in your best piece. The
Lady Lawyer. at the Municipal Casino OF
Hyeres." / objected.
81 was down there on the Rivera for my
health she answered, and as / had so
much improved and they offered me
much money 600 francs a nighO. l did ct
like to refuse, or, rather, L yielded TO the
temptation to be active
Her Future Career.
This piece THE Lady Lawyer" produced
for the first time in Paris at the ''sadies'
nights of the aristocratic club. the Cercle
de rUnion Artistique, Familiarity called the
"Epatant,' has had a great deal of sue
cess owing to the amusing way in which IL
caricatures the pecularities of Mile. Chau-
win, the first Parisienne to assume the taEa
and biretta and plead as an advocate. Car
men asked some friends of the family to
bring Mile. Chauvin to her mothers after
noon, and when she came the child studied
her carefully.
When the play came out the powerful.
manlike mind of Mile. Chauvin recognized
its fellow in that Of the child dramatic
author, and instead of being annoyed at
what the public, perhaps not incorrectly,
took for illusions to her in the skit, she
applauded it in high good humor.
What is to be the future career OF this
astonishing little girl? The present is most
promising. On June ID of this year, at the
"Serres'' of the city of Paris dhe horti-
cultural building of the late exposition Of
1850, a magnificent, all-glass structure, now
preserved for exhibitions of all kinds there
is to be opened, under the high patronage
of the president Of the republic, the ninth
Exposition des Arts ct MetrierS de la
Femme c'Women's Arts and Trades').
In its library all the published works or
Carmen dAssilva will be exposed. Her
life-siZe portrait in oils will be hung In a
place of honor, and, by the particular re-
quest of Nine Loubet. one afternoon-that
of July 1S-will be set apart for the audi
ton of her works Two OF her plays are
to be acted by herself, supported by some
of the best-known artists Of Paris.
why is this to be done?' / inquired.
"Why did Nine Loubet make the arrange
ments?' / asked this only TO hear what the
child would say.
1T will be done to put me in relief, she
answered, with simplicity and gravity, TO
put me in relief as the youngest of French
authors" STERLING HELLO.