The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-27

lciGu at lHcil true I1t very OllcI
lets slip glorious chances which are the
occasion for regret during years to come.
The cause for this is that the skipping
soubrette occupies as large a space in the
public eye as the performer gloriously en-
dowed by nature and splendidly refined by
art; and, too, that which is meritorious
and worthy in acting is not heralded with
brazen trumpet. but is whispered in
subdued tone.
The occasion for these remarks was the
presence here Of Ada Rehan during the
past week and the approaching visit of
Viola Allen during the week to come
Here, then, within a fortnight, will appear
on the stage Of the Olympic Theater two
Of the most finished and accomplished
actresses of the American stage. They
are close students; they are actresses of
fine mental accomplishments. and, withal.
have enjoyed rare opportunities for the
perfection of their art.
1t is a treat Of no ordinary proportions
to witness Shakespea-eaa performances
by such actresses. Those who have not
taken advantage of the opportunity Of
seeing Miss Kehan during the past week
have let slip golden chance. The actress
will probably not remain on the stage for
many years to come. Her health is not
robrst and her years of constant and sue
cessful effort have won for her that
longed-for opulence which makes possible
thai season of rrpose which all actors and
actresses yearn Io.. yet such are the al
luroEents OF the stage Few are able TO
bring themselves to accept and enjoy. But
Miss kehan Is st-lI one OF the choice de-
lights Of the American gtagc. That she is.
Win Mr.. Skinl=r, enjoying q prosperous
season In tie cassie drama speaks well
Tor the public Taste in matters referring
10 The tneater.
Miss Aliens success in TWELFTH Night"
has been TO less p. onounced. Nat c. Good-
WIN has done what he could to make
snakespeare spell ruin" but Miss Allen
has proved to all appearances. as has
Miss RehaD. ts.at when one of Shakes
peare's great pays which is to the pub
lie taste Is fittingly presented 1t will
never lack for patronage and applause.
Miss Allen Is devoting her entire season
to Twelfth Night and from all accounts
she has enjoyed extraordinary prosperity.
In many cities where she has appeared
her receipts have exceeded those records
! established by her In years agone.
Miss Allen. like Miss Rehan. has had
% ssse sosy has hsd m ared
opportunities, Miss Rehan not excepted.
Even when a. child. she was taught to
y read Shakespeare by her father. an ac-
ccmplished actor and elocutionist, c. Les
lie Allen. So 1t was that when this child
of the stage was called upon to assume
tho role OF Esmcralda she won instant
SUCCESS. Then followed a season with
l.awleLce Barrett with whom she played
The leading female role in Blot on the
Scutcheon. With John Mccullough she
r!a:'ed n round of parts. including Vlr-
: gin.a. Parthenia. Desderona and Julia in
The Gladiator" At this time Miss Allen
was q mere slip of a girl, fragile and deli
cate. yet winning and winsome. Then
came to the actress. still in her teens the
opportunity to support the elder Salyini.
She appeared as Cordelia to his Lear; she
was the Neodamia in SalviBi's version of
Tho Gladiator and the wife in lie Mort
Civile" When the younger Sa1vini played
she was the Juliet to his Romeo.
Then followed. after such splendid expe-
Renee with these great PLAYERS. an en-
Eagement as leading lady of the Boston
Museum. Miss Allen assumed the leading
female role In Bronson Towards ''Shen-
andoah": she was the Minnie in Pinero's
member of the Joseph emerson william
Florence combination. playing Lydia Lam
gu.sh to Jefferson's Acres and Florence's
- Lucius O'Trigger in THE Rivals" She
WAS the Cicely Homespun to Jerlerson's
The. Heir-at-Law.'' After this unusual
experience Of being coached by the mas
iers of the art. Miss Allen became the
leading lady. of the Empire Theater Stock
original Rosamond In the American pro-
diiction. of Sowing the Wind. = and In the
great sex against sex speech In this play
many consider that she was at her best
She was the representative of outraged
wo1nanhood. crying against the injustice
Of the immutable law that upholds differ
ent standards OF morality for men and
women. Grundy.s play has been given
many times. but 1t is the opinion OF many
critics that there has neyen been one
that approached Viola Allen in the strong
cnotional scenes Of this piece. And yet
Joseph Jefferson lately said that he con-