The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-24

might almost be said TO have had no
early stage training. What success 1
have had has been due largely 10 a
combination OF agile self-conidence and
luck. You see. was an apprentice in
dentists office in San Francisco. my ma
tive city. when my health began to fail,
for / was not accustomed TO being In
doors so much. While a student my hob
by had been out-of-door sports OF every
kind. and the entire summers spent
| camping In the woods with some OF my
| classmates. Soon after leaving the office
where was learning the fundamentals
OF dentistry. attended a tournament of
the San Francisco Athletic club. OF which
i was a member.
In game Of water polo. In which
participated, / became conversant with
one OF my opponents. He was a member
OF Days Nancy q Company" then
playing at local theatre and he lament
ed that they were " lose their Juvenile
man on Saturday night. The next morn
| Ing, Tuesday / applied for the position,
and to my surprise. succeeded In getting
IL. Even my superb courage almost fall
| ed me when part OF forty pages, or
sides" as we call them, was handed to
me. IT was the part OF Tippy Brasher.
you know IL? knew absolutely nothing
about theatrical terms and had never had
bit OF makeup on my face. | was de-
termined. however. that no matter how
pad an actor might be. at least would
look as III belonged on the stage Ny
friend OF the tournament gave me sever
/ al pointers" which / eagerly absorbed
and i watched every movement OF the
other players IT required great amount
| or nerve" but | was young. and
screwed my courage TO the sticking
He paused. and I finished for him "Ana
| did not fafl?p
THAT'S Just IT," he responded frank
! ~ with an amused laugh "On the open.
ing night all my glaring deficiencies were
brought to light and | was Obliged 20
confess. Instead OF being angry the
manager commented my courage. and
| then proceeded TO help me with the part.
everyone then was very kind and help
ful to me. Even the leader OF the or
ehestra, who complained that he couldn't
4 hear me at ALL"
But you wern't discouraged"
Not n bit. The next morning / took
my canoe way down stream where was
entirely alone. and practiced talking
loudly. That night the manager came
round to me after the first act and sa d:
Cal. those people who are living two
blocks away haven't paid TO hear this
show so l quiets1 down a trine."
The quiet humor with which he told
this little incident OF his first engage
ment was quite in keeping with the
heanhy, clean-minded young man, and
the grim vfrility about his determination
10 succeed probably accounts for the
great success which has been his In the
profession which he chose so suddenly
1t Is this same convincing sincerity and
strength which is so telling in his love
scenes. As Ii dfvinng my thoughts he
said: There are two kinds OF love
scenes. In one, the actor tells his love
by the authors words. in the other he
merely suggests II by bits of business
OF his own manufacture"
And you PREFER" l inquired
THE latter" he said promptly. "One
can be more artistic, aui at the same
time maintain his own personality,
most desirable thing TO do. Take
scene between two men. representing
words that might be written can't equal
the effectiveness OF firm hand clasp,
sincere grasp OF the shoulder, or a
steady look in the eyes"
Have you never thought OF doing
musical work." l ventured. remember
ing the excellent baritone voice he had |
shown last season in The Lottery OF
Love"
Yes, I have thought OF II several
times, and at present have an ofrer of
an engagement in musical comedy for
New York production next season from
Daniel Arthur. i think | like music |
next to out OF door sports"
THAT is one OF your hobbies?"
Yes indeed, anything in the line of |
exercise out In the open air appeals 10 |
me forcibly. love walking, and am |
never so happy as when swimming. Then |
too. I like boating of all kinds. In |
pleasant weather, after the matinees,
and some OF the mornings when we
have no rehearsals. I get a canoe and |
paddle up the Pawtuxet. There up
stream, very silently canoeing, as the
song goes, ! memorize my parts and get
supreme enjoyment. IT beats all the IN
Loor dumb bell and Indian club exercis-
ing ever tried and my health is unfail-
ing and never feel the work ! have TO
DO irksome."
AS he spoke. I felt the magnetism Of
the same % gness," IL one may coin a
word to suit the need. and the enthus-
iasm which is so pleasing in his work
and | was filed with a new admiration
for the strength of purpose which had
led him TO his profession and incidental
ly given TO local theatregoers a worthy
artist TO accord their favor.
THE MATINEE GIRL