New-York tribune., 1903-01-07

I rernern the thrilling IeeIlIlg
theatrical triumph. 1t at the Ooeon whef
I Zacharie in "Athalie, and the part ap-
pealed TO eli the religious and patriotic senu-
ments of my soul. The glow of my enthusiasm
kindled the audience until il burst into a very
fire OF sympathetic applause, whicn warmed my
heart and made il beat with satisfaction at nav
ing made a real sensation. SUCH success lrradl'
ates MANY days of work, and work there ever
must be for an actress, without always any ultl-
mate certainty of success. rlea Witr, eltnus,.
asm for the role of Anne Danny In Aiexandre
Dumass ''Kean,' then in preparation at the
Odeon, learned the part and then at the sug-
gestion of Duquesnel. one of the managers OF
the theatre i bearded Dumas in his den to ask
him for the role. The great man listened, looked
at me, and said would do very nicely, but un-
/ fortunately he had promised the part to an
other and even TO another in default of her.
/ Then ! said: As you have promised the part 10
two, you may just well promise II TO three
Knowing the part well, l then proceeded to
recite it TO him, and / begged to be allowed at
least TO rehearSe the part, If only Tor a week
Finally Dumas relented sufficiently TO let me
rehearse the role for few days. That was my
chance and, fortunately my conception of the
part produced quite sensation at the rehear-
sails. / was finally engaged for the of the
piece and was declared to be great success
The theatre is a necessity-it has existed from
all time under different aspects AS all souls
feel the need of praying to GOD or to a goo, SO
all minds need expression of their dreams,
legends and past history. We have to go very
far back to find in antiquity the first vestiges
of the theatre for even amid savage folk we see
the need of expression.
was once at a fete given IN my honor by the
WIG 1rOQuOlS IN IanaQa- NOLnlnS COulu nave
been more expressive than this war-dance, with
its cries, howls shouts of victory, sobs walls OF
the vanquished, and feints of slaughter and
butchery The whole was accompanied by
awful sounds from the most primitive musical
instruments, but the music was expressive even
in its frightfulness. righteousness and stri-
dency. All those who were with me at
this savage fete seemed like me- to have q sud
den vision of a struggle between Europeans and
lroquois, in which, Of course the Europeans
were yanquished, tortured and finally mas
sacred.
Well, this savage min1icry was effective.
there was so much hostility in the danse Ma
cabre of these poor creatures, it was express
sive Of the past, the dark and lowering glances
of this band of savages betrayed such a deep
hatred OF us, that the pity with which they
inspired took a higher and nobler
form. How these poor Indians must have suf
fered TO hate so muchi And all that 1 knew Of
the dreadful war waged against them the rob-
berries, expressions and perjuries of their con-
querors. up before me until the revenge
of their hatred seemed to be but just. It was
thus that 1 learned a lesson from the artistic,
albeit coarse, representation of these unhappy
creatures.
In the midst of her enthusiasm it occurs to the
writer that the influence of the theatre is not
always sound after all. She quotes Victor
Hugo's declaration that never should the peo-
pie leave the theatre without taking away with
them some profound moral lesson" and she goes
to observe that IF writers were more in ac-
cord with Victor Hugo's ideal we should not see
many pieces which do so much harm, as they
familiarize the mind with vice without showing
its immortality But she soon gldes away from
this aspect of her subjects and returns to her
rather vague generalities, saying:
The theatre is need of all nations, of all
races, of all beings. One must love the theatre
All young and vigorous races love it Look at
young America-she adores the theatre and the
theatre loves her.
All celebrated artists. all utterateurs and in
terpreters of art drift to that land of liberty,
beauty and life. 1 know many people say that
when there we pick UP more dollars than laurels
but they are miStaken-it is quite false idea.
The Americans are good judges and reckoners,
and they do not cast away their money reck-
lessiy upon htterateuTs, musicians and dram
austs without an adequate return for their
money; and they are devoted to the theatre. They
are the ever rejuvenating public They form
endless audiences The great cities are count
less. the small towns are larger than our great
towns-and they represent the youth, the
thusiasm and the force of fresh blood. They
never hesitate to rush at a new enotion-they
never weigh the for and the against The
fact is everythng-they see first and judge
afterward; and they return constantly, or never
come back again, according to whether they
have been pleased or not. The English people
this race Of strength and reserve-they also love
the theatre, and they take it very much au
serieux. They give themselves some trouble to
go and see a piece of particular interest, they
discuss ii, they think about it, and they really
consider it an important matter.
No country has been more sympathetic to me
than England, and in spite Of the GOODNESS of
which the English are accused. 1 have had no
cause to complain of any want Of warmth in my
receptions. The English, too, are faithful in
their attachments, and once they discover power
in an artist they are true to their admiration
for this power and, speaking from my own ex-
perience, England always seems with regard to
me TO exhibit the perfect entente cOrdiale be-
tween the French and English which the society
OF that name strives TO express, at whose soiree
] assisted in London Nothing is more touching
than the proud and ardent affection Of the Eng
lsh for Shakespeare This fine race never hesi-
tate to class their poet with all the great men Of
all nations. and doubtless they are right, and
myself am one of his greatest admirers for was
he not the great intiator of the present power of
the stage? Shakespeare is often felt TO be the
invisible and latent link between us and other
lands" said well known Englishnan to me one
day, and 1 think that this superior man was
right. 1t is sad very sad, to have to say that
the Latin races are those who have the least love
Tor the theatre. and 1t may be due to the indis-
putable fact that these same races are struggling g
against decadence.
The Spanish French and Italians do not take
the theatre seriously enough Personally I like
the Spanish, but cannot say that they take a
serious interest in the theatre. Spain always
had a great attraction for me. and suddenly.
when was quite q girl, determined to go off
there to escape the dull role of a Russian prin-
cess, VINO had nothing to do but eat and drink.
IN IN Mari qui lance sa Femme" by Raymond
Deslandes. at the Porte St. Martin Theatre 1t
was the day following the first performance. I
had a maid as my companion, and locked my
mother in her room to prevent her stopping nv
departure. | was wild to see Madrid and its
wondrous picture galleries Want of funds
obliged our return home at the end of two
months, but that visit to Spain always remains
in my mind pleasant recollection. Subse-
quently have been to the Peninsula profess
sionally. and always have L been charmed with
the courtesy Of the Spaniards and the beauty of
their country
The French seem to like going to the theatre
merely TO amuse themselves, if it is not ques-
ton Of going elsewhere. They go to see each
other to admire the actors to see the dresses
to chat with their friends, but as to a real pas
sion for the theatre they destitute of it,
They do not concern themselves seriously with
the quality of drama piece, at least un-
less they have some purely personal interest
in it