The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-05

Grace Carl Kempton in the New fork
 Mail and Express.
 There is cure for stage fright upon
 which all may rely. It does not come in
 patent bottles or boxes, therefore 1t can
 not be bought for money, nor swallowed
 like a dose. A bit of repeated attention
 and effort is It's price, but 1t Is wholly
 reliable.
 In every art, the artisans are abso-
 lutely dependent upon their nervous sys-
 tems Nerves are conductors of impress
 sions. and by means of them expressions
 are accomplished.
 Every conception which painter has
 comes to him through his nerves. Every
 particle of color he places upon canvas
 Is done by means of his nerves. In all arts this is equally true. So true that the statement might appear foolish, yet 1t IS
 a necessary approach to our subject. The actor, whose work is to portray l other human lives. the sorrows, the joys the intrlcacies of other natures, has need of a most exquisitely adjusted nervous activity. Sympathy with the role is an
 essential; successful expression of the
 part cannot take place without 1t. and
 until he learns otherwise, the nervous forces are drained to the dregs. The genius alone-and .his because of
 his genius-fnds untaught, sometimes
 the boise which is free from such entan-
 elements. Geniuses rarely have stage fright When they do. we shall find the
 cause is but proof in the line of the cure | To
 l Allowing that dramatic work of al sorts is dependent upon the nerves, ws l can easily see that stage fright is nerv- | ous mutiny. 1he question then is. how | can 1t be prevented?
 | Nerves should be the perfect servants l of mans purposes and desires. They car
 only become so, In these days through | training.
 Who would think of taking into the l jungles (even the jungles of daily lifeD | hundreds of skilled and powerful foreign I CTS. without forming previously with | them a compact of absolute certainty 1 Should we not know that mutiny might l any moment arise? Instead or running | such risks we should not only cause ser l wants to give us repeated proof or their ] willingness and ability to obey our direc- , tions but we should postpone our jour- QeY untli we Hdo SA'NH NNS ~% training.
 The nerves of a man arc either his trusty servants, obeying irvountarily his least request, or they are most fearful tyrants. ruling over him without mercy. Until this tyranny becomes organic dis ease, man has power to dispei 1t wholly. 1 if he so wills This change must be ac- complshed step by step. until orderly nervous service Is continuous and re- | ouIres but little thought, beyond regard l ing it's right conditions.
 1 We better our nervous attitude most I simply by an intelligent guiding of en- ergy. In using a greater effort than that | which is needed for an action, we invite mutiny in the nervous system. Every | iota of strain is a sure forerunner oi mutiny. Every effort held-even in mem | ory-when It should be suspended. is | as much against ones welfare as to place | in the han.s of the untrainec band oi | foreign followers the quickest weapons oi ! destruction.
 i When we have learned something O easy walking. talking, breathing an' eating. we shall find ourselves nor ready to learn to rest thoroughly. Fo genuine rest the hands should lie easily | with the fingers loosely spread open ] Avoid squeezing, pressing or drawing il