The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-10

. greatest Interpreters Of shakespeare's IA
nous character.
Why. We packed the theater for four
weeks" said Mrs. Jones. and Miss Adams
was accorded a great reception"
The old lady Is devoted TO Mr.. Frohman's
star. and the affection Is not one-sided.
either.
Mrs. Jones's experience is wide.
] She knows the ms and outs OF the the
| atrical business. She has lived I'm it for
sixty-eight years. She has seen hundreds
OF successes, thousands of failures.
Genius wins in the drama" said Mrs.
Jones. Education is a good round work.
but 1t Is not wholly essential a good edu-
cation cannot make an actor. neither can
a pretty face in a woman. or u handsome
physique In a man.
"The spark of genius must be there and
without it the a~spirant for stage honors 10
lost.
SUCCESSFUL PLAYERS POSSESS
PERSONAL MAGNETISM.
"A person. man or woman. 10 succeed on
the stage must have an expressive face. a
good voice. a graceful carriage, and plenty
| OF personal magnetism.
THE player must be able to hold the at
tention OF his audience. The power Of per-
| sonal magnetism Is everything.
IN latter days you will find that actors,
as a rule. are better educated. but it was
| proven in the old school that men without
education. and having the spark Of genius.
can succeed.
Il have known men, and two especially,
whose work I recall. that could not speak
good English II the English were left to
them. Yet they could go before an audi
ence and hold it spelibound.
TT was personal magnetism. the spark of
genius.
Joseph Jefferson. 1 think IS the best ex-
ample of the man who won without a su-
perior education. Jefferson's school. as IS
the school Of most good actors. past and
present. was the stage. AL that he learned
he learned there.
But Jefferson had a good foundation
brains, energy and perseverance.
II have met many young women who are
destrous Of going on the stage. / would
not advise them not to 60,
1T is a noble profession. and one IN which
they can acquic themselves honorably IL
they choose. They could certainly do worse.
But the girl who lacks grace. stamina.
pluck and perseverance. ought to stay On
the parQuet side OF the footlights."
Mrs. Jones tells Of an incident that hap
pened in New York In the early seventies
Margaret Mather was then at the pinnacle
OF her fame, and she was appearing AZ
Juliet in wallack's Theater.
A society girl Of Washington. billed a.
Mile. Blanca, whose father had plenty Of
money. decided that she could play Juliet
She had not had one bit Of stage expert
ence, but she engaged her players and an
nounced her opening in Romeo and Juliet
Mrs. Jones was cast for the Nurse.
The rent of Music Hall cost 500, and n
was rather a curious crowd that gathered %
see the initial performance Of the society /,
star.
Mile. Blanca got through the frSt act fahR.
ly well, but in the balcony scene ahe b.
came frightened and lost her voieA Not
one syllable she uttered was audible to the
people in front. !
The remaining acts were finished, but ths
was most, trying to the antorR
to Juliet. while those Of the .
encs who couldn't enjoy the tragic faFoA :
the theater. :
The venture cost her father about 5000
said Mrs. Jones. 'an We never again heard /
Of Mile. Blanca I never saw or heard Of her =
from that day. !
some persons have an idea that acting
cullQ9 pay UOG II " AOe
lctor means hard. conscientious study and
me never get too old to learn"
Mrs. Jones will soon be Is years old. but
she is not yet ready to retire Only . few
lays ago she closed q contract with Frank
Mckee to appear in one Of his new pro-
in New York next season
81 have seen tho time" said Mrs. Jones.
that engagements did not come SO easy. :
,ut as som Of rs grow older We grow
~uciier."
Mrs. Jones Is the pet Of the Liebler COM
AMY. Hardly a day passes that some one.
generally Miss Robson. does not send her
ONE flowers. She Is kissed and petted by
he members Of the company and her com
ort is looked to first-
She is the guardian angel. the good
and the moral spirit OF the House
4 Capulet and tho House Of Montague.