The San Francisco call., 1903-12-27


tions. With the present number, this
interesting monthly may be said to
have reached the high-water mark OF
theatrical magazine making. The
number is double the usual size, smak-
ing a superbly Illustrated book Of
some sixty pages, and it contains over
a hundred half-tone plates in addition
to two extra supplements, lttho-
graphed in twelve colors, showing re-
spectively Edwin Booth as Richelieu
and Mary Anderson as Hermione. The
artistic colored cover, a thing of
beauty in green and gold. shows Viola
Allen as Viola in Twelfth Night"
The reading matter is excellent and in
cludes special contributions from
famous writer's. Bronson Howard,
the dean of American dramatisrs, s.nds
a greeting, congratulatings The Thea
ter on having reached its third Christ
mas, and Justin Huntly Mccarthy
contributes a graceful bit of verse.
Clara Morris defends the modern
drama from the charge Of degenera-
ton, and Ada Patterson gives us an
insight into the real personality of
Julia Marlowe. The home life of the
great italian actor Salvini is described
by his daughter-in-law, who is an
American actress, and there is a re-
production of a rare theatrical curio
the playbill announcing the first ap-
pearance in Washington of John
Wilkes Booth. The Paris Conserva-
toire and it's system is interestingly
described by Henry Tyrrell, and Mrs.
Otis Skinner gives a charming little
account of gypsy players in France.
Aubrey Lanston contributes another
of his gracefully written papers on
eighteenth century players, and in the
way of fiction there is a clever story
of stage life by Edward Lissner. w. j.
Henderson discusses PATHS latest
farewell and other musical events
with his usual authority. In this
issue, too, the result is announced of
The Theater's prize play competition,
in which three hundred plays were
submitted. The winning play is en-
titled THE Triumph of Love" The
identity of the author will be disclosed
next month. An exceptionally inter-
esting double page feature is num-
Der of scenes from old plays, showing
the early stage beginnings of stars
now famous. The pictures include,
besides the colored plates above men
toned, full page pictures of Otis Skin
ner, FRITZ Schef, Evelyn Florence
Nesbitt, Marguerite Clarke, Lottie
Faust Rose Clark, Signora Varasi,
Nine. Gadski, scenes from Twelfth
Night" Major Andre" John Ermine
of the Yellowstone, THE Light that
Failed" Anna Held in Mile. Napo-
leon," Maude Adams, Beatrice Terry,
Miss Deyo, the dancer, Adelaide Keim,
Percy Haswell, Trixie Friganza and
others.
Ladies and Gentlemen-I knew the
play was good and I felt that you
would like the company; the only per-
son 1 had any doubt about was my
self, and if you like me, 1 am the hap
piest woman in New York"
Thus spoke Henrietta Crosman, the
most envied of actresses to-day, at the
first performance of Sweet Kitty Bel
lairs," in New York, at the Belasco
Theater recently. In her modesty
Miss Crosman was honest as can
be discovered by any one lucky
enough to get a few minutes con-
versation with her. In working out
a successful career for herself this
actress has had to combat her own
lack of confidence as well as the hard
ships that confront success in all
walks OF life. Yet, probably no story
of final triumph in chosen career is
more interesting than this same Hen
rietta Crosman's.
"I went on the stage" says she, ''be-
cause had to earn my living. There
was no love for the stage then. Only
a desire to be able to help myself and
my family. Ambition came afterward
and my regret is that 1 am only such
a little way on my Journey. Any sue
cess that the public may be good
enough to say have attained has
been accomplished by hard work and
disappointment.
Like most every one else, my start
was made in one of the smaller COM
panies and after a year or so got into
New York. Then 1 went to Days and
then to the Lyceum. I thought had
made a name for myself when
played 'Gloriana,' but when that play
was withdrawn I found that I could
not get an engagement.
But what, at that time, seemed to
me the hardest blow of my career was
really my salvation, for unable to OBJ
tain work, I was compelled to accept
engagements in stock. Naturally
said to myself. IF you were a good
actress, Henrietta Crosman, they
would want you in New York, but be-
ing a bad actress, you must play twice
q day.
Il didn't realize that that same
twice a day and a long part each
week to study was the very expert
ence that I needed. I only looked at
the hardship of it all then and COM
planned at my lot. Stock experience
and the opportunity to play the great
roles gave me great experience, such
as / could have got no other way,
and now am the most thankful of
women that the fates ,decreed that
could not get even one maRager to
give me part on Broadway.
"I am hoping that my experience
and the work 1 have done will help