The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-25

biJ"u F~ernandez's mother, who is proba
oiy the most potent influence among ih'
young women Of the stage in that she com
mahus 50 many positions for them, wa
approached last wreck with IA proposition
10 take Il prominent part in "a benefit fol
lara Morris. In reply she spoke Of hei
cary recoiienctions NJ the actress: II vii
never forget the first night that Clara Nor
IT'S got a chance 10 show thr public what q
great actress she was.
! was then playing in Ausustin Days
company, and Miss Morris had Il very min.
or role. The play was led .Astray.' and
fahhS M"rant was the leading woman. On
me eNeniful night she had reported Tor
duty as usual, aud her understudy had
vanished t" Il dinner party. Soon after Miss
N"lant' Reached her hressins-ro1m she be-
came so III that she was not able L" air-
pear. and Mr.. Daily was IN despair.
lie called the company together and
asked II any one was acquainted with Miss
Mo'ants lines. \ thin lirtle roi2e from the
! rear replied: Il am. Mr.. paly. aad ON his
invitation Miss Morris stepped forth. SeiZ-
Ing a prompt book he put her through a
rigid examination on the fret act and then
said: I'm Try you Az Mise Morant was az
large a. Miss Morris was small we had ii
most exciting time IN dressing her. and. In
fact. she was a complete collection OF safety
pins when the curtain went up.
Meanwhile Mr.. DAILY had apo!osizsi 10
the audience and begged their kindsst coz
siderai!on II the, yauns CTR" who had roi'n-
isered should break down ard be compelled
10 read her lines. O.,
We'll. Miss Morris made good In that
fret act beyond enybody's expectations.
ana when her great emotional scene came
sse fairy lifted that audience ous Of the
chairs and turned II into a wildly entEus!-
astic mob. al. DAILY Was called before the
curtain ord al un,Io--- f.n- him uau in
sisted upon. He gave 1t with IS much en-
'kusiGsm as 1t had been asked. and then.
returning TO the stage. walked straight I"
"noTe Miss Morris was staining
Bending 4 little he took her face between
his hsnds. and. looking straight into her
eyes. said: You are homeiy. bat how you
can act" This he folk we'd w!,l the an
nouncsment that no ~one Else save Miss
Norris should ever play thar role IN his
theater again. and no one ever did
.sss
David Belasco says the future Of poetry In
light upon the stage IS no Longer a subject
for the dreamer. but for the practical man
who observes wha: is goiIg on about him in
the fields Of art and. science. and vino has
wiz and discretion. backed by ability 10
adapt the worlds great achievements to his
own uses.
Read in the light of recent accomplish
ments themselves" says Mr.. Belasco. the
me VI u'Ntlplliltil III sldkt Sut'ii6
the next half century may be determined
with considerable certainty.
Electricity" he adds. using the term in
its broad sense. has at last been 'discov- |
cred for the stage. Where Edison devel- |
oped il az 4 science the stage in now devel-
oping il as an art. It has passed from the |
hands OF the engineer into these of the |
poet
And by electricity the poetry of light is
now made TO picture on the stage thoughts
not to be described realize impressions
that mere words or scenes could not sug-
gest. In 'Du Barry Mrs. Leslie Carter
rides TO the guillotine through flakes of fall
ing snow-light. feathery. ~airy-all but real.
The effect IS gained by the use of lights.
In The Darling Of the Gods are shown a
river of sulphur. the murky flames of pur-
gatory and banks of lacy. drifting clouds
in their illusion. vet all made by an
use of the electric calcium
Several years ago Thomas jefferson, who
is starring in rip Van Wrinkle" was
in London on 4 visit in the midst Of at
gloomy December. and one day at noon sud
denly stood still in the Strand and stared
tixedly into the sky.
Within three minutes he had a crowd
around him. all asking. What is IT,
What's up" They stared with him at
he murky darkness which TO the Londoner
represents the sky. and at length some one
to ask nm what ne was looklnS
oh" answered Mr.. Jefferson. I'm
for the sun. that's all. You see. l
,ome from a land where he's to be seen in
he sky at this time of day. and | hoped
might find him here. too. If | looked long
'-....
Chauncey Olcott once sang for Sims
Reeves, England's celebrated vocalist. Oh
oft. while in London, was sitting in the
grill room of a club frequented by players.
Mr.. Reeves had been reviving his early sue
'css. Sally in Our Alley and all London
talking about il. Suddenly the old man
the club. and Mr.. Olcott's host,
sighting him at a distance. whispered TO
)lcott to sing a verse of Sally in Our Al
What for asked Olcott. munching
his chop. Il don't like TO sing SO early in
he day. and rot here at any rate"
But his friend resisted. and to please him
Mr.. Olcott laid down his knife and fork and
sang a verse of the quaint old ballad. Inn
Mr.. Reeves hurried forward,
,eized the astonished American by the hand
nd TREMENDOUSLY inquired his name. My
is Olcctt. sir" was the quiet reply.
You're a great singer. young man. Ny
is Reeves. Sims Reeves. and until this
| thought | knew how to sing that
'ong.
Charles Frohman has bought from Klaw
/ Erlanger the English and continental
lights TO the musical play. The Bii!ion-
ire paving for II. "a he says. the largest
ash sum down ever given fora similar play
II this country. Mr.. Frohman explained his
eason thus,
81 have an idea that the 'theater Scene
represented in the second act will he n