The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-17

1taturalized American citizen. who had
| been among the forty-niners in Cali
| fOrnia The child, whose experience as
a theatergoer had been rolled into a
brief afternoon at the Princess, in Lon
don, soon exhibited strains of dramatic
/ talent, together with a decided leening
toward the playhouse. She had been
/ reared in San Francisco, and her first
/ appearance was made privately before
| David Bslasco, then stage manager Of
| the Baldwin. a scene from an old
/ tragedv called "A Mad Wreck" had
been selected as a test. and the girl,
still new to her teens. reeited it with
such emotional strength that she was
Z assured a part in the next Baldwin pro-
auction Unfortunately. illness pre-
vented her taking advantage of this
opportunity.
Though her parents were not pleased
at her histrionic ambitions and insisted
that she remain a school. Miss Davies
persevered in her attempts to secure
hearing and finally succeeded in making
her debut with the California Stock
Company 'Adolph Chalet" the piece
which served TO bring her 10 the fore,
was written by a local dramatist named
Cipricio and the cast employed included
such skilled favorites as were OsmOnd
Tearle. Gerard Eyre, and Jefrreys
Lewis.
Miss Davies had the unimpOTtant role
OF Marie md scarcely was mentioned in
the criticisms However. she was re-
tanned with the organization, and forged
ahead with a steadiness more convinc-
ing than would have been mere speed.
short time after playing Marie in
''AdOlph Chalet" she created the part Of
Nadia in Michael Strogof" For this
impersOnation she was praised heartily.
In Good Companies.
The real foundation Of Miss Davies
present success, however. was not laid
until considerably later, when she OBJ
tanned an engagement at the Baldwin.
There. under the eye of the greatest
director living and in touch with the
most consummate artists of their pc
riCd she received training unObtainaRle
anywhere else In America. ErnestO
Rossi, the celebrated Italian trasctftan
came to San Francisco. and Miss Davis
ventured Regain TO his King Lear. the
Player Queen TO his Hamlet, and Lady
Angela in his performance OF ''Kean''-
the piece from which Charles Coghlan
adapted THE Royal Box" w. r. Sheri-
dan cast her for Prince arthur when he
appeared at the Baldwin in king
John," for Lady Anne when he did
Richard III, =" and for Juliet when he
assayed Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet
At the age of seventeen she played Mari
tana opposite the Don Caesar de BaZan
of the elder Charles r. Thorne, who
then was seventy-one.
In TIE intervals between the depart
ure of one celebrity and the arrival OF
another. Miss Davies was given all sorts
Of parts in all sorts of pieces. She APP
peared in border drama, and in society
comedy: ranged from the roles OF
Shakespearean gentlewomen TO those Of
Rankinian hoydens.
Many of her undertakings were not
unimportant Charles Couldock intro
duced Hazel Kirke" to- the patrons Of
the Baldwin and Miss Davies was seen
In the titular character. She was laud%
ed extravagantly for her work in sup
port of Jenny Lee whose Little Joe in
Dickens BLEAK House" was among the
finest delineations of the time. she was
applauded for her Mabel Vane ia Peg
Wellington and for her Maria in THE
School for Scandal" Finally. she stir
red genuine enthusiasm by her superb
creation Of the principal part iE Clay
NJ. Greene's "Chispa." A San Francis
co manager offered to bring her East
and to present her TO New York as a
star. Miss Davies declined. Instead. she
remained in California end married 10
seph Grismer, who then was leading man
at the Baldwin, and is now best known
because OF his share in preparing way
Down East" for the stage