The San Francisco call., 1904-03-27

my FIRST impression at close range Of
the actress in all America I would
go farthest to see-Mrs. Minnie Mad
dern Fiske.
II was last Tuesday, at the ST. Fran
els. A fesrsomely immaculate youth
conducted me skyward, and a low
voiced maid admitted me. The room
must have been Iuxurious-it had the
atmosphere. But 1 did not see it,
Drawn blinds and a tiny green-shaded
lamp gave the mahogany splendors
ae. the new hotel no chance, even if
Mrs. Fiske had not been there, like a
H6Ileu etching in her delicate values
and suggestion, on the pillow be-
fore me.
You are ill?" I asked. as she gave
me her firm little hand.
sFired-just very tired" she said,
and I saw then the confirming circles
around her eyes. "A strange city,
strange people, and 1 am foolishly
sensitive. It is nothing. need an
hour or two OF rest"
I'm sorry TO bother you to-day
"Oh. is this TO be an interview?
thought YOU were just coming to see
me-" she exclaimed. This in the
piquant staccato Of her Becky Sharp
II was distinctly appealing. as she sug-
gested then: Let US put it off for a
day or two-say until next week
There is no excuse for an interview un-
less one has something 70 say. And 1
can't think Of anything to-day. There
are things, too. I should really like
TO say I haven't given any inter-
views for some few years Come next
week. and You shall have all the pearls
Of wisdom I've been storing up.
/ weakened. but protested:
But. Mrs. Fiske, every. one will
want TO hear from the star Of the
week as soon as possible
."Nonsenset What does it natter
she laughed, quietly. I really have
nothing interesting to say to-day
L compromised then. Perhaps later
in the week. then: and we'n just gos-
SID now. And if not we viii talk next
Week"
"sTwould be better. Will you put that
Down. please2" TO the maid. Say next
Tuesday al ?. Put the thing where It
WilI-face me-
on the mirror" I laughed, where
pretty women"
Bah, I'm not pretty" she retorted;
then with a delicious little whimsical
twinkle added, at least not to-day I'm
beautiful sometimes, OF cOurse-those
GAYS you look in the mirror and are
surprised at the lovely thing you see''
What color are they-the eyes?' 1
inquired audaciously-
To-day don't know" she said,
naively shutting them.
Nor do know. and / had long hour
10 find out. They flashed gray light
uines when Mrs Fisl1e spoke Of trap
ihooting-of the courage, ability.
character" required of the pigeon-in-
the-slot sportsman. They were black
when she talked of the Spanish bull
fght. with its gored horses stuffed with
oakum 10 enable the wretched creatures
10 meet again the horns Of the bull.
They were. again, warmest hazel when
their owner spoke of the new Society
for the Prevention Of Cruelty to Ami
mails in Mexico, that has already pre-
\ anted much suffering" For these are
>. me things that are nearest the heart OF
.8Irs. Fiske. the first actress in America.
As for the rest, the red-gold hair lay
q. straightly across the brow, tossed into
. sumDtuous. glistening knot above it,
and L began to discover a firm, round
chin and mouth, and round white
throat under the outlining Of the deli
cate puppies Of a kimonO.
You know" the actress began, 1T is
impossible always to be at ones best.
This fashion Of ours of playing every
night is brutal. The French and the
Germans rightly despise US for it. One
can give perhaps three performances in
the week that are wholly worthy. The
rest-well, you can't keep the blush on
the work, you know
Familiarity breeds contempt2'
'- Exactly" Mrs. Fiske agreed, "famil-
isrity is fatal here, as in almost every
other relation"
oueried then, But could you count
- on the fortunate mood with any more
certainty than now in the three nights
q week regime?"
.--eI think so" the actress decided.
zone has Just so much vitality, and
there weuld be that much more to go
round. I wonder''-AIrs.> Fiske put that
significant little forefinger Of hers to
her cheek and looked with level eyes at
nne-'I wonder if you have thought how
crueI-shall say-even the kindest crit
les can be2 This is entirely impersonal,
Of course. But you viii find such things
as these happening in the actors pro-
fession all the time. One will be i'll, say,
on a first night in a new piece. The
critics will, Of course, be familiar with
ones reputation Suppose it good, and
suppose the critic just and competent.
He finds the particular performance
bad. It is bad. But he viii simply say,
in nine cases out Of ten, that the per-
formance is bsd-not that there must
be a good reason. in view of ones re-
mute. for its inadequacy-"
paris and Duse-"
.~Ah! Paris and Duse. A perfect
example" the actress agreed. She
, lasped her vital, eloquent little hands
as; she said: Think of it, Those ex-
Derjenced Parisiansi She played badly
that night-it was Camille you re-
mem mber friends Of mine saw her
But she had played the part magnifi-
Gently before, and there was the testi-
nony Of all the world for it. Paris
sasd-bah, il makes me ill,-that