The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20

ana MIN or the temptation scene
she had to go TO New York because
my father was III. We had both looked
forward so TO her seeing the first night
Of 'ParsifaT-I'm so disappointed. You
don't know, Of course, but my mother
takes such interest in my work-moth-
ers do you know knew-'that it
seems as though half the fun had gone
out Of things when she is not here"
I'm afraid you're spoiled"
I'm afraid 1 am" Miss Blocks eyes
curled up Japanesely. Mother is re-
sponsibIe for anything have done,
though she did once"
object to your being an actress I
hazarded.
Worse" Miss Block laughed. Her
sensitively skinned lips show very pref
ty teeth, by the way Much worse.
Mother wanted TO make me into a
musician Six years I studied at the
New England Conservatory, and 1 can't
play note! When you don't want to
do thing you know how much you
don't want TO do it. And how 1 hated
it,"
The actress piano-punching must
have been pretty vigorous by the way
in which she welded the powder puff
here. She concluded comically, Moth
er's sorry she bothered me now"
Mothers practical repentance was
was still holding up before me- And
she sent you this?" 1 said.
Yes You see, I couldn't get just
the color I wanted here. I wanted
pale gold. not yellow. you know" An
artists distinction. look you.
Miss Blocks throat again claimed at
tention here. and she said: 1T will
be all right in day or two; but just
think Of the rehearsals and you won't
wonder. We rehearsed all night Sun
day until o'clock on Monday morn
ing. II was the same on Friday night,
and there were three other rehearsals
besides the private study"
stopped a second TO wonder what
the actress neighbors must have
thought II she practiced Kundry's cries
at home before asking: DO you mean
10 say that you had only five rehear-
sails for 'ParsifaF?"
That's all, she replied. Don't you
think it is pretty good work for the
time, and getting ready Miss Hobbies
and White Horse Tavern. by the
way7"
I did
And Mr.. Belasco only saw the pro-
duction once in New York, and pro-
duced it here from that"
1 acknowledged that also to be Won
derfuI, then said: You people must
have been very tired Monday night?'
,Oh, yes. and nervous, l was never
more nervous for a New York first
night. Somehow everything seemed 50
important And. Of course, one couldn't
sleep in the daytime"
You don't look as though you had
lost much'-and then with my best
Sherlock Holmes manner said: Il
should really have thought you would
be too tired to-day TO go automobiliug
at IL"
She looked fatteringIy surprised and
demanded, How did you know?"
I told her that she had herself told
me through Mr.. Price, when had sug-
gested the interview for earlier in the
day. To confess she had set it for 10
and I had baked.
Then Miss Block. through intervals
Of curving her black hair gracefully
about her pretty head, sent Kundry
again automobiling into space Sne
loved it-next TO horseback riding. But
she was tickle, It was like sailing on
velvet. She had been out from II O'Clock
until $50. Wasn't it Jolly? They had
taken luncheon. Surely that was bet
ter-the fresh air-than resting in bed?
Yes. she always went TO sleep as soon
as her head touched the pillow. And
she always tried TO be in bed by 1880.
One couldn't stand suppers after the
play and work and keep well. Did 1
think so?
I said then point blank that I should
like to know what Miss Block thought
OF Kundry's significance. But 1 really
didn't care. She was symphonically
pretty 70 look at whether she talked
kittens or Kundry.
She preferred not to discuss the char
acter. She looked a little puzzled and
distressed at the suggestion. We have,
you see"-with line Of trouble on her
delicate browse little time to pre-
pare anything. I do what Mr. Murphy
told me 10 do and that is the sum Of
II I haven't had time 10 read about
or discuss the character with any one.
l should Of course. like to have done
so. Mr.. Murphy told me the character
was a composite of three women-I
even forget who And 1 can't talk
q about it I'm really rather afraid of
Interviews. Things look so different in
print. I can only feel things-caE't say
them. Youth forgive me?"
1 shrived her then and there and
wondered at the mime wonderful,
who can look a Magdalen and a
Cleopatra at another's will.
They took everything beautifully
last night, didn't they? Miss Block
Tonight they seemed in
clined TO laugh occasionally" And
that was the end of Kundry.
Are you a New Yorker?'' I asked
then, remembering her mention of
New York
No, from Boston, the actress sup
piled, but 1 studied for the stage in
New York-played there, too"
You were with Mr.. Sothern ?"
For year in The Kings Mus
keteer'-how nice Mrs Sothern isl"
she broke off mot a whit different