The San Francisco call., 1904-06-12

Il did not attempt TO jump from the
convent door 10 the center Of the
stage"
That sentence suficed TO satisfy me
that Mr.. Strine's reputation as a keen
analyst Of human character would not
be damaged by anything additional
Miss Kate Condor might say.
You viii find her Mr.. Strine had
informed me, as we jOurneyed together
10 meet the Tivoli's coming star. an
exceptional woman Of the stage. Com
mon sense is her distinguishing quail
Ity Her advancement in the profes-
sion has been rapid. but she modestly
estimates her artistic worth. SO strong
IS her equipment Of sound reason that
I don't believe she could say OF do
silly thing with serious intent"
This bit Of personal intelligence was
not accepted without making due al
lowance for Mr.. Strine's position as
the Tivolfs press representative. II
was his duty. OF course, TO portray in
unique coIors the lady We were en-
route 70 visit. else she might fail Of
the interest reputed distinctiveness al
WAYS invites. On that account. there
fore. il was rather surprising as well
as gratifying TO have every tint of his
word picture verified by the subject
herself.
Yet the verification was such an ano-
maly. Here was a woman with a name
and a couutenance denoting Hibernian
descent uncOnsciously exposing the
-ocanniness'' Of an Aud LIGHT elder.
Where was the traditional impetuosity
Of her race? Who would look for the
reflective mind-that machine for
weighing conseQuences-in a buxOm
young female with rounded cheeks,
good -humored mouth and merry blue
eyes2 I didn't, despite what Mr..
strine had told me, until she dropped
that remark anent looking before leap
ing. Something Of my thought must
have been conveyed TO her, for she
said, smiling:
4 suppose one can be Irish without
being rash?"
"Alluding." I ventured. ito your
transit from schoolroom 10 stage.
Yes. Ny parents were born and
bred in Ireland. where our genealogical
tree is rooted somewhere in the twelfth
century, yet more cautious people
never lived. So there is nothing phe-
nomenal about my prudence. 1t has
been with me as long as can remem-
ber-ever since / was a wee girl with
= big voice. In my school days we'll
meaning but indiscreet adults urged
me to strike right out for a stage
career, but something within me said
that would be a foolish thing to do.
With your vocal and physical oualifi-
cations said my advisers, 1t is simply
a matter OF seeing a manager, being
engaged on the spot for leading roles,
reveling IN calcium baths by night and
receiving press interviewers by day,
donating your surplus floral gifts to
hospitals and wondering how you can
spend all your money. Anuring vision,
wasn't it2 But it never tempted me.
Better take time TO investigate said
the inner voice. I obeyed it. Inves-
tigatiOn convinced me there was only
one way 10 reach the center Of the
stage with hope Of holding it, and that
the route was through years Of pa
tient study. IT was a hard road TO
travel, but I stuck TO it untiI-wel.
here I am to sing first contralto parts
al the TivOli.
And the persons whose advice you
ignored-what do they think Of you?"
Bless them! They said / was self
willed and now they are probably OF
the same opinion. I suppose they be-
lieved my arrival at the center was
unnecessarily delayed, while 1 still be-
lieve that TO hold the center after win
ming il is worth considering by the
stage aspirant. How many stars have
you seen twinkle in the focus of the
spot light for a season and then return
10 Obscuration? 1 don't know how it is
at this side Of the continent. but in the
East and especially in New York, there
is q steady extingui1tiEg OF Immature
prima dOnne. What becomes of Them
on. the sensible ones gulp their dis
appointment and resume the study they
should not have abandoned until they
were fitted 10 hold after they had. The
foolish ones, no doubt, blame an un-
appreciative public and resort to mis-
anthropy."
Miss Condor then went on 10 say she
was graduated from the Chicago Con-
servatOry Of Music four years ago. She
sang in q church choir and on the con-
cert platform ere she considered herself
qualified 10 attempt opera.