Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1905-06-03

munity life there; and, as in the Brook
Farm experiment, the company was a
most brilliant one. First and foremost
there was Modjeska; a co-cXperimenter
Sienkiewicl, author of QUO Nadis; Pad
erewski. who needs no explaining. III
nancially the experiment failed, the
company d~isbanded. Modjeska then
sought to retrieve the fortunes Of the
family in San Francisco, her husband,
Count Bozenta. who was i'll, spending
part of his time in the south in the en-
deavor TO gain health.
San Francisco did not pay much at
tention to this talented woman, the
atrical managers looked upon her With
a certain suspicion were wary of a lady
of title seeking a career as actress. AT
the time a fake" Russian princess was
in the city, and her assumptions were
not accompanied by any superior talent,
But Modjeska had three qualities that
make for success; possession Of talent,
belief in herself, and indomitable en-
ergy. She at once set to work at study
of the English language, and in three
months and a half mastered the parts of
Cleopatra, Adrienne %Lecouyreur, Juliet
and Ophelia. She spoke with an accent,
but her accent was adorable.
1t was a hard matter to get a manager
to give her a hearing, but finally one was
coralled. Modjeska read for him the
last act of Adrienne Leeouvreur, land
made such an impression he begged to
bring John Mccullough, who was then
a theatrical manager, to hear her. She
was at once booked for a two weeks en-
gagement at the California theater.
That was in 1877. The first night she
played to a small house, but enjoyed a
triumph. Her teacher of English, Miss
Josephine TucholSky, says of this first
| appearance: There never was any
thing seen like it, | think, in a San Fran
cisco theatcr before nor since. People
stood up, they cheered, they cried, they
wanted to stampede upon the stage and
shake the hand of this woman who had
made their emotions the plaything of
her genius"
Thirty-eight years Nine. Modjeska
has acted in English, playing in this
country and in London, and to-day her
admirers, a multitude, are slow TO con
code that she shows signal loss of pow
er. She has played many parts in her
time; in tragedy of Marie Stuart aud
in Camille" winning %laurels. as
Ophelia, Lady Macbeth and other lead
ing Shakespearean parts, displaying the
delicacy and finish of her art.
When resting from her professional
duties, Modjestka seeks the seclusion of
her beautiful California ranch; for it is
in that western state, where first she
sought refuge, where her American tri-
umphs began, she has established her
home. The Count and Countess Bozen-
Ia dispense here a generous, gracious
hospitality, and indulge in their hobby,
country life. Among her fruits aud
flowers the actress has spent her wax
ing hours when the round of theatrical
duties was finished, and doubtless here
she will pursue the days Of her hard
earned rest.
For she has this year taken farewell
of the stage, az the great benefit per-
Torrance given her lately in New York
she made her last bow TO The public. 1t
is with regrets her longtime friends
see her withdraw from the stage she has
graced and given prestige to, but all
must grant size has earned her holiday.
A generous woman, ever glad to give
a helping hand, is Modjeska. and to-day
not a few that have risen TO high place
point to her as patron and inspiration,
She helped Paderewski pursue musical
studies at Vienna; under her auspices
Jean and Eduoard de Reszke first ap-
peared at a concert. But while she is a
warm friend, she is also an outspoken
enemy Of oppression; and her denuncia-
tons of Russian tyranny has made it
wise to live in exile from Poland.
CHRISTOPHER WEBSTER.