New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-30

Il don't blame girls Tor going on the stage al
though don't encourage it. Even without talent
they stand one good chanee-they may marry
vich husband.
bright eyes twinlleG. Then. but that holds good
OF tspewT1ters. too" she added.
The great polish actress who has come on from
her California home 70 appear at her Testimonial
"a the Metropolitan Opera House on Nay 2 carries
into private life the dignity OF manners and
charm OF personality which paygoers recall in her
Lady Macbeth and Mary Stuart She was IN rad
ant good spirits and delighted TO be back IN New
York when Tribune reporter saw her IN her SUITE
at the Hotel Manhattan last week She wore a
wonderful creation OF a teagown IN which chanse-
able pink ana gray taffeta was combined Win
pale blue velvet, butter colored lace and storks
tn Oriental embroidery.
Il never encourage young women 10 80 on he
stage unless they show marked talent she said
II is such q hard career for a woman unless she
s. talented. How can I tel whether they arc
Ealented?" Nine. Modjeska studied the panorama
OF NeW-York stretching 10 vague horizon below
her for q moment before Struggling her shoulders
oh talent is a mystery" she replied. with the
ghost OF a little sigh 1T is indescribaoe. Some
times II is made Of great suffering, sometimes OF
great Joy. Most great actors are born-they act
because they can't help IT,
However small the part girl is playing, can
axays tel IL she has talent Partly II lies in the
poWer 10 initiate. With good powers OF mimicry.
q good voice and pretty face, girl can usually
make her way the stage though not. Of course,
10 the highest art.
Every actor has TO begin by initiating somebody
else II requires exceptiopal talent 10 know what
20 do without being told. So one has 10 be taught
the same as II any other art"
Then Nine Modjeska went 20 tell Of several
young actresses in whom she had been interested,
among them Maud Durbin now Mrs. Otis skinner
and Grace Fisher.
Some OF my proteges have married; some have
tired OF the stage and gone into other things some
save been grateful 10 be dislusionized.
"A good constitution is essential 10 success IN
acting and no woman who is not well developed
physically or who has not a strong constitution has
any business The stage.
Il was probably the thinnest actress that ever
faced an audience when began. but ore may be
ahin and yet strong. 10. never went in for
rbvsical culture or beauty cures I never thought
about beauty anyway, but only Of my soul and
my work To cultivate the mnd-that is the most
Iecessary."
Nine. MOdjeska was reiicent "heh asEeu 10 1aiA
about the American stage
Il see So many nice Jolly plays" she said. 4
don't wonder men who work so hard all day want
a relief from tragedy AT night and the managers
must give what the public demands. In the en-
,dou-ed theatres on tho other side The manager can
give standard plays without risk. the deficit being
Maid bv tho municipality the government-some-
times by both as in Cracow, for even in Poland
sbere ere three endowed theatres, in Warsaw,
Cracow and LWow.
The professional life OF an actor attached 70
une of the endowed theatres is different as
1ossihle from that Of the average American actor
Tor one thing he stays in place. He is looked
on as a citizen. He enters society. Again, his