Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-02-15
MISS
MARIE
DROFNAH
Of the Cha. B. HanfOrd Com.
pany. Discusses "POrlia" in
The Merchant
OF Venice

Which do YOU consider the great
est Of shakespeare's heroines?" was
the question propounded to Miss Marie
DrUfnah at the conclusion Of the per.
formance in which the talented lady
has been playing Portia to the Shy
lock Of Charles B Hanford.
"Shakcspeare's heroines are all
great in their own way" said Miss
Drofnah. and the superiority OF one
over another depends on the stand.
point from which you view them
Take. for instance. Portla, Beatrice
Juliet or ophelia. all such different
creations. yet eaon has her own dis.
tinguishing traits and each has her
own Individuality or course we an
have our preferences and just now
am most interested In portia. have
always regarded her as one OF the
Ideals OF womanhood Her chief
characteristics are sweetness. tender
ness. dignity wisdom. culture. wit
Her environment has been such as to
develop these qualities in the strong
est degree. She was the pclted child
OF an indulgcnt father. raised In az
fiuence, surrounded by everything
truly good and beautiful IN art and
educated 20 be the companion aud a.
sociaie Of her father and of tho bril-
liant intollcctb with which he had sur
rounded himself She has too that
capacity for loving 70 peculiar TO
those OF her nationality. There a.
however. one bar TO perfect happinous
In the restrictions which her father
has placed on her choosing Of a hup
band, and here the nobility OF her
character 10 shown Ia ncr obedience
90 her dead fathers wishes. That
Portia 10 IN love with naasanio thoro
10 no doubt though she will hardly
admit Il even TO herself Yet when
he presents himself TO Try ais fortune
with thc caskots she 10 half afraid 90
le, him venture She has by this time
become conscious OF her love. and
though her integrity will not allow her
10 give him the slightest clew az 20
the right easkct she has that trust and
confidence which every true woman
feels in the man she loves During
Bassanio's choosing she is torn by
conflicting emotions Of hope and fear
but what a dolirium OF Joy fhs her
heart as ne chooses the leaden cas-
ket, for here Is the stamp Of her faith
or's approval Of her choice. The true
woman again assor,s herself. and
there Is something 80 touching. 90
magnificent. IN the complete surrender
of her possessions, her servants. her
freedom. heUelf over an. OF which she
has been supreme. that she compels
out strongest admirasion PoFtiA Is
fully conscious OF what she yields and
that gives the greater value TO her con
oessiOns.
immediately upon the consumma
ton OF their happines7 comes the
news OF Antonio's losses and arrest,
With what exquisite generously. de
yotion aud unselhsaness she aban
ions an thought Of self, giving not on.
ly largely from her own wealth but
urging Ba SANTOS instant departure
20 his friend"
but isn't PoTtia generally conceded
10 be preeminent In intellect"
Yes. and Il Is in the trial scene
hat many OF The finest points OF that
sensitive womanhOod 50 dominant In
her aud embraces the power OF the
noblest manhood She Is fully con,
sciOus Of the paTs she has 10 play and
appears before the court with that
wonderful self control which belongs