The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-08


 been woman's battle cry since the year 1860. What greater instance of these qualities is to be found in all history than the grim, sad experience of the great Rachel, who when a wrotched child. travelled in poverty, sdualor and cold from one small European town to another, and who in order to possess a copy of Racine's plays was obliged. though trudging through mud and rain, to pawn her umbrella for the piti- ful sum of 20 sous.
 The history of Charlotte Cushmah is too well known to make a review Of her untiring perseverance necessary. The heart-rending episodes of her life when poor. the supporting of others, lacking beauty and charm, she strove to influence managers to give her the opportunity of expressing the genius she felt burning within her, form one Of the most stirring chapters in the history of womankind Consider, too, the life of Mrs. Lander. who besides her valuable services in the dramatic field, took upon herself the entire charge of the hospital department of Port Royal s. c. She lives in mem ory to us as the blessed name of Flor ence Nightingale does to the English.
 It is unnecessary to go back in the history of the stage for such exam pies We have them near at hand. The struggles of Mme. Modteska and of Miss Clara Morris ana their final and lasting artistic victories are well known to all who have watched with interest and sympathy the lives of ar lists on the stage.
 The executive ability manifested by women of the theatre has been quite as remarkable as the courage they have q rne~.. rx@ Laura Keene, who was a successful manager. as well as a delightful come dienne Upon one occasion her apt ness and pluck were amusingly shown. It was the night of a production by her of Much Ado About Nothing" At the last moment 1t was discovered that the costumes were not ready. Sum moning the stolid and gaping supers, whose dresses were In sad state of incompleteness. she. with a paint brush burriedly brought from the paint frame. finished the decorations on their doub- let's and tucks with black paint. at the same time exclaiming with the rapid delivery peculiar to her: Now, keep apart: don't sit down: don't brush against the ladies" Then she was off to dress for Beatrice.
 Innumerable instances may be given of women in the profession who have
  history of thet English stage affords many examples of women who have been successful managers, The same is true in this country--Mrs Conway, for instance Mrs John Drew. aside from possessing fine ability as come dienne, for years conducted the Arch Street theatre, Philadelphia. with dig ntty and success.
 It is often stated that woman is lacking in the faculty of creative ge- nius. and. indeed. that in this particu- lar, by contrast with man, she Is de- eidedly interior. This Is perhaps a reasonable conclusion in view of her history. But 1t is not so emphatically true when we cosider her dramatic work.
 It Is by no means a new thought that man is by nature more intellectual and woman by nature more emotional. Of course, it is not meant by this that man is never emotional nor woman never intellectual, Yet 1t Is surely fair to assume that to man belongs the power of incidentally, and to woman the emotional quality. Does it not seem. therefore, that the very possession by nature of this latter quality, which cer- tainly Is an absolute necessity in dra- matic art, has made her inherently suited for dramatic achievement?
 
 Mir Ruskin, in speaking of the nee- essary qualities that go to form great artists. says: First. sen5ibility and tenderness; second. imagination, and third, industry" Woman's nature is peculiarly alivs to all of these condi- tiors. It is then no wonder that wo. men on the stage have accomplished great things and will accomplish greater things In the future. wcen such women as M9dJeska, Terry, Duse and the matchless Bernhardt continue through inspiration 10 show their ge- nius to the world.
 Womans work in literature with few exceptions nas been denied any claim to greatness In music and in other arts sine is admitted to have shown no particular creative power. But her place upon the stage is as absolutely as mans. In having thus secured for herself an eminent position m the dtslma the actress has advanced the whole cause of woman. since every Individual triumph raises the est.ma- ton in which the intellectual achieve ments of a whole class are held. Wo- man is better understood because she has been faithfully portrayed. She is more highly regarded because of her ability to make that portrayal. And that portrayal has, I feel a powerful moral influence in an educational sense.
 thoroughly believe that it is the duty of mothers to foster in the hearts of their children while at a tender age a serious consideration for the better forms of dramatic literature and of dramatic representation. Let tDem teach their children to avoid the un- happy tendency of the present age which regards acting merely as q form of amusement rather than an amuse- ment combining q means for intellee- tuaI control aud artistic suggestion, in an attractive and inspir- ing manner.
 That woman is eapable of arduous effort and uRtiring devotion has been fully demonstrated by her work on the stage. She has helped to elevate the drama to It's rightful place among tae forces of life. She has dono to make true what Morley says; At the playhouse door, then, we may