The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-28

subject of unusual interest to more
countries than her own. and her
fame seems to be increasing instead of
diminishing. Charles Dana Gibson is re-
sponsble for much of the interest mani
tested in her, for Camille Clifford has at
last explained to dear old London exactly
what a real Gibson girl is, and the Glib
son girl is the American girl haughtified.
Mrs Nicholas Longsworth surprised and
delighted all who met her on the other
side by her unassuming manner and we'll
bred air, for the American girl has been
accused of being a grown-up hoyden. an
accusation which, however, is being con-
stantly disproved. Edna May, with her
demure Salvation Army lassie down-cast
glance, won all hearts in the city of fog
and leisure. Lady Curzon, as a genuine
American Burne-Jones type, was a cele-
brated beauty, with the air of a princess.
and so on through the ranks of society
and the stage the American girl has cap
tivated the Britishers
Among her many charms, that of natu-
ralness of demeanor must be accorded the
highest praise. 1t is a novel sensation for
democratic young woman from demo-
cratic land to find herself the object Of
gifts and the subject of verses penned by
titled representatives, of families whose
ancestors were distinguished in history.
Naturally the American girls associates
who remain on this side of the water Won
der how she will conduct herself amid
| such tattering attentions, and upon her
return to the land of her birth she is COM
PEELED to undergo the closest scrutiny. If
her accent and manner remain American
she is praised; If she has succumbed to
atmospheric Influences, her sin is bound
to find her out.
OF all the American girls who have ex-
changed their positions on our stage for
those in the English theatrical world none
deserves more generous commentator
than Gertrude Elliott, or Mrs. Forbes
Robertson, as she is known in private life.
| The career of this American girl has
been amazingly successful, and she bears
all her honors with the utmost ease and
modesty. She is the same Gertrude FL
lott who played small parts with her
| beautiful sister and whom the public
thought would perhaps always be known
as the sister of Maxine Elliott Her po-
sition on the London stage and in London
society has in no slight degree changed
her frank, girlish charm which was so
pleasing before she assumed the dignified
title of wife to the greatest Hamlet of
modern times.
Mr.. and Mrs Forbes Robertson had just
arrived from England when | called upon
them at the Woodstock Their apartment
was scented throughout with the delicious
perfume of the American Beauty rose-a
fitting tribute to Miss Elliott, for while
she has not the regularity of features that
her celebrated sister possesses, still she
has beauty, which is enhanced by CON
tinual play of expression in her large ha-
eel eyes and about her mobile mouth She
is Intellectual too, and is always ready
TO take up a discussion of play or dra-
matist when called upon to do so.
Miss Ellotts Ophelia is well remem-
bered, and the public is patiently awaiting
a return engagement of Hamlet"
What of Hamlet?" l asked as soon as
we had exchanged greetings. "Shall we
see him this season."
Il hope not" answered Mr. Robertson.
Really, you are joking said |.
please, please, don't misunderstood"
| said Mr.. Robertson. with that beautiful
smile which so Eliminates his features. ut
| Is not that 'Hemlet is less dear to me.
| but If | play him this year 1t will mean
| that our new play, Caesar and Cleopatra
| has proved Il failure when we are so de-
sirous of scoring a success
Yes added Miss Elliott. good plays
| are so difficult to find now. somehow, and
| we have both worked hard in our study
| w
| faith in the play. but one is never certain
OF the public, although Bernard Shaw is
| a great faVorite in America. He is n
wonderful writer of original plays. 1t is
| so delightful to find a drama which does
not follow the usual methods employed by
| other writer's Mr.. Shaw does as he
| pleases, but in my opinion he does what
! is right. Some persons say that his char
| acters are at times unnatural The COM
| monplace person beneath the influence of
| his pen undergoes a certain influence
| which is unavoidable-that is ALL His
| characters are never dull and stupid. His
| brilliancy in some manner so envelopes
| them that even the waiter in You Never
| Can Tell is clever. To ME his men and
| women are quite as they should be. Men
and women do say brilliant things, you
| know, although perhaps at times Mr..
| Shaw invests them with a trine more clev-
| erness than is their just due.
In the new play both Caesar and Cleo
patra are the essence of naturalness, a
! Shaw has conceived them. The story of
the play takes place at an earlier period
| in the history of their two lives than we
| have been accustomed to seeing ON the
stage. They are the Caesar and Cleopatra
of true history. The latter is Just sixteen
at the time according to writer's. when
| Caesar first saw her. This was before An
| tony had made his conquest of her heart.
|
| little terror, and a very attractive one.
| She is a kitten, If l may so describe her
| playful and full of coquettish moods. She
| speaks of having seen Antony when she
| was twelve years of age, but Antony is
| another chapter, for Caesar rules In this
| one. and his reign was not one of love.
| This is the strange and interesting part
| of the play, that there Is no love inter-
| est, an element which is generally con-
| sidered Indispensable. Mr.. Shaw cares
nothing for traditional construction, how
| ever. He does not need 1t. Walt until
| you meet this interesting historic pair.
and you Will agree with me. Robert Louis
Stevenson wrote DIR. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde
in order to prove theory of his that a
book might be a success without single
woman character in it. Mr.. Shaw will
show that love is not a greater necessity
The play is rather the development of
two characters, especially that of Cleo
patra through the influence of Caesar
Caesar tries to make Egypt as he wants
1t. His character is almost perfect He
is so noble-humanity itself"
'"rhen Cleopatra does not attempt to
ensnare Caesar?'
THAT is best answered by the explana-
tion that Caesar is the perfection of man.
hood He is something better and higher
In type than Egypts queen has ever
dreamed about They ask her If she loves
him, and she replies, Can one love
god? Shaws Caesar is fiawless. He is
almost too perfect"
When questioned about London, Miss
Elliott said "Why should any one ex-
press surprise that |, who am an Amerf-
can born and bred should remain an