New-York tribune., 1906-05-25
THE DRAMA.
ELLEN TERRY.

PembertOn. " -
So far have said little of Ellen Terry's sue
cesses in America, and indeed. they have been
repetition OF her triumphs in England but anxious
TO be certain OF the impression she really created
tnere' asked my kind friend. William Winter. the
distinguished dOVen of American critics. give
MS frank opinion He replies follows:
My Dear Mr. Pemberton: Your story of Miss
Ellen Terry's life and your estimate Of her acting
have not left anything FOR any one else to say and
YET your Kind wish for tribute from the present
subject has extended over period of twenty-five
S,,e III Ile lapse or time. The actress IS great
tb s e woman is greater than the actress and IN
@ Iound that her enchantment is that of a unique
Per PsEsona1ty Only to name the characters that she
IS IS not only unrlvalled but unapproachable,--is
acters are Ophelia Portia, Beatrice. Wills olivia
ana ana Goethe's Margaret. She has played many
ing Of them and revealed rare QUALITIES of nature
tIeI me 3 5aCuues OF art; IN each ana every one OF
import her acting has often afforded. ii not invar
the means Of enjoyment, and always the occasion
sh4vshtfgl m study but her revelation Of per
cR9Taotes as meyer y been SO ample as IN those mye
vellousIy blithe spirit. ana. in some of her moods.
she revels in the exuberance of frivolous humor.
e angst az 56 hysterGai propensity for mTth as re-
but, ultimately. she is a woman of passionate
heart of profound tenderness. and of a most ar
3,, to ,herEmoTe pTofuse iR the iiberaiity Of good
our na fo to any Othe woman on the stags of
yet winsome figure; stately head, mantled with
golden hair; countenance Of piquant charm and
which brave, pure, noble soul looks frankly into
power; voice Of delicious cadences and melting
S symmetry OF person and natural grace
OI acIlon; and, within that external equipment it
placed placed q, a Woman's heart to feel; woman's un-
spirit. that breaks through all Convention and the
PpenS spS a@nshp @ with nature in everything that is
ISac5as neT as more spirit than mind; as one who
and not by ANALYSIS; as wonderful conn ct3
Plex creature of nerves and impulses; wayward in
pIicity and always at last.-surviving every vicis
truth Not 4rebabv image 6as T ha
she has carefully and deftly reasoned her way to
love ana in oytas GCStaSy OF
they happen; like some of Shakespeares own
sphere Gas Emerson calls IT, and they leap, full
statured into an Immortality Of beauty. Her
eeLhloodlInents OF Beatrice and Portia were more
the creatures of design yet into them also the
Homanhood found It's way. and the wild heart Of
BeatT1ce evoked a tender sympathy. and the moral
-entranced the feelings as much as it imHpressed
me ne mind Porta, on the stage. had always been
played the part lberating all its plquant sweet
sinsce apfhg pog oyeiness and passionate ardor;
than 70 no! arv as o,a preacher More to her
owes the benefits accruing from the growth
OF natural style of acing-a style which vet does
not sacrifice the ideal degrade poetry to the
iyei Of prose This style has been caught up and
trlnsically desirable, that never would have hap
pened hut for the magical achievement of her per-
sonality affecting actors less than auditors and
making making her Go use line from old poet) Mis-
Tres, ueSs or Arts, and Hearts. and Everything This
view might be enforced by particular examination
OF each OF Miss Terry's representative embodi-
Inents; but that process,-Which would REQUIRE a
Volume'E,is impracticahle here, Her acting is OF
course, irregular and uneven,-the underwoods full
Of bramble-roses, not trim garden with its rows
or tulips and beds Of moss; but 1t is all the more
potent for that reason. Her first performance in
America October 30 1889 was that of Queen Hen
rietta Maria, in Wills beautiful play Of "Charles
l." and the dominion that she then established
over the public mind in this country has ever since
remained unbroken. Her later visits to America
were made In 1884, 1SS6-when she came as
traveller not to act-1sS7, 1893. 1895. and 1899: and
now, as these words written.--in fervent ad.
miratiOn of genius consistently devoted tc
great subjects and TO the welfare Of society as at
fected by the arts.-she is once more speeding tc
these shores. where her presence will always be
honored and her memory always cherished
Faithfully yours, WILLIAM WINTER.
New Brighton, Staten Island,
New York, October II. 1901.