Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-02-06

J Madame 1el
s..ss
lasting, as she had graved it on the
hearts of the people, if it were writ
on brass.
What could be added? Gratifying as
further exhibition of her art would
undoubtedly be to the entire commune
ty. there were those who believed that
the story of her strange life. had been
made perfect according to all the laws
of romance and that another chapter
might injure the impression of the
whole. 1t was a risk from this point
of view.
1t was a risk well taken. Like the
afterglow of glorious sunset there
has been added to her picturesque story
an envoy that almost makes the rest
forgotten.
Testimonial Is Recalled
At the Metropolitan opera house, May
? last, there was accorded her test1-
monial which exceeded any similar
honor ever extended to an actress in
America. Such names as Paderewski.
Sem brich Cleveland, Mark Twain, Ada
Rehan, Julia Marlowe. Maude Adams,
Andrew Carnegie, w. d. Howells, Hen
ry James, Richard Mansfield, Carl
Schurz and many others as famous,
were signed to the testimonial. Some
of the greatest artists of the country
took part in the performance. Last
evening at the Mason theater was an
echo of this memorable performance.
AS Southern California saw the be-
ginning of her American career it also
sees the close of it. Her life as cleaned
from her autobiography shows she
came to America and Southern Califor
mia in 1876 because her husbands tren-
,1,r off To he DaIt Oh,
government.
In this autobiography she tells us
that she was born in Cracow and that
her stage career began in Bochnia, Po-
| land. She was still in her teens when
she married NJ, Modrzejewska.
In Bochnia occurred a catastrophe in
which several men were killed. Nine.
MOdrZejewska suggested a benefit per-
Torrance for the bereaved relatives. 1t
happened that M. Checinski, a famous
actor and dramatic author, witnessed
that performance and his influence
afterward started her on her theatrical
career in wider field.
She Captures Warsaw
She was engaged for a series of
twelve performances to be given at the
Imperial theater in Warsaw This was
contrary to all precedent. as the act
reSSes for this theater had always been
engaged from the ranks of the dra-
matte schools under the patronage of
the theater.
The innovation was not approved by
the majority of the members of the
company and they formed conspiracy
to make her fail. The Warsaw news
papers were influenced to join in the
attack of this one who was considered
as an outsider" After she had re-
hearsed the play chosen for the first
night the jealous actors forsaw what a
success she would make and attempt
ed to prevent it by one of their num-
Der feigning sickness so that a more
difficult play might be substituted.
This play was "Adrienne Lecouvreur.'
This part was then considered the most
difficult in the range of an actress. They
also endeaVored to put further obsta-
cleS in her way.
At last the great night came. AL
| the house had been sold out, the War
saw public being curious to see how
| this young actress, yet unknown tc
| fame, would accomplish a task il
which no other actress had succeeded
| since the impersOna ton of the charac-
ter by the divine Rachel.
! When she appeared upon the stage
almost overcome by stage fright (
deep silence pervaded the audience, al
Ominous silence; and yet after her frs
|
few others she was absolutely alb
sorbed in her part. The hush continu eC
until she came to the fable of thu
pigeons. At it's close there burst il
the theater such a storm of applause
as she had never heard before and ha
seldom heard since.
Her battle was won.
Colony Plan Fails
Nine. Modjeska and her HUSBAND
came to America filled with enthuSi
asm for a Utopian plan to esta blisl
near Los Angeles a Polish colony IL
which they and their fellow citizen
might enjoy the blessings of liberty
The Arcadian idyl was not a success
1t brought an exhaustion of materia
resources and compelled them to eX
change their dreams of peace for
new struggle for existence.
She made the bold decision TO go t
san Francisco and study English TO
the American stage. The year 1877
found her there. She met there youn
Polish woman who spoke excellen
! English and who consented to give he
a daily lesson of one hour But thi
lesson lasted through the whole day
From In the morning till s at nigh
they toiled together with hardly a
! interruption.
, AS soon as she felt that she had suf
uclently mastered the English tOngu
, she wrote a letter to John MeCul
Tough, who was then managing tn
( California theater. San Francisco.
Her Premiere Here
This secured for her an audience wit
him and led to the first Of many years
engagements in the country of he
adoption
! From the Pacific coast she went [
New York and also appeared in Phila
delphia under the management of MIR.
( John Drew. In 1880 she went to Lon
don and secured an English indorse
ment Of her American success. Tw
! years later she returned to this coun
try.
Since then this is where she has live
and where all her affections have bee
centered.
; ! In all the years Of her wonderful ca