Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-30
Director Farieon Would Go Back to First Prin-
ciples and Do Away With Stars-Too Much
Striving Now for Individual Achievement
HERBERT FARJEoN
BY BESSIE BEATTY.

| copying the letters from another paper,
but did not connect the letters with
the sounds of words 1 heard. All at
once it dawned upon me what those
letters meant and soon 1 learned to
read and write.
"One of the first stories 1 saw was
Daniel Deronda.' 1 read it and then l
determined to run away from San
Francisco, out into the country where
l could work part of the time on a
farm and go to school in the spare
hours. In this way 1 managed to go to
school three months out of a year.
Just as l was beginning to think I
should learn the things / was longing
to know, a domestic tragedy called me
back to San Francisco and 1 had to
begin anew.
In Doctors Office
II got work in a doctors office. first
as messenger boy and then as l learned
l began to take an interest in the pro-
fession and l helped with the bacteri-
illogical experiments.
"At night 1 went to school and I
made up my mind 1 would earn enough
money to learn the medical profession.
was eighteen then and by my night
study managed to get ahead so that
1 could go to Lowell high school for six
months.
Ihen change came into my life.
saw Lewis Morrison in Faust"
mad but one ambition from that
time forward-to go on the stage.
Il got position as extra man at a
salary of $3.50 a week and began NV
career on the stage. At 4:3O every
morning l used to get up and spend the
morning until rehearsal hour making
archaeological experiments for phvsi.
clans. BY this means L earned enough
to live upon. -
. 1here were many strange and some
Iunhy experiences in my life at this
time l was filled with ideas that some
people called crazy and 1 wanted to
work them out and prove that l was
right. was
His Long Hair
- think my hair was rather long
ana this was the cause of no little en-
oarrassment to me on one occasion.
went to look for rooms in board
ing mouse. The woman showed me all
through the house and 1 picked out a
room that 1 liked. L think I will
take this one 1 told her.
she answered. D'e'
That's why I came here I said.
But you look like a poet with that
long halr and those hollow eyes of
yourn. Poets aren't spectacle. / can't
nave any but spectacle people in my
house, ''-'
Needless to say, my feelings were
so lacerated that 1 never went there
again.
Every spare minute had spent in
reading, and then 1 wanted to try to
write: Verses-if my efforts could lie
called such-and stories | wrote. b,lt 7
MD them and never thought of ask
ing anyone to publish them. They
We're not worth 1t. But longed to put
some OF my ideas down, and 1 did it.
Becomes Stage Manager
In time became stage manager of
the Alcazar theater in San Francisco
and l stayed there until just before
the fire.
II was offered this position at the
Grand IN Los Angeles and / deter
mined TO come. Every one said was
mad and that was going to my DOOM
but l felt that l should come. and it
has been the very best thing for me.
"Melodramatic art does not appeal to
my better judgment, but 1t is fine
training. have ideas, and these |
want to work out. Dramatic art today
does not mean nearly all 1t should.
IN All other arts the artist strives
TO bring out one great idea. He makes
his background, his coloring and every
thing else work to bring out that one
great idea. In theatri ,al art II is diff
ferent. There is too much striving for
individual achievement.
When we return to first principles
we Will have no stars or leading men
or women. The art OF the theater as
opposed to the art of the drama of to-
day, viii be blending of all of the
great arts, such as painting. music and
aetionTnot acting, but the action Of
life.
The voice, the action. the gesture
the lights, scenery and music shall be