The Washington herald., 1907-06-09
TO BE AN ACTRESS.

! They are golden words and gracious
ones that fall from Miss Ellen Terrys
lips, therefore to be treasured Here are
some Of her maxims concerning the theme
Of How to Become a Successful Act
ress- II might also be entitled Sweet
Are the Uses of Modesty on the Stage"
Great beauty is an attribute Of the gods and no
Doubt the gods will not neglect to favor il vet II Is
often 1n embarrassment for the sincere student II
you are beautiful and have Of course discovered the
sway ana superficial power that attach % beauty
You must learn % discreety use that power
Wisdom is perhaps the last one Of the senses 90
g into active service bGt you can obtain borrow or
adapt a good deal Of 1t from older heads
In most natures there Is a tomcrting species Of
invisible imT Particularly is this true IN the y0lng
as yet unuepared for internal wars Some call the
c'Inm7ncst Of these imps vanity Others give him
the midcr name, unrec7 gnized ability
There Is nothing so common nor so dangerous 20
The Young student of the stage this insidi0us imp
who makes fools Of So many There is always a
higher pinnacle for sou 20 reach in your ART and
there Is no time al any point in the journey TO
waste On small yanfies
Beauty. because q the superficial homage II in
spires viii frequently assume pose Of asyrrance
that cannot sustain In dramatic art Assurance
IS Of course. necessary In measure % the dramatic
student, but no further than within the limits a
'-'r aatl.tt4.lH AZ tAsH lltiNitle OF ans nLltf
profession
Sc if y0u have much beauty and little talent yor
must work for that Of which y0u have least ard
guard with conservative attention that which you
have
The human idols Of the stage are men and women
With brains sufficiently alert to adapt their physical
PROJECTIONS or impericcti1us % artistic VgrTcse7.
Let me urge one OF tu9 remedies for the cverc1n-
tdCnt and UyeU8tcd student
M0dssty is a rare flavor I'm the daily fare Of the
dnma'lc profession. and therefore II is a saupcQu
worth seeking An occasional doubt about ones own
ability is not SO destructive or annhIlating as It
would seem % one Who has 10 rot There IS much
wisdom in modest doubt
DO not bv any means confuse This trait with The
shrinking quality Of some stage asuraut thar never
lets the roco -rt over the f00tghts BrtHtc8 stage
Fright and stage doubt there is a vast difference
Mans famous actors have had stage fright early IN
their careers and an q them have measured their
read 20 Success by the standard rlIe II doubt
The seisatsted Young person iH life Is apr % he
limited I'm bis or her achievements No project is
ever launched securely without provision against fail
urc and the safe pilot through the shoals Of failure
is doubt
Therefore. no matter how much vru are praised
no matter how many admirers you have b. yGur
w-rs mo- matter how handsome or how BEAUTIFUL Won
are. always retain certain Bmrunt NJ doubt about
It AL lt IS Ir=t as u.I 20 be modest ir rrdfes-
sion that tsmrts % SD much -sIrrau~eit and rau
N.
~ course. wisdom IS mot generally for the Young
and unfortunately there is hardly any profession that
requires So much Of b. as the stage Wisdom. as I
have said before yrg must have. and thc best way
20 get is 20 fe on Euu can of your struggle vaur
do1hts Erur ambition, and vuur prospects 20 older
people who. v0G are quite sure. take kindly and
sincere interest in v7fr work.
II ls not wise 20 manage vour rru Affairs In a
Profession that necessarily ahsarts an gulr attention
IN artistic matters. R'-he7 lend yourself 20 The /
guidance NJ some parent. guardian. or tried old
friend tl1t T0u NAV not walk binlIy into the de-
srair # isu~miui1rgs failure
Even If these elders mag n0t have vlch an init |
mate insight into Your II things artistic they
40 least from their advantage in age. can r-t the
perspective of the direction sour life is irurneying
and % is better % believe what they see than 20
imagine a result they cannot sae
All D'os have their exceptions h1f ] believe in /
one standard rue f1r young people with Hrry amb /.
tirns
Modest doubt is the beacon of the wise" See .
that Ern keep always In sight so that ty the time
yru are ready t0 test rrr talents with the public
yen are wise enough % estimate the result.