The Marshall republican., 1907-07-05
tcssyrisss = Sovsss.,

!. fJuia Marl0We, though regarded as an
American actress, was born W the lake
OF four Year, when her family removed
70 q farm In Kansas. AZ II Year, Of age
she Joined q juvenile "Ptnsfore' company
and soon attracted attention by her clever
acting and her rich. clear voice. Other
engagements followed: then she retired
from the stage and studied dramatic art
for three years. Roappearing a. Par
thenia In "fngomaf" at the Bftou thester
in New York, she won instant recognition
az 4 splendid actress. stiti. she struggled
ments OF various klnds befors she was
accorded the high place on the stage
which her merit gave TO her. In such
roles ne Juliet, Viola. Rosalind, Barbara
Frietchie. Colinette and Mary Tudor she
has won the warmest admiration OF the
pubiic.)
! think few people can realize how
fierce has been the strife In regard to
women on the stage and how difhcult
II has been for them TO convince the
world at large OF the Importance Of
their bard-won position and their
beneicent influence upon dramatic art.
| am speaking now Of the past. Hap
PLY at the present stage of dramatic
development woman's standard IA as
high and her position as assured as
mans.
II was not always 10. Looking back
10 the z of oppression and intoler.
ance when In 1860 woman first ap-
peared In dramatic representations,
we ind her entrance marked an era
In dramatic advancement. The first
record OF woman's appearance upon
the stage IL December 6. 1860. The
play was shakespeare's "Othelio." and
the Dcsdemona was played by a wom-
an. There has been considerable doubt
as to whom this honor belongs. Some
have given II to Anne Marshall. The
more general superstition Ia that Mar
garet Hughes deserves this right TO
Immortality. We have Pepys' author
lily for II that women appeared In Kill
ligrew's company In London on Janu-
airy .. 1861. In Beaumont and Fietch.
er's "Beggar's Bush"
Their carly appearances were 70.
ceived with great d~isfavor. DIR. 'Doran
tells US that the writer's Of the time
denounced the FIRST actresses a. "un.
womanish aud graceicss"-not meaning
that they were ungsinly and uhfemi-
nine. but that p~lay-acting IN itself
was below their dignity. Glad I am
10 say" remarked Thomas Brand.
speaking Of these actresses. THAT they
were Kissed. hooted and pippin-pelted
from the stage. 80 that I do not think
they will soon be ready 70 try the same
again" He adds that well-disposed
people were rishteously indignant at
these women. whom Pyrnne. a rigor.
Gus puritan Of the time. called mon
Sters."
Notwithstanding the marked dis
favor with which they were nrst re-
,eived. reasonable and serious-minded
persons could not fall to see the pro.
priety OF Juliet and Desdemona being
acted by girls rather than boys. II
would APPEAR that Immediately upon
this important progressive step the
artistic need for woman's appearance
must have been generally felt.
We. read that soon afterward &C.
tresses were In great demand. II was
toupd that they not only increased tho
popularity of the theaters In which
they performed. but that their COOP
Grafton was indispensable TO the prop.
or preseL.--ion of any play. They
made possible a fullness and q beauty
OF Interpretation which had not been
dreamed OF before.
Take for q single example the won.
en- of Shakespeare. They stand as
vivid types of truth and bsauty. They
are so alive with the warmth Of fem.
ininity that their expression by other
than women Is In itself q monstrous
sacrilege. A play performed by men
can hardly be imagined to-day and
the wonder 10 that such an ahsurdity
ever existed.
The realization Of the necessity OF
woman's, cooperation with man In dra-
matte achievement grew rapidly. for
mems minds were ut this time too high
ly susceptible to advancement to re-
main In ignorance Of this need. So
II vas not long before actresses we're
recognized and highly respected. This
was 30 true In tho case OF Mrs. Better.
ton that when in 1874 "Calista'' was
performed ct court the actress was
chosen - ~instructress to tho ~priucessss
Mary and Anne. and much Of the sub
sequent gracefui elocuti0n and dir
nifty of,bearins Of these ladies wa &C.
credited Mrs. Hettsrton, Perhaps
no fnef compliment was svsr paid
to : woman n . walk OF life than