The Washington times., 1907-03-24
THEATRICAL NEWS AND STAGE CHAT OF WEEK

Of persons eminent in all the higher
branches of art. numbering more than
$50. participated in it. For thirty-six
hours before the performance began the
vast old Theater Royal, in Drury Lane,
Yves surrounded by thousands Of her ad-
mireTs seeking entrance into the thea
ter, and even when told hours before
the curtain rose that all seats were
gone, thousands still remained to ado
their cheers TO the plaudits of the
thousands more who were 50 fortunate
as TO be inside the theater American
stars like Maxine Elliott and Edna May.
and English stars of the same high
position, were. quite content to appear
simply in chOruses and tabIeaux vivants
in order that they might attest their
appreciation Of their greater sister art
ist. Eleanor Duse came all the way
from Italy to publicly embrace her sis
ter artist. Bernhard cabled a long TEL
egram OF regrets; Abbey, Sargent, and
six others of the greatest painters of
modern times united IN designing the
artistic ornamentation OF the programs
and in the arrangement OF the tableaux
vfvants and in every way conceivable
the world did her honor Royalty lent
its presence and aid.
And yet this subject of the greatest
honors ever conferred on a player, after
a long and trying day. remained the
same simple Ellen Terry. so devoted to
her chosen profession that in less than
two hours after the conclusion Of this
great testimonial she was back upon the
stage Of The Court Theater appearing In
her regular performance Of Captain
Rrassbound's Conversion" Fancy an
ordinary woman doing such a thing,
There could perhaps be no greater an
OF the simplicity Of true
greatness.
Ellen Terry went on the stage when
she was eight years of age. All Of her
family were on the stage with her. Her
sister Kate notably, who was very much
like her in appearance, fairly divided
honOrs with her, and when she reached
the age Of nearly thirty. her work had
already attracted the attention Of the
London critics and she was regarded as
one OF the best OF IL younger genera
OF actresses Of that time. II was her
Portia az the opening Of the Lyceum
Theater by Henry Irving that thrust
her forward as the undisputed mistress
one has yet cared 70 even attempt TO
dispute. II seems somewhat strange
that this woman. already experienced
should have thought that she had met
defeat instead Of the great triumph
which was hers. At the conclusion of
the performance which caused the Eng
lish public to go into raptures over her.
she rushed 10 her dressing room and
said 70 a lady friend who was awaiting
her there. in an outburst Of despair:
I have failed. I have miserably
failed" and then. seizing a long cloak.
threw il about her shoulders and rushed
ont OF the theater without waiting 10
remove her stage attire. Her friend
went with her. and they entered a cab
ana drove up and down the Thames en-
bankment until dayli Eht for the weep
ing Terry could not be cOnsoled. Then
they were driven home, and IN an hour
OF so later the morning apers came and
told her OF her triumph.
She laughs when she speaks OF the in
cldent now and says that she could not
believe her eyes wher she read the pa
pers, but they were there, and her doubts
were eventually conquered. She has
never judged herself since that time and
SAYS naiyely that she was q pretty bad
judge Of Ellen Terry.