The Washington herald., 1908-03-01
CAREER IS METEORIC
Miss Frances Starts Rapid
Rise to Fame.
BELAsCo ATTRACTED BY HER
Youthful Star Gives Her Views on
the Drama-BeIieves Girls with
Proper Qualifications should Not
Hesitate TO Seek stage Career.
Enjoys Horseback Riding.

The career OF Miss Frances starr has
been somewhat meteoric. Her actual ex-
perience on the stage covers only a few
years. The last time the young actress
was travelling it was, If memory serves,
in the comedy "Gallops" That was
about three seasons ago. 1t was a pleas
ant little comedy. and Charles Richman
was the star of the piece. both from the
artistic and billboard standpoints. Frances
Starr~was not then even leading woman.
She played a female Juvenile part. but,
small as It was, the sweet young girl
made the part stand out. and little BY
little Frances Starr was talked about in
managers offices. Several prominent dra-
matte writer's singled her out and prophe-
Sled things.
David Belasco was the first manager
to see possibilities In the young woman
at least he was the first TO act upon his
judgment. for he engaged her as soon as
she was at liberty. He placed her with
David Warfeid in The MuskS Master"
and she played the part of Helen Stan
ton. the old music masters daughter. for
only six weeks. the end of one season and
the beginning Of the next.
When the eminent, dramatic author
looked about for one to i'll the leading
woman role in his California drama.
THE Rose of the Rancho" then ready
for production. he selected Frances Starr.
He cast the other parts with some of the
best-known actors in America. including
Charles Richman. a. Hamilton Revelle
John w. Cope. J. Harry BenrimO. Grace
Gayior Clark. and Maria Davis The
drama was produced IN Boston. where It
was received with favor. and moved i'm
mediately 10 New York. where Il ran all
last season and part OF this at the Be
lasco Theater. At the time Of the pro-
ductiOn ia Boston. and during the first
part of the run in New York. no one was
starred" or featured" I'm the big COM
pany OF prominent players. Gradually
Frances Starr's name crept into the an
nouncements. and finally onto the bill
boards II was small at first, but grad
ually it grew in size, and, judging from
the verdict Of New York and road"
audiences. in favor.
This season the young actress name
flashes in burning letters on electric signs,
ard az last-or, rather, so soon-Franccs
starr is a fulI-hedged BeIasco star. David
Belasco IS regarded, first OF all as a man
of keen judgment in the selection Of play
ers and I'm recognizing undeyeloped tai
ent, and the selection Of Frances Starr
To play conspicuous roles as a star must
be regarded as portentous-
Frances Starr's views on the drama. il
may be said. reflect somewhat the per
sonality, as well as revealing the mind. OF
the Young woman. First Of all. she IS de-
voted 20 her preceptor. David Belasco
who is her ideal She entered her hotel
in Philadelphia recently and met friend
The glow Of the unexpected greeting came
through tear-dimmed eyes.
i have just happened upon a most aw-
ful scene she said. 7 saw the police
wagon back up here and take in three
derelicts. one was a poor old woman
II seemed her only crime was that Of
poverty. And some specimens OF human
ity. men and women. stood around and
grinned
''Mr. Belasco tries so hard to keep me
happy that I don't suppose 1 ought to
watch those things, but l cannot help it,
Mr.. Belasco's constant plea is 10 keep
me happy Only to-day he sent me a
telegram-it was so unexpected. toO-say-
ing he was pleased with the newspaper
reviews which ne had been watching. He
closed with the words. Keep happy and
we'll He is always doing those unex-
pected things; always so gentle and kind
and thoughtful He is Just like dear
kind father. and we all worship him. His
guidance IS right as we'll as wise
Il think the drama should be helpful to
the human race. Every form OF il. from
the crude melodrama 70 the psychological
study. has its true purpose IL it is helpful
in stirring our emotions 70 better things
Poetry. you know. Is not a matter Of
meter or rhythm alone. That IS only its
outward dress, and helps make it beauti-
ful. SO with the drama. Poetry glOws
sometimes through technical crudity. and
do not think we should condemn too Sc
verely play that does not reach ex-
ternal perfe ton. so long as it's big 5ie-
ments are worthy and appealing Won
derful as 'Rosmersholm' IS as play, and