The San Francisco call., 1908-03-22
By Walter Anthony

70 the people ana tlieH 1Ou Sde l44dL
the people are themselves to judge of
the expediency and accuracy of their
instruction. How can the people be
pupils and teachers at the same school?
The ability to select and pass on les
sons presupposes. II seems 10 me,
knowledge quite beyond the need OF
enlightenment"
we have always the critics with
Us" she said sweetly. to guide and
guard the public taste"
II would have been much nicer if
she hadn't smiled an inScrutable smile,
and I think she winked in the direction
OF her reflection in the big mirror
across the room.
One thing about an interview; you
can always change the subject If you
like. so we talked about the old days
At the Alcazar, familiar history 10 san
Francisco theater goers; about the time
when she and White whittlesey were
oo-stars for Belasco. and other con
genial subjects.
I cannot say" she went on. that
] take the same pleasure in my work
as 1 did then There is no one now
as formerly. with whom l can share
my success. or on whom I can lay half
the trouble which comes with life and
its struggles. Lewis Morrison my hus-
band. was always with me. urging me
10 greater efforts and aiding in the
achievements which were mine by right
of hard work and study. When he was
not with me, on very rare occasions,
my first care was 10 bundle of TO him
the notices that my work occasioned.
and o,seven when he was not with
me in person. he was in spirit. I lived
real life then. Some day, perhaps.
the JOY Of work will return. feel 1
am making progress. but it gives me
little pleasure. for there is no one TO
share the pleasure of it now
In line with her theories as TO the
real mission OF the theater Miss Rob-
erts expressed d high regard for Ibsen.
Sudermann. Hauptmann, Shaw and the
rest of the moderns.
7 think Ghosts is one OF the mar
vels Of stage literature; as an acted
play it is even greater. I like the
naturalness OF the action of Shaw's
plays. He is not forever straining aft
er q meledramatic effect His people
act like human beings. If clever peo-
pie meet in a drawing room there will
be- clever talk; if stupid people meet
there viii be stupid talk On leaving
room 4 person does not always be-
come momentarily brilliant in order 10
provide good exit. So on the stage
like the plays that treat Of life
normally and naturally; like sham for
example. there is not one theatrical
scene in the whole play"
Does q stupid man. an ignorant
sweeper OF chimneys whom you
wouldn't speak to in real life, become
an object OF interest when he is placed
on the stage?" inquired.
NO she answered, and I wouldn't
put such a character on the stage. But
I object to the constant effort OF most
playwrights to produce situations, pull
puppets with strings and make them
behave 10 suit the exigencies of an
: cA0OO- o~cA- P46uAcO put ne LrenG
Of present plays is toward naturalness,
and the theater viii be better off when
It is less theatrical"
This from a portrayer of Sapho and
zaza is not without the element of
the unexpected
Miss Roberts has been III ever since
she came 10 San Francisco. Even
though / have only been away year
she said, the climate got the best. or
the worst, OF me. ! have come from
high attitudes, and the quick descent
has left me Dreathless- But am much
better now and will be all right in
day or two, before we open in .Zira,'
I am sure Yesterday Chat was Tues
day. spent the whole day in bed, and
was afraid for awhile my neuralgia
would close the show for a night; but
an actress is like soldier in this-it's
dangerous and difficult TO desert"