The Washington times., 1908-03-08

- LIZA y l. II E<IkoOL1E4s al az
usual managerial ability. and
very pronounced ideas as tol
what constitutes dramatic art, Is an
Optinist concerning the future of the
American stage. In discussing the mer-
its and demeriLs OF the historic art in
This country, Miss .Nethersole is an in
terestinS .Conversationalist. she is one
OF the few English-speaking actresses
who has ever appeared I'm Paris, and
rshe has returned 20 this country, after
a successful enga cement IA the French
icapital last summer, imhued with the
Adea Of the necessity for & national the
yater in the United States She declares
srhat she has preached the idea OF a ma
1tional tneater 50 long ana so earnestly
hto her own people, the English, without
awakening any particular interest. that
she has become discouraged With
Americans she believes It viii be diff
8 ferent, because, as she declares, We OF
this country are greedy for knowledge.
The predominating characteristic of the
New World, as she sees il, is thirst
for everything movable. With THIS
trait so highly developed, she is conn
dent that there is hope for national
.Iheater in this country, when once, the
general public realizes the benefits 10 ne
derived therefrom. But America Is not
Vet prepared for a national theater, de
tcIares Miss NethersOle. We must, 1lrst
OF all. nave a national university Tor
the training OF actors Under the pres
ent system our aNors are accidental or
haphazard artists They may have ma
tive genius and they may not. The
public must pay before II can dlsllh-
elIish the worthy from the unworthy
But with a national university estab-
lished in Washington, with branches III
-btcsgo. New York Cincinnati, Phila-
delphia. St. Louis and other cenleis OF
incubation and wealth. she believes the
1a+{onat tbeater can follow within three
or four years Then each actor VIII
nave a certificate showing his ability
and qualifications for appearing at the
national theater.
Field for PhilanthToPists.
Miss NethersoIe believes that the day
v-iu come when our wealthy philan-
tbroplsts will share their benefactlohs
which are now Iavished upon colleges
and libraries. with a national university
of acting. When the prejudice against
rbe stage dies out, as it is rapidly DONG
owing TO the greater degree OF e&ceI
lence that is constantly being demanded
bv. audiences. our. great capitalists an,
art lovers, Miss Nethersole believes
viii ind in the drama a new avenue
into which to turn their wealth for TN
enlirhtenment of their fellow-counJTy
men. The time IS not distant when thes'
captains Of industry and finance Wal
md as much personal qualification ant
altr1listfc satisfaction I'm endowlng
theater as they do now i'm making flfu
Of masterpieces to art galleries, or Il
erecting palaces of peace for world tri
bunals.
Lovers of the best in dramatic ar
will welcome Miss Nethersole's enron
rnent in the list of those who are work
ing for something higher and bette
than the ephemeral theatrical enter
tainments which dominate the drama'
ic world today. She is a woman who's
achievements in the past make he
words of value. and her wide eXper
.ence and travel make her an admiraol
Judge Of conditions here as compare
win other countries The pioneer drs
matte philanthropist could not do bette
rhan TO induce an artist of Miss Netl
ersoIe's equipment 10 devote her tin
to arousing popular interest IN I'd
fional thcatev.