Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-12

| ton, and had then leant back so tina
his face was hidden from the stage
The first impression of the new
actress, who was expected to tax:
Paris by storm, was a trifle disappoint
ing to an audience accustomed to dis
tinction, If not actual beauty. in tho
appearance of its favorites. She was
small, almost insignificant of stature
and her face was not in any way re
markable for it's loneliness. Her hail
and eyes were the most noticeable fea
lures. The hair was dark, glossy anC
abundant; the eyes were very largt
and brilliant, combination of quail
tiles that is rarely found, for large
eyes are generally dull and lustreless
and keen, piercing eyes are usually
small But in spite of these two re
ideeming features, the general opinion
was decidedly against Mademoiselle
Jackson, and the applause died away
very suddenly as she came into full
view of the audience
What mite" whispered Lord
Portlington. "Poor little thing,"
Mrs. Tankerlane did not reply. He,
glasses were still levelled on the
girls face. The great eyes fascinated
her. For a second they rested on the
box in which she sat, and in that
second Mrs. Tankerlane felt that this
little actress had read all the story
Of her life. She shivered, and then
leant back in her chair. And then
she noticed that her husband was not
looking at the stage. She smiled. II
was hardly likely that Mademoiselle
Jackson would rivet the attention OF
a man like William Tankerlane.
Yet before ten minutes had elapsed
This fragile, insignificant little woman
had gripped her audience with SC
strong a hold that the whole house
seemed to vibrate to the words that
came from her lips, and, before the
first set was over, the critics realised
that a great genius had come into
their midst.
The first note of her voice broke
the spell Of Indifference and even con-
tempt with which her entrance had
been greeted. 1t was wonderful
voice, strong and resonant, and yet
so perfectly mder control that its
merest whisper was distinct Not a
single infection Of it was lost on
those who heard it.
1t portrayed the mind and heart IF
the speaker as clearly as though all
her thoughts and emotions had been
written down on paper
Here said Legage. the greatest
dramatist of the century, sis woman
with soul, I expect great things Of
this little one"
And Legage was not disappointed
Mademoiselle Jackson did great things
that night. 1t is a great thing for
beautiful and distinguished looking
woman to hold an audience for three
hours. But it is a greater thing still
for woman, who is neither beautiful
nor distinguished in appearance, to
accomplish the same task.
And so well did Mademoiselle Jack
son accomplish it that before the end
of the second act, everyone in the
house had come to the conclusion that
she was one of the most beautiful
women they had ever seen. Her face
indeed, was for the time radiant with
the light of the soul within
Amid the scene of enthusiasm which
greeted the piece from first to last,
William Tankerlane could have
scarcely remained in the obscurity Of
the box without attracting an un.
pleasant amount of attention. For the
sake of common decency he was
bound to keep his eyes on the stage.