The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

One Of tho most unusual visitors to Bir- mingham this summer is Miss Marie Curtis She has been the guest tor several weeks of her sister and her bcother-in- law, MT. R. E. McDcweli, the secretary of the Country club. Miss Curtis Is a gifted actress and has been for several years associated with rotabls artists in the theatrical world. Sue has been very quiet, indeed, during her stay here, and was only discovered" a few days since though she has several friends In the city who have known her from childhood.
 An enthusiastic young person who js bubbllngly interested in everybody and particularly so in people of the stage was introduced to Miss Curtis one day this week. Why" she exclaimed, nobody knows you're here. I believe you have been hiding" "so I have" laughed the actress. You see, it's so long since l have seen any of my relatives, and l came just for that have not been south in five years nor to Birmingham in seven. I came this time just to rest and see my people, and once in five years makes it hard for me to have enough of their society and of quiet home life after my study and my work before the foot lights"
 Her real home is in Columbus, Miss, and one would never think of placing it in any but southern state. Her soft, southern voice dedes question, and she has lovingly preserved it's cadence even through her stage training. In fact her whole air is that of the southern womah' an indescribabie something that a per son of the south feels unconsciously, yet a charm, too, that is confined to no sec tion. Queenly in flgure and boise she has dignity and grace of manner ad- nirable in a woman of any land. Her hazel eyes are wonderful in their sweet ness and fringed, as they are, to an eX- quisite softness by the longest of lashes, must be one of her most precious assets in emotional plays.
 Miss Curtis was member of virginia Harned's company last winter In the dramatization of Tolstois book, Anna Karenina." As she suggested, this play had a somewhat brief run in the east dispite Miss Harned's popularity, owing to certain financial conditions, caused by the panic. Even so, Miss Curtis pointed out, it might have met with better suc- cess and lived throughout the winter had it not unfortunately been introduced too early in the season. The public does not care for tragedy in the summer time Something light and frothy takes better always Being presented first when mo- body felt physically equal to tears or sighs proved it's death-temporarily at any rate. However" she continued, T consider Harned's work as Anna har- china the most superb she has done III any emotional play Her best work IS in the heavy parts-the death scene at the last, where she throws herself De- fore a ravoing train, is particularly thrill ling. By the way, the scenic effect In that portion of the play was eXcellenty managed The locomotive, with blazing lights, hurries before the astonlshea auo- fence and only the top of the tram ls visible This is managed by bit of ma chinery below the stage that reVolNes round and round and presents the most realistic appearance of moving the engine forward The heroine announces her ln- tention to kill herself. She leaps over the precipice, below which the top of the train is seen, the curtain falls and she is seen no more. This affords most dra- matic climax but strange to say the public didn't see 1t that way when the curtain fell on the first performance the audience remained seated, expecting something else to happen, so 1t was oe- cided to have two little children run across the stage crying the news or Karenina's death. Since then 1t mas peeh played with that addition
 "I have always wondered, sald the inouisitive girl, If Miss Harmed IS as attractive off the stage as on It. fou know her we'll do you not?'
 "Oh. yes; I have spent great deal or time with her She Is the most apso- lutely magnetic woman l ever knew not one of extraordinary mentality, but perfectly fascinating physically Her home in New York is perfect, too-]ust the right setting for one like her-and she has been so happy there.
 Tt is a pity" remarked the inquisitive person. that she and Sothern should be divorced. l am trying so hard to keep some of my Illusions, and one was that these two people were real lovers, and not of the play-acting variety. Julian Story and Emma Eammes disappointed me-and now" she sighed, ''Sothern and Harmed"
 There was note of sadness in Miss Curtis expressive eyes as she answered:
 ''Yes it does seem too bad. Loyalty is very difficult to theatrical people. You