Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-12

M Hal III n uhuAt ANhL which /
XAI we call a rose by any other
wv would smell as sweet7' so
~ unused the fa~fr-Capulet, when
IS&1<GSI trying by her sophistry to rec
- oncile the differences between
her house and that Of the Montague to
whom she has given her heart. What's in
a name, indeed. From the very beginning
Of mans activity it has been the desire Of
the ambitious to achieve something that
would send his name down the ages. This
effort has taken all sorts of guises. The
warrior has "plucked the bubble, reputa-
ton, even from the lannon's mouth" The
writer has striven through the long nights
and busy days Of his life to add to the sum
OF the worlds knowledge such modicum as
would ensure him remembrance. The orator
has spouted, the singer has voiced his
sweetest notes, the pest has raved, the
painter has smeared. the sculptor has chis-
eled. the actor has ranted, the doctor has
searched, the explorer risked his life and
denied himself comforts-all sorts and con-
ditions of men have given over their lives
to the end that after death they should not
be forgotten. but their names would live as
long as grateful humanity could recall
their services. The Ephesian youth was
not a ~pyromaniac; he was merely obsessed
Win n most laudADlo ueSlTe 10 leaFe MS
name to the ages. and so he put the torch
to the temple. What's in a name, for
sooth? All mans efforts have been
wrapped up in a name.
But here comes Mabel Taliaferro. with
q name so artistocratic that few can pro
nounce II, and for this very reason chucks
II to the winds. 1t matters not that thou
sands Of her a6miring fellow oountrymen
aAA 5000 49, -. Fa.,f4.- IA 49, 49,
that they flock to see her, as joyously as
II they could say the queer name right
off, just like they say Smith" or Jones"
1t doesn't even matter to her that her
sister was able to go out last season as a
star and gather in numerous sheckels be-
cause the trusting public wasn't wise to
the fact that there are two of them, and
flocked to see the one when they thought
they were seeing the other. II doesn't mat
ter that she has actually made the name
known. She is tired OF 1t. Nor does 1t
seem to cut any ice with her that when
she was welded the law and custom gave
her a right to take another name, one
that has been worn with some grace and
not a little dignity by eminent personages
on the American stage, and abroad. She
asks us to kindly forget that she was
born Taliaferro, was chrlstened Mabel and
welded Thompson. We are kindly re-
0uNaANh III NhN AuAuA0 = taA h6A ENHlAs
Just Nell. No more. It is her middle
name, and she has a right to use II. But
we are TO transfer to Nell all the loyal
devotion we have paid to Miss Taliaferro
30 that "Nell' can start out with a lame
already built. Very well; Nell 1t shall
be hereafter. II will not only prevent
confusion as to the mere matter of pro-
nunciation, but it will help in another
way. When, in the future, her thrifty
asd 1nsarnrtafn1 h,,aha nd Aaridaa 20 aapd
out a No, 2 company to present some
piece in which his wife has made a sue
cess, he can't hornswoggle us into the
belief that we are to see the real thing
until we get TO the theater and find out
different. 1t is quite within reason for
him TO have two Taliaferros in his man.
agerial purvlew, but he'll have to be con-
tent with one Nell
In making the singular request that the
public transfer its favor from Miss Talia-
ferro to Nell, Mr.. Thompson writes a
note as follows:
In the future Miss Mabel Taliaferro, this
youngest dramatic star on the American
stage, will be known simply as Nell.
In the history Of theatricsls there Is nj
record Of so sudden and complete a chang
in the name of a player-man or woman
who has enjoyed anything like Miss Talia
ferro's popularity and success. Because o
this fact she and her management coupl
with the announcement OF the change tn
reasons for making it.
'"Taliaferro" is pronounced correctly II
two totally different ways ana INCORRECT,
in half a dozen others. The name Is 81
foreign and so confusing, to playgoers gen
orally that in many theatrical oenters Il !
unfamiliar to the lips Of men and womel
OF whose everyday conversation plays an
players form a part. 1t does not sugges
to friend or stranger any of the daintines
and girlish charm Of the little star. In
stead, by its spelling and verbal weight,
has too often indicated the massive sprea
OF a grand opera soprano rather than tn
slender delicacy Of a young American CIR
Nell happens TO be the erstwhile Miss Tai
iaferro's middle name. and as II Is hers b
right and as through It's very simphcit
and sweetness II eliminates I'm a momen
all the difficulties and unfortunate miscor
ceptions/of the larger surname 1t has bee
chosen by the winsome actress herself a
the title by which she wishes to be know
FREDERIC THOMPSON.
Nell is % years of age, has been a sta
since she was 20 and has been a principt
\ player OF leading parts in famous plas
ever since she was az years old. She
most widely known as the creator OF n
title role in Polly Of the Circus III
but long before she had become a star sh
was celebrated throughout the Unite
States as Baby Baseome In Blue Jeans
her first part subsequently she was
five-year-old principal in Patent Apple
For" played a leading part with Andre
Mack and Katie Emmett in shamrock
and "KIiarney," and when she had adde
two more summers TO her age was wit
Chauncey Olcott In Tommy the New
boy and THE Irish Artist" BY the tin
she was I she was the most famous chi
actress in America.
Before she had done playing with dol
the young lady. who will henceforth
known as Nell. had played with Russ WI,
tai In For Fair Virginia" had create
Ester In zangwills Chndre OF q
4 Ghetto" which gave here the first oppo
tunity to play abroad, and had originate
' the adorable Fairie Child In William b.
Ter Yeats exquisite The Land OF Hear
- me age OF y before the leading sOci
and literary organizations OF Ireland und
Inc personal direction OF the distinguish
author. Everyone ana Low
bsr adorable Lovey Mary In Mrs. Wig
Of the Cabbage Patch" and New Yorke
can never forget her delightful portray
~ UInsome Dolly in Mr.. Shaw's "
Never Can Tell" AS the principal play