The San Francisco call., 1909-02-16
Actresses Are AbnOrmal-the
Better fhe Actress the More
Abnormality," She Says
wives Should Rear Little
Ones, Train Them, Love Them
and Get the Dinner"
Margaret IIIingtOn Tells Story
of Shattered Life Ideals
From Hospital Cot
By Walter Anthony

Margaret Ellington is weary of the
worry and wear which much inter
viewing entails and Of the publicity
10 which she. as just a woman and
not an actress. has been subjected
since she made up her mind to find
her happiness in her own way and
not on the stage under the manage
ment of Daniel Frohman. her hus-
band. She looks to be but A girl,
though she is p years old. She SAYS
her husband. for whom she expresses
great admiration as gentleman and
theatrical manager, is 81 years of age
Ii is a case of December and May. and
May win win. no doubt. off the stage
as on. As she rests on her bed in the
Clara Barton hospital, seeking to re-
cover the nervous equilibrium which
she lost while touring the country in
The Thief" and acting when she
should have been in bed under a ply
sicians care. she is still kind enough
10 meet interviewers and so met her
again after her triumph in the Bern
stein play at the Van Ness theater.
SHE KNOWS THE STORY
In a newspaper story the facts are
usually recounted in a cynical way.
We like to disbelieve Mrs Frohman,
who is still a girl. who has travelled
over the tank route and who has
played in Anaconda TO a bunch of
miners who made obscene remarks
about the tragic French play, is as
wise TO the possibilities of her story
as any old timer on the police beat.
That's what worries her and keeps
her in bed and distresses her soul.
SO We talked about distractions.
What would you say to the public"
asked I. forgetting the doctors pres
ence. about the compatibility of the
stage with domestic life?"
That's an awful question to ask a
worried woman interjected DR.. l. NJ.
WelZmiller, who reclined on a nearby
bed and who wanted her TO make up
some rest which she had lost during
other interviews and other vigils
which break into the rest of the
famous.
I felt ashamed of the question my
self. but Mrs. Frohman replied:
All women are units. Each Of US
revolves in our own orbit, and the
circle of our movements is the result
ant Of the attractions which hedge US
round. I know so many good and ex-
cellent women on -he stage that what
personally feel about it would seem to
be a libel on their virtues.
"GIRLS, KNOW YOURSELVES.
The stage offers a fine career for a
girl who loves it, and who feels certain
that she has no impulses that would
lead her to d home and to a hearth
stone. / would say TO the girls who
are allured by the fOotlights, Take
care that you know your own weak
nesses and your own strength
The normal life Of a woman is killed
by the theater. Players lose their own
conception Of the proportionate values
Of things. Take an actress new
given TO the stage: She lives in a
tiny room in lodging house. At the
theater she wears the finest clothes
that an extravagant stage manger can
provide for her. To be sure her Jewels
are paste and her gorgeous costumes
are from the cOstumer; but she wears
them and acquires a taste for finery
which she can not afford in her own
life. If she is not a woman of more
than ordinary strength Of character
she viii resent that others wear Off
the stage what she wears on False
values are given TO life. The evident
and obvious are placed against the real
and fine.
Though there are quotation marks
about that paragraph. / am bound to
admit it was written from memory. and
out Of the consciousness that Margaret
Ellington was talking not as an actress
but as a young woman who wanted a
home.
The fact that a great theatrical man
ager and an upright gentleman such as
Daniel Frohman is reputed to be. and
Sc had tod Ia
70 the stage when she wanted TO be a
hausfrau has nothing to do with the
case. except 70 argue a complete in
compatibility upon which the divorce
courts Of some state viii ultimately
pass.
SACRIFICE TO AMBITION
The fact that he regarded the mar
riage certificate which made Margaret
Ellington his wife as a contract elimi-
mating the necessity of a two weeks
notice to the star which his pride and
money backed generously is a. calling
circumstance to his wife, who was sac
rihced on the altar Of his fine ambi-
tions
Did not Mr.. Frohman handle Won
and your talents as chattels2' I asked: :
and. though he loved you, did he not
love the theater more2'
Mrs. Frohman. sunken eyed and un-
happg, merely cast glance Of acquies-
ence which she contradicted by a mega
tive noo or merely muscular denial.
wish that the wan woman might
have the strength and courage ade-
quate to the task Of speaking to a
multitude OF individuals, one bv one
as she spoke 10 me. Her dissertation
would prove splendid antidote for
stageitis and would. If needed. turn
many young woman away from the
stage entrance and into a home where
her sweet gifts would find a finer haven
and a safer, saner environment.
The great actresses said Mrs
Frohman, ARE abnormal In spite of
the fact that they are able to PORTRAY
normal emotions. they are abnormal
PRESIDENT TAFTps TNArcUp.T,o--