Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-18
ANECDOTES OF MODJESKA
"reminiscences Of a Distinguished Ca.
resr on the Stage.
START WITH JOHN MCCULLOUGH
The Spirit of ''POrtia" Reelected I'm n
Rare Intervtew-An Experience
with some Dublin EN-
thusiants.

The long. successful ramati career Of
Madame Modjeska reflects alike the charms
of artistic and individual. and is fecked
with anecdotes and incidents which her
recent death recalls.
Most Interesting is the story Of her first
attempt to secure a footing on the Ameri-
can stage. In February, 1871. she went to
San Francisco. put herself under a tutor,
and by hard study was able In six months
TO speak with some fluency. She then APP
piled to John Mccullough, who was man
ager OF the California theater, for an en-
gagement. Barton Hill. then the stage
manager for Mr.. Mccullough, preserved
the letter which Modjeska wrote, and which
reads as follows: Mr.. John Mccullough:
Dear ~sir-Pardon the liberty 1 take in ad-
dressing you, but being a stranger here 1
know Of no other way OF approaching YOU.
1 have been introduced to you, but do not
know whether you remember me or not.
I came from Europe last year. and met you
at the Occidental hotel. You were even so
kind as to offer 10 play Hamlet with me,
but I could not decide to appear In a for
eign language, and I determined to learn
English. Now 1 am almost ready 10 go on
the American stage. and knowing you to be
80 obliging, and being quite alone in this
wide foreign world. / turn to you for adj
vice. Please let me know when and where
i can meet you. l know very we'll that you
are very much engaged, but perhaps you
can find some time to give to me, an artist
and q stranger. Believe me. yours truly,
Helena ModJeska."
Mr.. Mccullough made an appointment
with her. but pleaded sickness, and sent
Mr., Barton Hill to hear the timid applicant
about whose ability SO little was then
known. She made her appearance. accom-
panied by a friend who was teaching her
English, and gave the last scene from
"Adrienne L%ecouvreur.'' Mr.. Hill tells the
story in his own words: "I listened at
tentiveiy. and praised her earnestly when
she had finished. I did not tell her Just
what l thought Of her for fear I would
rise her hopes too high. John came that
night and said in his brusque way: well,
did you see herr Yes 1 answered. What
did you think of herr Then 1 was en-
thusisstic. she is a revelation-a wonder.
I am more than surprised-I am ~astounded.
Then John was interested. En- he said
sorry I didn't hear her. Suppose she would
come again2' II she did, I replied jest
ingly. you probably would be sick.
Madame came the next day and McCui-
Tough was even more pleased than 1. He
seized her hand and said: You have an
engagement for as long as you wish.
Everybody knows the rest. Madame Helena
Modjeska made her debut. and I have al
ways claimed the honor Of being her first
American audience"
C~arefuIness of Detail.
Nine. Modjeska was a great reader, enc
she spent years of her life, taking 1t alto.
Oafhar On lthrarfaa aftdvipU nv tho dafaiIs
OF her costumes. There is only one class
OF literature that she did not read, anc
that is the newspaper. She read only such
fragments as her husband and friends
thought would be OF special interest to her
One OF the latter, an intimate woman
friend, took her one morning an enormous
clipping from a paper, the advertisement
OF a patent medicine. In the center of Il
was a picture of the actress and beneath 4
in large words, Mime. Modjeska Is never
without Boanerges' Chicory Extract.
Anne. Modjeska was not up when 1t wa
taken to her. A look OF deep Amusement
stole over her face as she lay among he
pillows and gazed at her picture in tn,
paper and the emphatic words below.
"They are right" she said finally. Mime
Modjeska is never without II. They sen
me a bottle once. and to my certain knowl
eoBe IL never was opeHeu' 80 1 must nav
II still"
Nine. M~odjeska's regard to detail in he
costumes was the cause of an amusing
experience that she had IN London whet
she was playing there at one time.
friend OF the actress said while talkin
reminiscently the other night. The orde
Of the Golden Fleece. which Mary StuaI
wore and which the prince of Wales wears
Nine. Modjeska also wore when she playe
the part OF the Scottish queen, her orde
being. of course. a reproduction, though
very perfect one. 1t was lying on he
dressing table. when the prince OF Wales
now the king Of England. came to til