Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-16
"REMINISCENCES OF MoDJEsKA.

Indianapolis Doctor Tells of Polish Ac-
tress' Early Love of Shakespeare.
Nine. Helena Modjeska. the famous
Polish tragedienne who recently died
at her island home at Bay City. Cal,
was born in Cracow, Poland. in 1874.
AS child she saw much of the thea
ter. At seventeen she was married to
local theatrical manager and began
acting in Il company that contained
half dozen members of her own fam
lily.
1t was a most humble beginning.
MGdjeska'S wardrobe consisted of two
dresseS-a white one for comedy and
black one for tragedy. But in time
she achieved more than local repu-
tation, and In 1865 when she appeared
at the >theater in Warsaw. she was
already widely known and had re-
ceived invitations to play in France
and Germany
Mime. Modjeska's first husband hav-
ing died in 1864, she was married III
NOOO
Zenta. She remained in Warsaw as
the leading woman of the best theater
there until 1874, when political troubles
caused her husband to emigrate to the
United States. The couple founded
Polish colony in southern California
and it was there, in 1876. that Nine
Modjeska first met Edwin Booth, who,
after hearing her recite. advised her to
study English. In less than n year she
appeared as Adrienne Lecouvreur in
San Francisco with notable success.
After that her services We're COZ
stantly in demand.
DR.. w. B. Clarke of indianapolis.
who contributes a Renaissance and
letter from Nine. Modjeska regarding
her early love for Shakespeare. says:
During her last engagement at Ma
caulay's theater, Louisville, In March.
1899, she sent me letter in her own
handwriting, which has never been
published. Not long before this / had
| read before my medical society pa
per entitled shakespeare In Medicine
Just at the close of Nine Modjeska' s
indianapolis engagement l sent her a
copy of the paper. She went thence
| to Louisville. and from there sent me
| the following letter, which throws a
pretty sidelight on her character and
as a student of Shakespeare:
| louisville KY, March 4, 1899
| MY Dear DIR. Clarlse-EXcuse my delay
in thanking you for sending me your ar
ticle. Shakespeare In Medicine" but i
| have been very busy since last Wednes-
| day. 80
Your article is very interesting, and l
have enjoyed it thoroughly. / am SO
| thankful for what you say about Shake
| speare. He is SO great that people are
| puzzled and cannot understand how one
| head could contain such immensities Of
| wisdom and poetry. l only bow and be-
lieve in him, as l always did. ia spite of
| the doubts of his authorship expressed by
| narrow minded people.
| Il shall never forget, when a girl of fif-
teen. TOOK hold of a copy of 'Hamiet''
| in Polish translation. The copy belonged
| to the theater of Cracow. and, not being
| able to purchase it, / copied the whole
| play and carried it with me as a rare
treasure. studying the scenes of Hamle,
| and Ophelia. all In great secret. How
much more 1 adhered him when 1 read his
plays with matured mind! Yours sincere
ly, ard with repeated thanks.
HELENA MODJESKA"
In 1888 Nine. Modjeska acted Juliet
to the Romeo of Edwin Booth il
Booths theater, New York. and there
after was frequently associated will
the great American star. She made
several extended tours with Mr.. Bootl
and appeared as q star in a number Of
/ engagements. She retired from the
stage ten years ago.