The Washington herald., 1909-04-25
Tributes to ModJeska.

From SeE YORK Dramatic Mirro--
Wherever players met last week they
talked tenderly Of the quiet passing OF
Helena 8Iodjeska.
Florence Smythe, who, while playing in
Los Angeles, was sometimes the guest OF
the great Polish actress, said: Her Won
derful kindness and vomanliness always J
touched ne Her modesty. too She wrote
q girl friend Of mine every two weeks.
Onoe when ny friend had not replied
promptly sn appealing little note came
from madame There were two pathetic
lines, Are the letters from an Old Won
an becoming tedious? she asked. Let
me- have q letter from ny beloved An
gelique
once at a summer resort she heard
through her open window a soft little
moan 4 baby was crying She rang the
bell and inquired about her little neigh
Dor. She found that the little chap was
being devoured by mosquitoes while his
frivolous neither left hin alone. and dis
played her fnery and her empty head
on the hotel veranda- Nine. Modjeska
went 10 the yerands sought out the
woman. and asked her II she might visit
her room and amuse herself with the
baby The mother. yer. much gratifed.
consented. and handed her key 10 1Iula
Nodjeska- Madame al once made friends
with the little fellow She undressed and
bathed him and rubbed cold cream over
the bruised little body An hour later
they found her sitting beside the open
windoz, The baby fast asleep in her arms.
and she singing a Polish lullaby softly
to him.
Il don't think many know that the
great Mary Stuart was q great grand
mother before she died Her grandson.
Felix. big, handsome boy, was married
al the age Of twenty. Now he has a son
or his own. born about two months ago.
''The times I spent with her we're Just
delightfully."- uneventful- She put a shy
girl thoroughly al her ease al once. She
was so simple. so womanIy. so every
dayish-"
Ethel Barrymore recalled that when her
mother. George Drew Barrymore. died
IN Southern California. and upon the girI
CT thirteen devolved the sorrowfuI task OF
taking the remains back TO Philadelphia
for burial, Nine Modjeska gave her
mothers love and blessing. the noble hg-
ure being the last she saw through tear
blurred eyes as she looked back at thea
station OF the little California town.
Carlotta NiIlson told OF beginning her
career as an extra girl in Modjeska-s
company in san Francisco sixtscn. years
sgo. and how madame had pointed her
out a1 q rehearsal OF Marie stuart and
said: Let that girl stand near me-. 1T
was the first word OF encouragement
ever heard" said Miss Niilson.
Mrs. Otis Skinner told of her meeting
with Nine Modjesks. when Maud Durbln
was mite Of a Denver girl. whose an
bition to 90 on the stage far overtopped
her stature. and how the star. iookir
kIadly az her, said 10 Count Bozen
Let Us give her her chance" as Il
did
It was recalled that Mary Shaw learned
her first lessons In acting from Nodes,
ka. and that It was in her company thas<
Maurice Barrymore won his most pro
noUnced recognition in this country. Shas
produced his play, ''Nadjeska.''
Howard Kyle. for three seasons her
leading man. said: Nine Mod5eska had
rare stage integrity. She always gave
every actor in her company. however
subordinate, his full need OF opportunity
on the stage. Her standard Of art wass
so high that she never changed tfls Hnes{
nor situations an 5ota 20 add TO her stel-7
/ lar glory.
I never supported 6 star whom J so
reverenced, he says. she seemed wrap
ped around with an atmosphere OF ideal
ity. When she played Marie Stuart.
those who played with her felt that shst
was not playing, but that she was the
character
eShe had the most beautiful arms I
ever saw. Their beauty was IN their del
/ fcacy and expressiveness- They were the
synonyms Of grace
she seemed always 70 be enveloped IN
sadness. The conditions Of her birth and
girlhood had taken deep root in her na-
! ture Paderewski and the De Reszkes
were countrymen and friends of hers.
Once after she had given a reception 10
them IN Chicago she had said: They are
wonderful srtists. and they should be.
There is nothing 10 do IN poor Poland
! but TO develop art We may not fight
We may only entertain
"She was wide and oeep reader Her
taste was for the classics When I found
I her one day in her private car reading
novel by the Duchess I expressed ny
surprise
'Ah. yes she said. 7 shan read one
OF her books. She Is successful. and We
should study. though we 90 not adopt Z
the methods OF these vhs viz succssz