The Washington herald., 1909-07-04
LAURETTE TAYLOR.
Popular Member of BeIascO Theate1
Company Chats of Experienees.

Company Chats OF Experiences.
None Of your fashionably gowned,
sweetly marceled heroines for Laurette
Taylor. Of the Belasco Theater Producing
Company. She would much prefer the
unconventional and the untrammeled
/ lheroines Of the Lady Babbie sort. She
would much rather dress in the skins OF
wild animals or IN some other unusual
attire and play the role Of a wild. care
I free gypsy than trail satin robes across
the stage. as she does at present The
role OF the stolen child IN Yosemite. e"
where she appeared barefooted and
dressed in a gown made Of leaves. Is
much more to her liking than the society
women she is playing now.
Seated IN her dressing-room. hung with
silken dresses and all the paraphernalia
OF modern society. al the Belasco The
ater. Miss Taylor chatted gayly about her
career. My real experience" she said
II gained in a stock company. playing
Camille one week and TOpsy the next.
much 10 the disgust Of my manager, who
tried TO impress upon me the dignity and
importance Of my position as leading
woman. But ] had long observed that
leading women with an overwhelming
sense Of dignity and Importance lacked
the human quality IN their acting. and so
/ looked upon my work as a sort OF ar
NOR 70 dt me for the fighting 7 expected.
and still expect. 10 do. I wanted every
inch OF II tested-to be a wise Napoleon
and know my Waterloo; 20 know what 70
play and what not 20 attempt.
so 7 spent two years IN Seattle work
In k-- chi
hardships as the test OF my ambition. its
quantity and its quality. When a play
called for a fencing bout, learned fenc-
ing For Carmen" I clicked castanets
for three weeks. and Il was one OF the
hardest things 20 learn have ever tried
i learned 10 dance, 10 sing La Paloua'
IN Spanish. and only one thing bafled me
i could not learn % roll a cigarette
with one hand. as cigarmaker Ike Car
men would do. and I had 70 use ready
made ones After two years OF this.
While playing IN Rider Haggards she,
/ had nervous prostration. AS that Is
always regarded as a sort OF diploma for
a leading woman, I considered my educa-
ton as finished. and went 70 New York
7 had determined what I could do best.
and. with letters and press notices. I
thought New York was but waiting FOR
my coming. But after months and months
or vain knocking az the stage doors OF
the metropolis I was ready 70 play even
a Voice IN the Distance After numer-
ous heart-breaking. humiliating. and
some laughable experiences. went 70
Chicago and played the model in The
Devil ar the Fine Arts Theater. But
had not the imposing presence OF a lead
ing woman and they would not give me a
chance. and when I spoke OF my Western
training / was looked upon as a back
woods Cherry sister.
The Devil died from lack OF funds.
and once more I landed in New York.
Then the Nessrs- Shubert booked a piece
called Yosemite in which I had the role
OF a wild girl OF the woods. But alas
the critics, while they praised my acting.
gave so much attention 10 my bare feet
and dress made OF leaves that instead Of
fame. I achieved notoriety. Then came
the role IN The Great John Canton. and
I was grateful. even though II was not
what ] best liked 20 play. The fashion
ably gowned. marceled herolues hold no
charm for me. But I feel that have. one
foot on the bottom rung OF the ladder OF
fame and although 81 IS wabbly. I hope
20 persist. After all, the person born 70
wealth and fame misses all the fun OF
setting there and loses the capacity for
keen relish OF success through the bitter /
ness OF past failures"