New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-22
London. May g.

Nine. Modleska refers more imam once
to Nine Sarah Bernhardt, and TO her
appreciation Of Nine Modjeska's acting.
Nine. Sarah's opinion is not overstated.
I knew what her opinion was because
we once went together 10 see Nine
Nodieska in New York. As we sat in
stage box on the pit tier, the Polish
lady was quite aware that the great
French woman was one of her audience
II sometimes happens in London that,
when a royalty is present, the company
acts 10 him, or her, throughout the per-
Torrance. The rest Of the audience
ceases to exist. A smile from the royai
box is worth all the applause from all
other sources. The general audience by
no means take this preoccupation i'll
They think it natural and quite proper,
and they themselves are often as much
interested in the royalties as the actors
and actresses are
In her own dominions beyond the foot
lights Mime. Sarah was as much n queen
as the best of the queens on our sloe Oh
the f1otlights: and was, and is, rec
ognized as such. Mime. Modjeska played
10 her. The audience stared at her. In
the entr'actes there were cries of Bern
hardt"-the silent u" always pronounced
and the evening was altogether an IN
teresting one. j am sorry to have 10
admit that ] was not among the most
feryent admirers of Nine. Modjeska. AT
particular moment there was an OUT
burst of applause. which Nine Saran ieo-
AS took no part in it she turned TO me-
Why do you not applaud"
Il do not like her rendering OF the
scene"
We'll. but you are wrong You ought
10 like il. She is an artist. she acts
extremely WELL
1T is not the way in which you would
act it"
What has that to do with the mat
tel? Mime. Modjeska has her way l.
have mine. Why should you expect TWO
actresses to act alike? We are two dill
ferent actresses and two dinerent
women. why should you compare US!
That is not the way to look at acting-
Judge an actress if you will by certain
principles Of art. but not by her likeness
or unlikeness TO somebody else More
over. acting is not wholly matter OF
arr IL is a matter of temperament also.
Tell me of two actresses who have pre-
cisel> the same temperament,-then you
NAV compare them. Besides, this is
New York Modjeska does rot act her
part as she. would in Paris. any more
than do. She would be wrong II she
did An actress must consider her audi
e-ce and get into relation with it as best
she can. You know that we'll enough,
but You don't allow for il, because all
YOUR ideas about acting are French.
Keep them for Paris. They are out OF
place here"
Inst then the curtain, which had been
down while Nine. Sarah delivered her
lec,,re. with her wonted incredible
swiftness of speech. was rung up again.
and, Nine Modjeska reappeared-
obeyed orders and applauded. Said
Nine. Sarah:
Il am glad to see you are converted.
Il am not converted but do as am
bid" y
line simple poIitossc dIors. / hoped
YOU would agree with me-"
Il agree with you, except about Nine.
Modjeska.''
and / remained impenitent all through
that evening. and have remained i'm
penitent ever since. But that is not the
point. What will strike you, I hope, is
Nine. Sarah's generous estimate of the
capacity OF a lady whom injudiclous
friends tried at one moment TO magnify
into her rival she was capable enough
OF resentment. So long as she abode IN
the overheated atmosphere Of the Com
adie Franchise she INDUCED herself in
enmities, or in defending herself against
the enmities Of others. The House OF
AToliare was then, and / suppose still is.
2 house of cabals. JealOusies abounded;
in what theatre. French, English or
American. do they not abound? In that
mart Of the theatre TO which the public
is admitted the impression is one OF
serenity. Penetrate TO the foyer or the
dressing rooms. and you may find your
self in the midst of a wrangle. or of
more than one The human beings of
both sexes who. on the stage when the
curtain is up. are great ladies and great
gentlemen prove to be on the other side
f il lust human beings; or some of
them do.
7 must qualify that. I am not sure
that any French actor,-except, of
course those now living.-ever quite
succeaded in being a great gentleman on
the stage. They had few opportunities
~ studving roles OF that kind in the
actuaI world which great gentlemen in
habit The society of Paris does not, or
did not. open its doors 10 actors or
actresses.
Put some of the actresses have been
able TO profit by other opportunities. To
some of them some very real grdnds
sci0pevrs have given their protection
From the time they left the ConserUd-
foire. or even before. these young ladies'
have had. in a measure. those opportu-
mites of social culture which the actors
have lacked. Sometimes they have been
trained with great care by men TO whom
they stood in amiable relations Names
could be mentioned. but they could not
he the names of the living.
But take Rachel. who, indeed. would
not have cared much what was said
even while she was alive Her list Of
acouaintances included Count Walewsk
rpr,r,.e Nauoleon the Emperor Napoleon