El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-28

I Mile Mars, who, unfortunately for her
/ sensibilities tried to reign too long as
/ the mistress of her art. She continued
/ to appear in the roles Of heroines long
after she had passed the half century
/ mark, and one night a heartless brute
/ threw a wreath of immortelles upon
/ the stage at her feet and shortly after
+ this incident she was Missed and had TO
come before the footlights to make this
pathetic apology: .'Messieurs, Mile.
Marie Cher part in the play) is only 16
years old Mile Mars, alas, is Co.
Mime. PIessy In Tragedy.
/ Next to Mile Mars and Rachel the
| comedie gave to the French people that
/ Plessy, of whom the following amusing
I story is told: Nine. Plessy having
achieved every possible honor in comedy
/ parts, yearned win her laurels as
! tragedinne. and so she enacted the role
/ of Agrippina in Racine's Britannicus-"
At that time Francisque Sarcey, the
| greatest dramatic critic Of France, was
J living, and in his review a few days
later he wrote: L shall not say that
/ Nine. Plessy is mediocre With her in
/ telligence- with her natural gifts, with
/ her immense authority over the public,
! she could not in any way be mediocre
She is not, therefore, mediocrely bad
gree"
/ A few days later he was calling at
a friends house, and seeing Nine. Pies
sy in the drawing room, ne tried to
mide behind a palm, but she came
straight toward him. and holding out
her hand, said: You are right; you
might have told the truth more amiably.
but it was the truth. shall not again
| risk myself in a tragic part 1 thank
on mr. NIT 1I~a<1
| away, leaving Sarcey Supplied.
Cots First appearance.
Ali celebrities of the comedie have not
received adverse criticism with such
good grace, however, as witness the
case of NJ. Got, the immediate predeces-
sor of the lamented Coquelin, as the
head Of the national company Cots
first appearance as a member of the
company was pitiful failure, and two
days later he read a scathing criticism
by Charles Maurice a cIever free lancer
who, if he were living today, would
be termed a press agent Of the most vir-
ulent type.
On the night after Got read the ar
ticle he met Maurice and the latter said:
We'll, young man. why have you not
been to see me2 In France, it Is Gus
tomary for an artist to call on a writer
to thank him for kindly criticism" Got.
ling in his breast. replied: THE fact is,
sir, I am poor and 1 have no money to
pay the claque." The journalist never
forgave the actor. He was ever after
that COTS bitterest enemy
sDivine- Sarah.
Another bag of bones with a Jewish
look, who has added luster to the
eomedie is the incompatible Sarah Bern
hardt, whose final enrolment under the
banner of the institution was accom-
pllshed only after great difficulty. Even
the youthful Sarah's education was
gained only after many trials, for she
was expelled four times from a convent.
When she had finished the prescribed
course. capturing many prizes. she was
undecided whether she wanted to be a
nun or an actress
She finally decided on the latter pro-
fessiOn and entered the conservatory.
being engaged at the Theater Franchise
IN due time, but she was of such an
obstreperous disposition that she had
to leave after having slapped the face
of one of the principal players She
became quite an eccentric personality
and acquired a large following in the
less important theaters of Paris
She early showed a remarkable genius
for the press agency end of her art and
she was the most talked OF woman in
Paris. even before she was reeengaged
at the comedie, where she won distinc-
ton in spite OF the fact that all the
older members were antagonistic to her.
She was aided in her fight for pre-
eminence by the fact that she had an
extremely thin figure while her chief
adversary was inclined toward embon-
point. which >precluded the effective en-
actment of poetic roles.
COqueIin's Work.
The last Of the really great figures |
of the Coincide Franchise died only
short time ago at the moment when he |
hoped to achieve his greatest triuulDh !
in the title role Of Edmond Rostand's /
latest play "Chantecler'-Co quelin. !
aine. Coquelin's enga cement at. the |
comedie was attended S-ith an unusual |
incident. After graduating at the Con-
servatory, with first honor. he was as !
signed a part in a new play, but his |
Joy was of short duration. for it was |
soon taken away from him and given 4
to the son of an old actor
To console the young Coqueiin the I
manager offered him the privilege of
choosing any part he wished. and he Sc
lected the valet Figaro in Marriage of
Figaro 1t is. said that during the first
four acts he was so frightened he play
ed most stupidity. but in the last act.
having regained his nerve. he achieved
such a notable triumph that he was for
many years cast for all the important
valet parts In Moliere's great comedies.
in which serving men have the center
of the stage.
Tomorrow-Quick Lunch Rooms