New-York tribune., 1910-02-05

THE INCoMPARABLE siRD9NS. Dl;.i, frr.n32, ~
Mrs Clement Parsons VIII twenIy
illustrations Svo, Pr. XIX, 29e u L.
Putnams Sons.
Some time ago Mrs. Parsons published
q book on "Garrick and His Circle
which is very pleasantly remembered
In it she showed aptitude for the de-
lineation of a bygone personality and
adroitness in the use of discreetiy
selected aneCdote. She has produced a
good companion volume in The Incom-
rarable Siddons," giving us clear and
syrnpathetic impression of the queen OF
tragedy, and supplying plenty of that
entertainment which is, perhaps. lnsep-
ara bic from well written theatrical biog-
raphy. Following her heroine from the
cradle TO the grave, she binds together
the incidents OF a great career through
unobtrusively analytical descriptions of
Il great character Her own mind was
noble" said Stothard, "and that made
her acting So" Mrs. Parsons remembers
this throughout, and at the same time
keeps an attentive eye upon those simple
womanly traits which made Sarah Sid
dons for ali her high tragical way, one
Cf the most natural of human creatures.
The daughter of strolling player, be-
ginning life in the middle of the eigh-
tecnth century, when society was de-
lighted to patronize the stage, but had
10 illusions about the status of those
who trod il, her natural gifts were such
as TO win her respect and fortune at
fairly carly age. Genius like hers was
-.oi, NI-ac that of rriPk hPa
down all barriers When, as q young
woman. she fell in love with the man
she was ultimately TO marry, and her
father, Roger Kemble, wished 10 sep
arate the pair, he found the task hope
less. but it would seem that for time
al least he and his wife wished to place
l.er in something like retirement. At all
events, they found her situation in the
household Of Lady Mary Greatheed, Of
Guys Cliffe, in Warwick. we refer to
the incident because il yields an anec-
cote sharply illustrative of the future
artists personality, a personality pre-
destined to the stage. Lady Mary once
said that she used always to feel an
irresistible inclina ton to rise from her
chair when her queenly looking depend
ent entered the room" how could such
a type have been kept out Of the the
aIre2
1t was Garrick who gave her, in her
twentieth year, her first serious chance.
She had already assumed twenty-three
leading characters, and was known as a
most extraordinary quick study Re-
ports Of her work in the provinces in
terested the great man of Drury Lane,
and when, after due negotiations he
gave her an engagement. his observa-
ton Of her convinced him that she was
worth putting to a severe test. He cast
her for the part of POrtia, and as luck
would have Il she failed. At the per-
fornance on December 20, 1910, ''she
tottered and trembled, and her voice
could not get over the footlights. In
adequacy seemed TO stand contest. By
the Trial Scene she had somewhat ral-
lied. but still her tones were SO weak
as often TO be inaudible-a defect that
must have been fatal 10 the confident,
declamatory style playgoers associate
with that special bit OF fat the Quality
Of Mercy speech" The next day there
was only one critic in London who failed
To condemn her. IT must have been only
The discernment of one great artist for
the fire lying latent in the soul OF an
other that kept Ciarrick in good hun1or
With his prottgee The other members
Of his company were there 10 discourage
him. He told her, says Mrs. Parsons,