The San Francisco call., 1910-07-10

her Rebecca West in Ibsens wonderful
'.Rosmersholm' excited even the admi-
ration of William Winter, who lies
awake o nights to hate Ibsen: her
Hedda was horribly real person; neu-
rotic and shuddery. We all know. or
should know, how beautiful and won
derful is her Iona Hessel in pillars of
Society"
Yet she says she does not know
enough about Ibsen to discuss his life
and works; and she means what she
says. too.
do not know that I have ever
chatted with an actress who more
thoroughly persuaded me of this one
great attribute-sincerity. No, indeed,
she means what she says.
What commentary" thought I,
marveling at this woman TO whom the
American stage owes deeper debt
than TO any other one person, what a
commentary on the glibness of most Of
us who read a little, think a little, and
then expound for hours What a re-
buke to the hasty headed"
Nevertheless I own to a disappoint-
1nent that she would not talk about Ib-
sens plays. Her reflections could not
have failed to have been luminous.
m HIS much she did assure me of.
both manner and by words. Mrs.
Fiske has a nature which contains
no morbid streaks across its bright
ness. But she is intensely serious.
Her work is a tremendously important
thing. not to be taken lightly nor
tossed carelessly about in casual con
versation.
Something ] had said about an in
depreciation which 1 had once seen of
Becky Sharp brought this serious
ness out 1 had said that once 1 had
seen the Thackeray heroine played with
evident appeals to the sentiment of
pity and affection; how Becky was
made in the conclusion of the play
person who you hoped and believed
would reform. The chatter wandered
Fiske stopped me. 1 had noticed she
was contemplating something. She had
refused to pass over or forget my re-
mark. Her soul was rebeliing against
the indignity done to Thackeray's
great satire on hypocrisy in Vanity
Fair" / had to repeat the remark.
She was horrihed. How was it pos
sible she wondered She wanted me
to be sure and see her last act of
Becky Sharp and to tell her whether
she gave that impression; whether she !
made Becky repentant.
Then she discussed Becky Sharp" 1t
was on last Monday afternoon before
I had seen her in the assumption. After
she had illuminated the book with some
vivid characterizations she said:
But please do not quote me in this,
for it is not quite nice, think, for me
to discuss my own play"
There you see, again. She wants to
stand before the public in her plays
not in person.
NE of Mark Twain's greatest stories |
was inspired by a suggestion from
" Mrs. Fiske. She told me of it only |
after had urged. About three or four |
years ago Mrs. Fiske was neighbor
to the great humorist in New York.
Il used to meet him nearly every |
day" she said, "he in his white suit |
and with those wonderfully searching.
nquiring, comprehending eyes. 1t was
about the time that the Mexican hu-
name society was attempting to sup
press bull fighting in Mexico. l sug-
zested to Mr.. Clemens that he could
be of great service by writing story
which would appeal to the public in
1ehalf of dumb animals He said he
would think it over. He tried several
.in1es without result. The story would
not come Finally there was printed
hat superb story, The Horses TAIL
It is. in my mind, one of the greatest
stories he ever wrote. Indeed, Mark
Twain improved always. He never
vent backward. His soul grew finer
ind sweeter and greater with every
year. That was because he remained
alert and alive TO contemporary life
md kept his sympathies- keen by ex-
srcising them"
- NE of. Mrs. Fiske's notices as
suredIy is Self discussion is vul-
~ gar" for she kept off that subject
With unobtrusive. kindly firmness. She
vas surprised to think that any one
would be interested in the personality
II one whose public life is devoted to