The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-28

placently. And then again. And now again.
 Isn't it awful how much depends upon the way one says ones words" Peggy chirped.
 That I replied, lis the most difficult thing in acting. Words are like a swarm of mischievous little gnats or bees. They swarm so they are here, there, every where-except on the spot you are trying to get them to land.'
 While the stage director was putting one of the men in the caste through the third degree" and teaching him how to ex- claim some perfidous words in just the right manner, Miss Shelby "exited and came over and joined us again in the rear of the stage
 Peggy had now seen a demonstration of the manner in which she had declared she would make a living" and so 1 asked Miss Shelby of what value "stock company experience was to a Heading lady,"
 Miss Shelby, who is clever, talented, versatile and altogether charming, grac- iously answered my question by saying:
 Tt Is the dramatic foundry through which every actress ought to be glad to pass. It Is the best training school in the world. began my career in a stock company eight years ago. and since then I have played as leading ladiy In the Castle Stock company in Boston, the Vaughn Chaser Stock company In Cleve- land, Keith's in Philadelphia and many others. My first appearance in Birming ham was last October with Dustin Far mum in Cameo Kirby and I am so anx- play this summer.''
 What is your favorite role?' I asked.
 T should like to play The Girl of the Golden West all the rest of my life,' she said enthusiastically. q just love her."
 And Mrs. Temple?" I interrogated
 "Oh, I like her in a way" was the reply. She's clever and hright-just butterfly-but withal very interesting"
 And Edith, which you are rehearsing for Secret Service?' I suggested
 Her redeeming feature is that she is southern girl" said Miss Shelby quickly You know, of course, by my voice that I am southern, and I am the proudest thing of 1t in the world. I was born in Shreveport, La., and I am a direct de- scendant of the famous James Bowie of Alamo fame. You know, Reisin Bowie is the fathe of the Bowie knife, made fa- nous by James Bowie in the Mexican war"
 The last thing in the world that Miss Shelby Is suggestive of is Bowie knives," and pistols and things like that, for she Is all velvet and lace and the sweetest type of femininity imaginable.
 And speaking of my southern voice and it's distinctiveness," Miss Shelby con- tinued. "after I had played a stock com pany engagement did the role of Phoebe in AS You Like It. I took myself very seriously then, and when was rehearsng the part the manager was very critical of my southern accent. I was so much im- pressed that I went home one day after rehearsal and wrote this little verse: CT was to go on in Shakespeare,
 "As You Like It. was the play; But the manager said he didn't think
 He could see 1t quite that way. And when went to see him
 He eyed me up and down; He took in every detail of
 Well. of my gown!
 He said my face would do alright,
 My figure was correct, But whoever heard of Shakespeare
 With a darkey dialect?"
 Just then Miss Shelby caught her "cue" and went back on the stage.
 MT. Doyle was saying:
 'Id take the walk up there, and then turn. Now, then!'
 It was very nearly 12 o'clock, and I nudged Peggy, who had gone into a trance, it seemd to me, during the in- terim, and as we made our way out into the lilac-scented April sunshine from the dust and the dimness of the theatre, said:
 Peggy, do you think 1t would be easy to be an actress?''
 Peggy evaded by saying:
 II know now that the writer who spoke of the art that conceals art meant the atrical art. He must have been stage director"
 ''Do you know what all those people re- mind me of?' q said. Just pieces of mar ble waiting to be carved. And next Mon- day evening we'll see vastly different models in Secret Service from those we see this week In Mrs. Temples Tee- gram Every lifted eyelash, every ges- ture, every intonation of the voice will be just as different as black is from white.''
 And charming Miss Shelby. with the pretty gray-blue eyes, the gentle south ern voice. the petite, well-rounded figure. leans, JYliet-like. a tired girl behind the
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