New-York tribune., 1911-12-10
THE PLAYGOER
Elsie Ferguson a Radiant Pres
enCe on the American Stage.

only reason for the success OF thlS young
artist, for artist she is. and that is the
truth Of IT, But note that she has the
rarest charm on which to train her ar
tistry. She has been working hard since
she played Such Little Queen and
she must have worked hard before that.
else she could not have arrived where
she is now. Her Dolly Madson-Doily
Todd-is a fine portrayal. You must not
place too much reliance on her Quaker
car. II il were not tied tight under the
chin there would he greater havoc than
there is among hearts. The Irish in
Dolly that comes from her mother bub-
bles through and over the Quakerism she
gets from her father. The mixture is ir-
rosistible. This dancing, dainty, high
spirited Quakeress who tastefully and
yhrewdly rules her select establishment
for the reception of paying guests. and
subsequently. with even greater tact and
ampler wisdom. i'm womans way rules
the White House is the most fascinating
figure on the local stage at the present
time, and ono OF the most fascinating fig
uros Of any time.
about what Elsie Ferguson can become.
rs one did more than two years ago 1t
is now the fitting thing to write Of what
she is. She is fulfilling the prophecies
which have been made on her account.
And this is as good as saying that she
has not been spoiled
How many around this bailiwick re-
rnembcr what Ellen Terry was like at
Elsie Ferguson'S age? Scarcely any one
excepting those who adventured 10 thea
tres oversee in those days. But without
those recolections many mature play
Soers will know that since that time Of
day until Elsie Ferguson there has been
no one with the poetry Of person, no one
with a voice that sings in speech. no
one with n smile so magical, no one
with the grace. the floating movement.
no one so merry, so pathetic. who can so
srtlessly (which may, if you please,
Snesn artfully) mingle laughter and tears,
who can he so arch. as the phrase is.
and turn so quickly and so truthfully 20
notes Of tenderness and deep feeling as
Elsie Ferguson herself
When Ellen Terry was about Elsie
Ferguson's age, whatever that may be.
she was playing Portia for the first time
mot with Irving and not at the Lyceum,
but with the Bancrofts at the Prince Of
Waless Theatre. Ellen Terry had then
been dozen years on the stage, not
counting her first appearance as Ma
milius i'm THE Winters Tale" when she
was eight years old, or as the Little
Prince I'm King John" when she was
ten. Miss Terry made what is generally
regarded as her professional debut in her
early teens i'm q now forgotten comedy
in which the late r. a. Sothern was
then acting at the Haymarket But 1t
IS not Of her child parts that we think
nowadays, although her work through
all those early years must have had, and
OF course did have, much influence on
her maturer efforts. for those We're years
of training. / have come upon an ap
probation Of her in her first season as
Portia. an appreciation written by MCy
Thomas. who was then the critic Of The
London Daily News" and in which
1here are terms that may as fttingly be
applied now to Elsie Ferguson in a very
The hold innocence. the lively wit and
quick Intelligence. the grace and elegance
Cf manner. and all the youth and freshness
Of this exquisite creation; the tenderness
Fnd depth OF passion which lie under the
tIrolicsOme exterior, hgure al once grace
ful and commanding. singularly sweet
and expressive countenance. performance
essentially artistic
Praise quite as liberal appreciation
quite as sincere Miss Ferguson earns
now. although no one will suppose for a
moment that any appraisal is intended
TO imply that Dolly Madison (or Dolly
Todd i'm Mr.. Nirdlingers play suggests
or can he meant 10 compare with the
POrt'a that Shakespeare drew What
is meant is that the qualities Of mind
pnd person. and the assiduous work in
technical development. the perception Of
character and the rich, rare gifts of eX-
preston. which made Ellen Terry's act
ing what it was in those distant DAYS,
have not been found combined. scarcely
even suggested. in another actress until
Elsie Ferguson displayed them in rich
store and mingling.
And this does not mean in any sense,
gFerguson is an imitator. that. as the
phrase goes, she models herself upon any
kpredocessor or contemporary. quite the
sContrary. She is original. Just as in
beauty and grace she is unlike any one
.Helse so is she in perceptiveness and eX-
OPPRESSION With the divine gifts of youth
.and loNeHucss and magnetism, she has
ialso gifts Of mind. Rare indeed is such
scombnation found in women of the
Aetage, especially when so much OF life is
t.before them and so much Of praise is
with them. Here is a wonderfully win
some woman with brains. and she knows
how 10 use the brains. She can draw in
her mind not merely the outlines of a
character. but all the traits powers and
trapacities which differentiate it from all
sbther characters and make it living and
individual She works. she persists; she
Understands and achieves And with all
This she must be creature of quite
extraordinary intuitlons and of unusual
dneneSs.
The play in which she now appears,
"The First Lady in the Land is agree
able and entertaining. although it does
not equal its opportunity II falls 10
grotesqueric and mere farce in one act.
but not in connection with anything that
Miss Ferguson has to do. The scene at
the White House is the one that makes
1bo iudicioug erieVe while tie crowd zig