The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-08
MISS BLANCHE RING

talking about this stage fright busi- ness. Do you know that as long as I've been singing and dancing and ap- bearing on the stage. I've never got ten over stage fright? Why somebody sent in a request somewhere, two or three nights ago for me to sing Waltz Me Around Again Willie, and I nearly died of fright. I couldn't even think of the, first words. Honestly, I don't believe ! remember a line of the role l played in The Yankee Girl, and as for the things I did when l was with MT. Weber and later with MT. Fields, and still later with DeAngelis-why, l don't even remember the plot of the plays. Oh, It's hard work remember ing one part-even though l play it every night in the week; and let me say right here, its no easy natter to bathe the audience in a soul smile, and count the receipts in the box office every minute of your life'
 Perhaps you work too hard I sug- gested.
 Whats a poor girl to do?" she said.
 The manager-quoting from one of my songs-is a Regular Man. and keeps always talking about not worrying and working too hard, and this, that and the other thing, but I don't believe any body understands how 1 am possessed by the demon of ambition. l wish 1 were not. Ever since I went on the stage as a youngster in velvet knickerbockers as Little Lord Fauntleroy,' I've been like that l never do anything as well as I want to do it. There's a nervous force and energy pushing me on to do better tn mi ono int. things than is really necessary, and, in consequence, I am always analysing my self and reaching out for that propelling force which would put me ahead faster faster."
 Responsibility is an awful thing" Miss Ring unused, as she grew serious, and pointing to the stage dhe curtain was now up in the second acD, she said: How I'd like to be one of those chorus girls for just one year. They are lovable kind, eager, irresponsible children. They don't have to worry or plan grieve over things eff they don't go right, like the Star, but they eat well, sleep well and get up happy'
 Summing it all up what is your am- bition?' l asked.
 'The topmost-TOPr' answered Miss Ring. q mean by that, to be entirely sat- ished with the development of the best talent that l possess. Not so much pub licity and applause and money-as real, genuine satisfaction of my own work.'
 Perhaps youll leave Musical Comedy some day l observed.
 T couldn't very well do that" said the Star, "for you see my public knows me as singing Comedienne. They'd want songs and"
 More songs," I said. "Deedle-Dum- Dee"
 And then I couldn't do the legitimate satirlcai work that I'd like to-" said she, because I'd be neither one thing nor the 'other. A funny thing in regard to my singing, do you know that Miss T,otta Faust and I unconscioussy made rather a curious trade in regard to our favor ite songs? l sang Sammy in London and made the hit of my life. And sba sang my In the Good Old Summer Time here in America and made her big hit. And by the way, little incident oc cured in London that I shall never for get. I was playing in George Grossmith's The Love Birds and I interpola ted sammy The elder Grossmith. who was sitting in a box at the Savoy theatre where I sang. and I sang to him. The Savoy was the home of Givert & Sulli van opera and the elder Grossmith had never been there since the days when the opera had been sung until that night. When I finished singing he climbed from the box to the stage and bowed and kissed my hand and you can just be- ieve that I was the proud one alright. It was nice compliment, wasn't it?''
 "Honor to whom Honor is due" quoted.
 And speaking of old adages." said Miss Ring, If the person who first said early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise,' were alive today, he'd have to change that slogan if he were in the theatrical pro- fession. If I were to take the train to- Dreamland before F or 1 o'clock at night, they'd send for a doctor and tell him I was ready to die and yet I'm as healthy as they make them. don't know how wise people think l am, and as for wealth I'm sure-well, the box office would have to close up if such hours were kept. besides the early to bed and early to rise man never meets any pro ,inent peo- ple"