Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-01-09
MISS RUSSELL PINS
FAITH To AMERICANS
Clever tress-Manager Thinks
Public Is Surfeited With
Cheap Shows

Annie Russell. who as actress-man-
ager is on tour with a series of old
English comedies, is strong in her
faith that the taste Of the American
public is changing.
Surely they are becoming surfeit-
ed" she said, 'of so much vulgarity
and cheap variety. The people of cul-
ture demand clean, wholesome plays
Of literary merit. That I am right
has been proved by the success of my
tour so far
The little actress should know
whereof she speaks for she has been
years of age.
Il had my mother to help support
We player folk are serious, hard work
ing people, trying to earn our living
like anyone else. But am very fortu-
nate in always having my husband
with me, Che plays tonight in the role
of Young Marlow). We have been
married nearly ten years and, except
for few weeks last winter we have
! always been in the same company.
We are absolutely and perfectly con-
genial and see the same side of every
question. l met him in New York
when he came over from England to
be my lead in Mice and Men OF
course we have an apartment in New
York, but our real home is away up
on the shores of New England. Just
as soon as the season closes we fly up
there and get into old, old clothes and
have such jolly time! That home
cans so much to me! / was in At
lantic City this week and L bought a
few pieces of Venetian glass and sent
them on. Do you know, 1t made me
dreadfully homesick for a while?
II have the handsomest diningroom
oI p,,,,,, i.l.o To-,
curly maple, the kind of wood they
used to make violin cases of. My side
board Is six feet long and / do not
keep a thing upon 1t but two golden
ca.ndlesticks and Venetian glass vases
and dishes full of flowers. Every few
days l change the color scheme of the
flowers. Mr. Yorke and I try to eat,
but we keep one eye almost constantly
on the picture that precious sideboard
makes!'
But, unlike so many stage people,
she has no laughing baby faces wait
| ing for her at home.
God has not been so good to me
a sthat," she said. "Oh, for a child of
my own l would gladly give it all up,
this life of success and work! But that
| is my one sorrow"
In staging her plays Miss Russell
| has gone to considerable trouble and
expense to duplicate the period cos
tunes from the original fashion plates.
| The voluminous skirts of Kate Hard
castle" are supported upon real side
! hoop-skirts of boneing, such as were
used at that time. Several thousands
OF dollars have been expended upon
the stars costumes alone for her Gold
smith comedies.
| When discussing the narrow minded
view of the private life of actors held
by so many d-fashioned people, Miss
Russell sighed.
ut is one of the saddest things in
life she declared, this misunder-
standing OF the classes. You see it be-
tween capital and labor, between
churchmen and nonchurchmen, be-
tween the public and ourselves. Be-
cause few wrongdoers stand in the
limelight of publicity where their acts
are seen by the world, why should they
represent their whole profession?"
Miss Russell, one of the chief at
fractions of your role tonight is the
soft, charming laugh you use."
Her eyes twinkled.
You think so? One time in a
Washington cafe there was a French
woman raving about the weird laugh
] used in AS You Like Tt One of the
party introduced Mr.. Yorke to her and
added that he was my husband
| "'Oh, Monsieur she cried, Mon
sieur! Does she laugh for you like
that at home?'"
ANNA II. WOOD.