Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-09-25

words in this connection best Illustrate
her views: ~ AZ 4
"By perfect control of the body, ]
mean the control that Sara Bernhardt
has, the ability TO 30 concentrate on
certain muscles Of the hand, for in
stance, that it will completely relax
( at the will Of the person or conversely
( respond in muscular activity. Thus by
/ degrees the body becomes the perfect
tool Of a thought directing its move
ments, and acts in perfect unison with
the mind And whar the public sees
in finished form and terms gestures,
are merely the natural and rythmic ex,
pressiOns Of the body in accord with
the mind. But" Mrs. Sem added,
"it is difficult to explain and more
difficult to attain. There are very few
readers in the country today who have
ideal body control"
"And what is your idea, Mrs. Sem,
concerning the actual Interpretation of
selection}" and the answer came
back, instantly, "Study your part, live
your part, then interpret It'll Or rather
il interprets itself. "
Mrs. Sem feels that the art of ex-
preston is only in its infancy, com
pared with the other arts; that people
are only just beginning to realize what
the term expression means in its full
ness. They have always, of course, re-
allied it in u degree but compressed
it within the narrow limitations of the
out-grown name of elocution That
name became eonventionalized, stood
for certain rules and formulas, where
as true expression partakes of the free.
dom of life itself. Expression sees life
clearly, studies it carefully and having
secured sympathetic volce and body
control finds outlet naturally. The art
Of expression because il is so practical,
because it so closely connected with
every day living, cannot long be kept
from its own, and the reader be recog- |
nized as an artist, as is the singer and
painter.
But with all the enthusiasm for her
chosen work, and her eagerness to in.
still into others something of her ap-
probation and love or the art of ex. |
preston, yet there are quiet depths in
this f0rceful teacher; IN fact explained |
by chance remark. ~ am fond of
the country" said Mrs. Sem, "we
have little ranch just outside of Port.
land, and we 60 the,v every year, and
have the best Of times"
Mrs. Sem has received a diploma
from Kings School OF Oratory at Pitts.
burg, and has also studied at the Ma.
tional Conservatory of Dramatic Art at
New York, and has taken graduate
work at the Boston College of Express.
sion under DR.. S. s. Curry. This school
was the first in the country to put ac.
cent upon the term expression". She I
has also taken special Shakespearian |
work at the University of Michigan
under the department headed by Thos |
c, Trueblood, at the University of Chi.
cago under DR.. Clark, and at the Ma
tional Conservatory at Boston under
Dr. f. j. Mackaye. Mr.. Mackaye was
the originator Of character parts, and
was the greatest character actor in
America. She has Travelled four years
with the Colt I.yceum Bureau, and later |
was professor Of Oratory at Beuna
Vista College, Storm lake, Iowa. Since ,
coming to Oregon Mrs. Sem has done
private teaching. Among her pupils
being $. w. Trathwell who was known
as the "college orator" and who won
first at recent interstate contest
with contestants from the leading col.
leges in the Northwest.
Mrs. Sem is head OF the dramatic de.
partment of the Woman's Club, Port. !
land, head of the dramatic department
Of the Psychology Club and is interest.
ed in the Coteric Club, an extension
course of which she win give in Will
Mrs. Sem is much pleased with her
year 5 work as il is opening up at vii.
lamette. She likes the class of students
she meets here, and finds them very