The sun., 1916-12-02

WHEN R. w. GLIDER FIRED
OUT R. l.. STEVENSON

One Of the most delightful and in
spiring hooks Of biographical character
10 appear in many a long day ir the
volume of Letters Of Richard Watson
Glider Just published by HIughton, MIL
Ain Company. As the preface states, the
letters set forth the full current Of the
life " one OF the most vital ana varlouJy
influential Americans OF his time hut,
more than that, they reflect the unsuai
sympathy and the color Of what Miss
Cecilia Beaux described as his luminous
and richly drawn person."
The little house at 1903 East Fifteenth
street. where young Glider and his bride.
Helena De Kay, went to housekeeping,
became quickly a gathering place for
those bearing "A passport OF Intellectual
worth" In 1875 Glider wrote OF the visit
, OF a young Polish actress. Helena Mod
,eska. who had come to New York:
After Weir and Sargent had left. II.
Mrs. GilderD put her necklace
around madame's forehead with her sill
YER bracelets hanging at the sides. and
m,dar,o fell on the fioor in the attitude
Of Cleopatra. That was 40 fine that II.
and 81. an out into the other room to
dress he: up In full character. While
they were gone the rest Of Us turned the
room into "A theatre-with bouquets at
every seat. Jean made IN opera glass Of
wine bci''es and VI all learned u Polish
word from Bohemia tModjeska's hus-
bsnd). lie gave me n that he
said was specially poetic-and
these words and bouquets we flung
at her when she came. like n
vision OF beauty. into the room. She
vas as,onished at the greeting in her own
language. Then. not knowing Cleo
patra.' she recited something else In Po-
slsh-we aftcrward learned that II was
Hagar addressing the Almighty Po-
: lish poem. The she recited "a passage
from Corneille-'Les Deux Horaces.'
Then q speech OF Camille These were
,exquisite-thc last thrillingly beautiful.
noble and tragic. Then she read a pa
sthetic Polish patriotic poem. Such reci-
.tatlons and reading we had never heard
we. who cannot bear r~ecitations and
readings rs a rule. I. Was great act
ing-thc play Of expression In the face
was subtle and most exquisitcly beau
tiful. and the tragic part mad the tears
start. such constant grace OF cx-
preston IN every pose. every line OF
limb. She had M audience who she
knew would not only appreciate her but
love her. At the Polish piece her hus-
band and cousin cried. Any she said. I
have been ~ long away from my coun
try"
IN November. 1874. he wrote:
Joe Jefferson was in the Office to-
day. He came in answer 4 my note
and made an appointment 20 come home
with US after the pay Tuesday night.
He was much interested in the pictures
and was extremely intelligent on the
subjer, cf'art. He spoke Of the time I
played as ghost and villager with him IN
Newark. That was very jolly. I could
study him near. and we talked between
the acts. who's your barb'r~ was
oil I had to say.
Jefferson always speaks modest.y.
he said. when I naggcd him abou. play.
ing something else. tina the play OF
Rip MAS greater than Le-that Is. IL
rypu,ation WAS. He said that when hs
played other things his frisnds came to
And We, they say he is delicious In
other characters $50"
"Fr.d,y, November. 81.
THE day af.er Thanksgiving I went
around after the play to Booths and
brought jefferson tn the studio. We
though, vi weIe' moro Impressed with
his playing that git :han eyer. u,
seemed greater. But this Friday nisi,'
We had him To ourselves for two hour.
ard a hat.
'lle said he thought Sa.vini tn.
rtatcst trsg.e actor he had ever seen
He did ,noi like the death scene IL
Othello,' however. where Salv'ni curL
Up Ike n beast. Art Is not imitation q
nature. but built upon nature. There l.
a process % elimination and idca,ization
There should he nothing offensive as /,
that part Of Othelio he could teach an,
ignorant fellow TO do that, but the grca'
artis: should know better.