The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1916-12-30
A New Star
By EDNA T. STEWART

clinations When quite little girl !
read Shakespeare's plays that found
In my fathers library and took pleas,
ure In spouting the lines Of the hero
ines. One day l would he Juliet lean
Ing over the famous balcony; another
| would be Queen Catherine; another.
llosalind.
| When | was fifteen years old my IA
ther died, leaving my mother with SIX
children to support and without the
means to do so. We all had to do
something to put money into the fami-
ly treasury. even If 1t We're only the
very smallest amount. Very natural
Iy chose the stage. That Is, I wished
to go on the stage, but how to get
there | did not know. Had been
boy l might have gone from one the
ater to another till l found II position
as supernumerary and from that
vantage point watched for an oppOr-
tunity to take small minor parts. Be-
ing girl. could not do this.
How finally got on the stage
doesn't pertain to this story, which
deals with an opportunity to get into
public favor. mn speaking Of the
days when real plays were enacted on
the stage, before the coming on of the
scenic wonders, burlesques and the like
that have driven the drama away. ]
had been taking minor parts for sew
eral years and had been an under
study for one part. Had the actress
under whom was studying ever been
sufi. GENTLY indisposed to permit me to
take her place it might have enabled
| me to make hit But she never fail
ed to appear.
A celebrated playwright wrote play
which he called Joan Of Arc" He
wrote the part of Joan, expecting that
Nine. g.. then the most remarkable
tragedicnne on the stage. would i'm
personatc the Maid Of Orleans. Mem
bers of our profession when they once
climb to the top round Of the ladder
are apt to forget the snubs they have
endured when they were struggling on
the lower rounds and to delight in
showing their independence. or perhaps
1t Is the memory Of these very snubs
TINT gives them desire to exercise
their own sweet will. At any rate.
Nine G. without giving any reason re-
fused to play the part.
The author of the play was in dis
tressng position. He had spent many
months on it: he had written 1t espe-
cially to display the remarkable histri-
onic ability Of Nine. G., and there was
no other actress who. so far as was
known. could aspire to play 1t. The
playwright's friends did all they could
to win Nine. G. over. but with no sue
cess. She remained obdurate.
One evening I was surprised at call
from an actor who was to have ap-
peared In Joan OF Arc" and had been
greatly disappointed that the play
could not be produced. Without ex-
plaining the object OF his visit he ask
cd me to read n few lines from sew
ernl Of the parts of Shakespeares hero
ines. When I had finished he left me
as abruptly as he had come. The next
day he came again with the author of
JOAN" and was obliged to read the
pnrts had rend before. They left with
me the play that had been written for
Nine. G. and asked me to learn 1t.
They came again when I had done 80,
heard me recite certain passages and
delightedly told me that they wished
me to assume the principal role.
When the time for rehearsal came
round an audience of some twenty or
thirty persons. mostly connected with
the stage. was present. What was my
surprise to see among them Mme G.
| f,,fo xl,nt oI,n i,oI IN
indeed. there was person who could
take her place. Her presence did won
ders In squirting me to do my best. l
received great applause. and Mime. G.
clapped her hands Ianguidly. This
faint praise spurred me on still fur
Their. and surpassed myself.
When the play was finished Mime. G.
went to the author and said:
~ am ready to take the part OF
Joan"
looked at him, wondering what he
would say A light came into his eye
rs he replied:
MADAME. this play was written for
you. supposing that you were the only
woman in existence who could take the
part Your refusal instead OF being
a misfortune has turned out a benefit.
A new star has appeared above the
horizon. You have enjoyed exclusive
prominence for a long while. From
this hour you will have to divide It
| with another"
Nine. G. disappeared. and l. running
10 the author. threw my arms about
his neck.
Her friends endeavored to persuade
him to throw me over and give the
part to Nine. G., not that she could
play It any better than I. but on ac-
count Of the eclat she would give bis
work. But he stood firm for me.
nerved myself for the first per
Torrance. realizing that I must stand
or fall by It, The story had got abroad.