The Meeker herald., 1916-08-19
A New Star
By EDNA T. STEWART

From childhood had passion fol
personating .sOme character. In other
words, l was born with dramatic in
clinations. When quite II little girl !
read shakespeare's plays that ! found
in my fathers library md took peas
ure in spouting the lines OF the hero
ines. One day I would he Juliet lean
ing over the famous balcony: another
1 would he Queen Catherine; another.
Rosalind.
When l was fifteen years old my fa-
ther died. leaving my mother with six
children to support and without the
means to do 30. We all hnd to do
something to put money into the fami-
ly treasury. even II 1t were only the
very smallest amount. Very natural
~ I chose the stage. That is, wished
to go on the stage. but how to get
there 1 did not know. Had ! been a
boy 1 might have gone from one the
alter to another till ! found position
a. supernumerary and from that
vantage point watched for an oppor-
tunity to take small minor parts. Be-
ing q girl. could not do this.
How l finally got on the stage
doesn't pertain to this story. which
deals with an opportunity to get into
public favor. an speaking Of the
days when real plays were enncted 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
eraI years and had been an under
study for one part. Had the actress
under whom I was studying ever been
sufficiently indisposed to permit me to
take her place 1t might have enabled
me to make q 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
Mime. G.. then the most remarkable
tragedienne on the stage. would i'm
personate 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
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
that gives them desire to exercise
their own sweet will. At any rate,
Mime. G. without giving any reason re-
fused to play the part.
The author Of the play was in dis
tressing 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
Gets. She remained obdurate.
One evening 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-
planning the object Of his visit he ask
ed me to read q few lines from sew
eral Of the parts Of shakespeare's hero
ines. When had finished he left me
AZ abruptly AZ he had come. The next
day he came again with the author Of
JOAN" and | was obliged to read the
parts had read before. They left with
me the play that had been written for
Nine. G. and asked me to learn 1t.
They came again when had done 80,
heard me recite certain passages and
dslightedly told me that they wished
me to assume the principal role.
When the time for rehearsal came
round an audience Of bone twenty or
thirty persons, mostly connected with
the stage. was present. What was my
surprise to see among them Mime. G..
inferred that she had come to see II,
indeed. there was a person who could
take her place. Her presence did won
ders In squirting me to do my best
received great applause. and Nine. G.
clapped her hands languidly. This
faint praise spurred me on still fur
ther, and ! surpassed myself.
When the play was finished Mime. G.
went to the author and said:
~ am ready to take the part Of
Joan"
I looked at him. wondering what he
would say. A light came into his eye
as he replied:
Madame. this play was written for
you. surprising that you were the only
woman In existence who could take the
part Your refusal instead Of being
q misfortune has turned out 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"
Mime. G. disappeared. and 1. running
to the author. threw my arms about
bis neck.
Her friends endeavored to persuade
him to throw me over and give the
part to Nine. G., not that she could
NAV u apv haitian tbap hy,t IN a.