The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-17

lied like the soldiers in Alfred Noyess
"Rada."
In her dressing room, after the last
curtain call, Nazimova, still painting
from the emotion in the tragedy she
had enacted, snatched from me copy
of the play and UNDERSIGNED in black
pencil the woman's cry for peace:
you think we are left at home be-
cause we are weak. All, no; we are
strong. That is why. Strong to keep
the world going. to keep sacred the
greatest things in life-love and home
and work. To remind men Of
peace
Nazimova is playing for two weeks
at Keith's theater. She came direct
from New York, and will tour until
next December. The play. by Marion
Craig Wentworth, a Boston woman,
appeared in the Century Magazine for
February. Advance proofs were sent
to the Russian actress, who loves the
play, she declares, as she loathes the
theme.
The world whirls. Patriotism is a
de ably superstition. War brides,
hitherto glorified, are immoral There
is no god of battles.
Joan, heroine of War Brides
crazed with woe at news of the death
Of her young husband, shoots herself
ard her unborn c4lild-rather than
Rada" kills herself in self-defence;
Joan for a principle.
Underscsres Cry for Peace.
Nazimova marked these lines in
my book:
Joan-One day we will stop giving
you men. Look at mother. Four
sons torn from her in one month,
and none of you ever asked her if
she wanted war.
Captain--War is mans business.
i Joan-Who gives you the men
We women. We bear and rear and
l
we are fit to have a voice in the fate
of the men we bear. If we can bring
forth the men for the nation, we can
sit with you in your councils and
! shape the destiny of the nation, and
say whether it is to war or peace we
give the SONS we bear.
Captain (chuckiing)-Sit IN the
councils? That would be a joke. 1
see. Mother, she's little-(Touches
| his forehead suggestively.) Sit in the
destiny of the nation. Ha, ha!
Joan-Laugh, Herr Captain, but the
day will come; and then there will be
no more war.
Since the first performance of the
play representatives of peace parties
| have haunted NaZimova's dressing
room; suffra gists have pursued her;
| feminists have adored her. And teary
! audiences with streaked faces, have
Historically proclaimed that the man
agenent should provide individual
| powder boxes for each seat.
| After the matinee Charles Bryant,
| Nazimova's husband, caught her by
| the elbows and plotted her thru the
crowd of vaudeville actors, who had
| been watching the scene from the
wings. Nazimova was breathing spas
medically. her hair was flying, her
| apron strings under one arm.
| wouldn't you like few minutes
to gather yourself together .sug-
gested generously.
mo" said Nazimova, catching my
hand in both of hers, then turning
away. We'll talk now, then III be
In anticipation OF this delightful
outlook. she laughed merrily, sped
upstairs, flew down the corrloor;
! hurst into her dressing room and
| drew two chairs before a table, still
loaded with valentines
Before presenting Nine. Nazimova,
let's start properly. It's Naz-eem.o-
va. accent on the second ss e syitaoi r.
vou saw her as Hedda, you'll doubt it
| If Won remember her as Iona, you ii
swear 1t isn't true; If you think OF
her as Nora. you'll grant it without
! question
;ous roles. you'll be glad to have 1t
| settled, as I was
Julie Opp Cries ''Brava."
Having buried a handkerchief,
drowned to death, in my pocket. l
Jras about to start questioning when
Mrs. Willie" Faversham was an
nouuced, and Julie-Opp-that-Wa was
rushed into the room. submerged the
/ braafh1ess Joan in her motherly en-
brace and exclaimed, MY child, II
wonderfully Did you hear
me shouting Bravo from the box
when Mrs. Faversham had eNited'
! Nazimova dropped into chair, snook
out her fluff of black hair and drew
long sigh. g,
lo-ove it. could play Joan four
, times a day as long as l live Ny
wears in Ibsen were less worth
while
ma 1 remarked, for the role of the
sinuous Mrs. Chepstow added little to
her fame as an artistic.
"Ah-hi Don't speak of it, moaned
! Nszimoya Il hated her. L wish to
forget her.
Nazimova no longer speaks hating
ly. Her o's are rounded, and her RS
gather no moss-but she even uses
American slang.
/ She displayed her clothes with
pride. Stout boots that looked toe
heavy for her slender ankles. coarse
gray hose; home1y apron she stitched
herself: kerchief caught with a bla-
family big safetypin, and cotton pet
ticoats gathered about the waist on
rubber bands.
How do you yourself feel about
war, Nine. Nazimova?
Il? How does any thinking woman
feel? AS Joan feels-as every woman
ifeels-as all the world must feel in
time. 1t is wonderful. the way the
people are taking this play. They be-
lieve, highbrows and lowbrows. .