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Show I Madame Modjeska's Memt In tho March Century appears the memoirs of that great actress, Mme. Mod-Jeska. Mod-Jeska. Hero Is an extract from the story: "Some timo In December. 1 played 'Adrlenne' In New York for the first time, and I do not remember anything of that evening except that I was so absorbed In mv part that I carried In my hand a sho'o horn Instead of a fan. and never noticed it until I wished to fan mysolf. and also that, after the end, Mr. Sargent Sar-gent handed mo a telegram from my husband with his good wishes, which, according ac-cording to the managerial rules, he had kept the whole day in his pocket lest Its contents might disturb my acting. "When, after the last act. I returned to my dressing room, I was met by a number of lovely people, who camo to compliment the new star, and next morning morn-ing my parlor at the Clarendon hotel was mado gay with llowers. TJ10 criticisms In the press were flattering-, though naturally natu-rally reserved. Mr. Winter .nave mo a very flno notice. Some of the writers spoke of my age: 'Adrlenne the mother of a young man!' Ralph was then sixteen. six-teen. One of them. In Ills anxiety to ap- 1 pear well Informed, even added Ave years to my age. This was neither truthful nor gallant, and ruffled very much the temper of my Imprcssailo. Mr. Sargent, who. fearing that this disclosure of my antiquity might keep the public awav from the Fifth Avenue theater, devised a echeme of passing me off for mv son's Bister, which afforded a groat deal of amusement to Ralph. "It was only a7 few days after my first performance that I realized how well my company was selected. Mr. Burroughs was a well-padded Matirlce. and made a much better appearance than I had anticipated. an-ticipated. Mr. Couldock was great as MIchonnct. Mr. Whlffln light and charming charm-ing In the Abbe, and the Princess de Bouillon was excellent In every detail. The other members of the company wore careful In their costuming and perfect In their IJnes. "However, wo did not crowd the Fifth Avenue theater with Adrlenne.' partly because the French title of the plav was not attractive to the New York audiences of 1878, and partly because the approach of the Christinas holidays kept people busy shopping. For a change T played the balcony scene of "Romeo and Juliet' as un addition to 'Adrlenne.' I was - somewhat reluctant to appS peare before the crltlcalj metropolis, but I was klna by critics and audlonces. und tho New York Evenll specially good to me. fM " 'Adrlenno' remained oifl together throe weeks: 3m ary. 187S. I changed to -'m mnde a decided hit, andiifl success. There had beoai In America boforo me, aB great deal about the wooS a nee:; of Matilda Heron rls; but tho managers sc'rfl entirely different conccptlM actor and the changes I iofl "Being sure. In advancH tlKCw myself Into the pafl heart and soul, and thlsB was unanimous In my pralfl reserve. Of course, somB ferred to see on tho staS fallen woman, such as m tho strcctH after dark, bl Arscne Houssaye's storwB plcssls,' who was the wofm aux camclias,' and who.JB so refined and cultlvatedB art with such a good lfB Franz Llszt, meeting lierlfm tho theater, took her f Dumas ills makes hcrrcsfin daughter, thus IndlcattasYM style of her porsonaiUT.u ,H "I liked thla plctnr; Houssaye's description, ine more rctlned than uH pleaded my iinaglnatiosJH mlllc as reserved, gfntliBj love and most sensitive;! exception to hor kind. found favor with tnojMI mlllc's sensitiveness PJK for ovorvbodv wept ovor.tW "In the third act of ttM ance even tho promplcr-.jw prompt-book and retlreaj ner behind the scenes, in a good cry. MIbs ;JJt came to my dressing roojJP flooded with tear.-?. "JB other's arms, lauEhlng . her previous crying lit, laugh was such a groat emotions of the third son Gilder, tho poet. anflpjC camo to shake hands .Tg was happy. These wmL gulBhcd people wore found in New York. anu band and I spent manyt with them In the StudKM Eighteenth street wnerjjj' mother lUed 'with liirMfe and her youngest son JO' |
