OCR Text |
Show Cullough and Barton Hill were both theatrical managers in San Francisco at that time, and they were time and again solicited for an engagement. But Modjeska was what might be called call-ed a totally unknown quality in tho theatrical world of the far west Though she had been for ten years leading lady of the Imperial theater of Warsaw, selecting her own plays and appearing as she chose, and though all Europe had acclaimed her, it did not serve her as an introduction in San Francisco, not at least as an Introduction of any use. She was tendered ten-dered every courtesy, it Is true, by tho managers, but they looked upon her merely as some wealthy titled lady whose fad was the stage. Her title of j as she had emblazoned Europe with art 1 and genius. The next morning, when John Mc-Cullough Mc-Cullough went again to congratulate Modjeska, he suddenly burst Into tears. Recovering himself he said In a voire charged with emotion: "Madame, I ca,n bring you only a tribute of tears." That was only one of many such tributes. trib-utes. The scene had suddenly changed, chang-ed, ,The newspapers became as vociferous vocif-erous in her praise a thoy had before been silent and chary of recognition. "Modjeska" was on every tongue and the theater was nightly packed. McCullough was given a benefit, appearing ap-pearing Hamlet, Modjeska giving a wonderful interpretation of Ophelia, this time in Polish. She had won ratne in Europe for her portrayal of tho unhappy maid of ElsJnore, having made a special study of insanity, even to the extent of spending "several months in a madhouse to perfect It. She had placed the role beyond the limitations of vernacular and made It universal. countess went against her; tnere was a Russian "princess" appearing on the local stage at the time, who was a fraud, and managers were wary. Charles Coghlan was playing in San Francisco then, and playing to empty houses, too, for the public seemed to be altogether inappreciative of him. But Modjeska saw him often and admired hJm. Her admiration j was deepened by the strong resemblance Coghlan boro to her favorite brother. Felix, who had become the foremost actor of Poland and whose death was one of Modjeska's greatest sorrows. ,- When Modjeska knew Adrienne Le-couvreur Le-couvreur In English and also the balcony bal-cony scene from "Romeo and Juliet," the undaunted Tucholsky again went to Hill and asked him ' to make an appointment ap-pointment to hear Modjeska read. Hill tried to get out of it, but she finally secured the appointment for 11 o'clock the next morning. Standing in the middle of the bare gaunt hall, with no stage effects to aid her and with one man, the most bored looking stage manager in the world, for an audience, the great Polish ac tress recited the last act of Adrienne Lecouvrcur. Tucholsky read the other parts and carefully watched the face ot Barton Hill as the heart breaking story was pictured before him through Modjeska's face and voice. The change of expression on Hill's face from one of weariness to wonder and rapt enjoyment en-joyment was a drama In itself. When tho last anguished words of Adrienne were uttered before death ended her suffering Barton Hill was In tears. "My dear madam," he cried, grasping grasp-ing her hand and dashing his tears away, "you may play at the California theater whenever you are ready and as long as you may wl6h." He had witnessed a revelation. The next day Modjeska and her friend went down again to the theater, where Hill had McCullough present to hear the actress read, this time on HOW MODJESKA WON HER FAME. How Helena Modjeska, the famous actress of Polish birth, trlumphed'over all obstacles, including that of a language lan-guage strange tq her, and gradually rose to the pinnacle of fame in this country, is related by Charles Phillips of San Francisco, Thirty years ago. Helena Modjeska, having permanently retired from the stage after a brilliant career in Europe, arrived in America. It was in 187C, at the time of the Centennial exposition, and In company w 1th her party a veritable ver-itable colony of geniuses, exiles and patriots (Sienkiewicz among them) she visited our first world's fair. Thence to California the altruistic little lit-tle colony betook itself and settled down in delightful ease at Anaheim. A second Brook Farm was launched. As long as their funds lasted they lived a perfectly delightful life. The dream was soon rudely broken and the happy colonists had to get out of their hammocks and go to. work; some of them af least. Necessity brought Modjeska back to the stage to which she had bidden farewell. The first thing to do to carry out her resolve to again turn to the stage was to learn English, and in 1S77 the Chlapowskls left the farm and went up to San Francisco. It was there they met Miss Tucholsky. the young woman with whom almost at once arrangements ar-rangements were made for Modjeska to study English and to whom she owes much of her start in America. Then began a struggle which often lasted nights as well as days for her. Modjeska found English stubborn and difficult and progress was dlscourag-lngly dlscourag-lngly slow at first, altogether too slow for her eager ambition. Finally, when she saw that It would take months to master the language sufficiently to use it fluently, she decided that for the time being she would learn only the English of those parts In which she wished to first appear. She had unbounded un-bounded confidence in her well trained train-ed memory. So the study of "Cleopatra" "Cleopa-tra" was begun, a role she had never done In Europe. The trust she had put in her memory had not been misplaced. At tho end of loss than four months she had completely com-pletely memorized In English the parts of Adrienne Lecouvreur, Cleopatra, Juliet Ju-liet and Ophelia, a remarkable feat. All this time she was watching for an opeulug on the stage. John Mc- the stage. She had her English well in command, with that soft foreign accent ac-cent that has always given it added charm, and as Juliet in the balcony scene, which she first recited, she was a vision of grace and loveliness. Then followed the tragic story of Adrienne, rendered with even more power than before, if that were possible. Before the day closed Modjeska had been engaged en-gaged for a two week appearance at the California theater. That night in August, 1S77. when Modjeska in the fudl flush of her beauty and power made her first entrance upon the American stage was indeed a memorable one that still lives vividly vivid-ly in the recollection of those who witnessed wit-nessed her appearance. The play was "Adrleune Lecouvreur," and supporting support-ing Modjeska were Tom Keene as Maurice de Saxe and Harry Edwards as Mlchonne, There was never anything any-thing like It seen in a San Francisco theater before or since. Men and women wom-en stood up, they mounted their seats, they cried, they cheered, they even tried to stampede the stage to grasp the hands of this wonderful woman who had played with such merciless and flying figures of genius upon tho harp strings of their hearts. Modjeska Modjes-ka was radiant with joy, glory, gratitude. grati-tude. The old fires were leaping lu her souL She Inflamed 'the new west |