t
THE OREGON SUNDAY) JOURNAL. PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 8,
1903.
ex.
Model Ibsen
-3 By J. F. S. Br-'
I ft '
Actress
Mysterious Russian
Noble-woman
VonJerf ul in Her
Interpretation of
Creations of
Norwegian Writer s
Fancy.
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,A?v' ' A'?,.
T was a very correct room in
Portland's most correct apart
ment house, and I committed the
indiscretion of remaining an hour
and 15 minutes. It was cruel, but it
-was excusable. For I was to have
talked "shop" to Miss Blanche Stod
dard, one of that generally terrifying
type, a leading woman. And instead
down came Ellida Wangel, with her
sea-green dress and blond Norse
hair that would shine like green gold
if it had the sea for a setting.
So absorbing was the idea that the
fi rst 15 minutes of the conversation
which was really only a monologue
punctured by syllables of assent was
lost upon me entirely. She was the
Ellida of the last act of the play not
the neurotic, frightened, half-jealous
girl of the first two acts, but the wo
man who has finally sent her sailor
lover about his business and returns
to the good doctor an infinitely
stronger, happier woman, but one in
whom the element of mysticism and
the longing for the unfathomable
will never be eliminated.
It wasn't until she went into rap
tures over Alia Nazimova that I
ccsuld pay any definite attention to
what she was saying, and then' it was
because she was doing some particu
larly fine acting, with myself and the
Japanese elevator boy as the only
witnesses.
In fact, "Nazimova" was the first
word that stuck. It wasn't at all the
Nazimova of our untutored pronun
ciation, the Nazimova with its long
"o" and its accented penultimate. In
stead it was an extremely easy and
gliding word, with what accent there
was on the short "zi," leaving the rest
to die away easily and naturally. It
takes practice, but it comes in time.
"I love her!" she declared. "She
is the most wonderful creature imag
inable, she creates her roles and
makes of them things of supernatural
fife. Never was there anyone like
her. I workship her as an actress and
vet I cannot be with her. One sea
son was enough. It is playing with celestial fire, and that isn't good for
mortals." '
And she might have added "nor-for mermaids" but she didn't.
"I was in New York, out of work," she continued, "my new play hav
ing been .a failure. I ran across my friend, Mrs. Schroeder, wife of Fred
Schroeder, who grabbed me by the arm and without explaining at all
rushed me over to Henry Miller's offices.
" 'Mme. Nazimova needs a blond leading woman, and here she is,' said
Mrs. Schroeder.
" 'Do you mean to say you'll take it?' gasped Miller in astonishment.
'For heaven's sake hurry over and see her.'
"I hurried. I simolv' rushed over there and sent mv card nn. I'll never
iHoYget my first sight of her. She wore a low cut black gown, without any
particular shape or style. She was very dark and looked a trifle like a
Jewess, and when she spoke it was with the most en
chanting accent the merest shade of an accent, that
softened and lent color and beauty to her words.
"She thought I had been sent to interview her, and
before I could interrupt her flow of language she ex
claimed, 'My child, if I could but have you I Why, Oh
why, wernt you an actress? What a Ihea you would
make for me V "
This was too good to be true. Miss Stoddard hastened
to assure Nazimova that she was an actress and wanted
to play Thea that was why she was there. It must have
been a proud and happy moment, because the Russian
genius took her on the spot, and the meeting resulted
in an entire season spent with the woman who has set
sensation-loving New York wild.
She has countless reminiscences of Mme. Nazimova,
little anecdotes that are fascinating so fascinating, in
deed, that poor Miss Stoddard had to submit to a 75
minute interview while she recited them.
; Nazimova is a Russian and a noblewoman, and like
nearly all Russian noblewomen the mystery of her life is
dark and Impenetrable, Even the Americans who know
her best have been able to learn nothing from her. She
came to America with the company of famous Russian
actors which; visited New York two years ago. When
they returned to Europe she stayed in New York and
played a year under contract with the Shuberts for only
$100 a week.
"She had a terrible struggle," said Miss Stoddard, "and
has told me that during the years she was studying in
Russia and while she was trying to learn the English
language she had to buy 40-cent shirtwaists. She is al
ways poor, even now, when she commands enormous
salaries no one knows what becomes of her money, but
it is "believed that she gives most of it to the Russian
Evolutionary cause.
1 '-.
Blanche Stoddard
Played WitL
Actress Wlio Has
Created Suck
Furore, and
Follows Her
Interpretation.
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1
riff iinMi
BLANCHE STODDARD
"One afternoon we were all gath
ered on the stage for a rehearsal of
'A Doll's House.' Mme. Nazimowa
was handed a telegram. She read it
and fell to the floor in a faint. The
rehearsal had to be given up and
Nazimova was taken home. After
wards I learned that it contained the
news of the capture of a young boy
whom she had helped educate and
of whom she was very fond. He had
been arrested for conspiracy against
the government, and knowing that it
would mean either Siberia or deaths
he had killed himself.
"Her moods were wonderful. In
rehearsals she showed the most mar
velous knowledge of how a play
should be staged, of what should be
done and when it would be most ef
fective, that I have ever witnessed.
Her resources are limitless. She
has studied her parts until she knows
what the author meant to write into
every word. To some she frankly
admits she can't do Shakespeaoe.
She hates it and feels that she is
dreadful at it.
"At rehearsals she always comes
In a dress which she believes will fit
the part of the woman she is to play.
In Hedda she wears a black clinging
dress with a long train it makes her
look taller than I, although in real
ity she scarcely comes to my shoul
der. She wear a short skirt, com
mon stockings and flat-soled, ugly
shoes as Nora. In fact her make-up
as Nora is particularly remarkable.
She must of course make of her a
common woman without any particu
lar refinement of breeding. She puts
her hair, which is very black, down
over her forehead. She grimes her
hands. She wears turquoises in her
ears. She looks exactly like a dirty
little east side Jewess, but she is per
fect in the part
SOCIETY
(Continued from Pat Two.) .
oelM fntertlnmnt waa held Mid d-
iicioub rerixihmenu erved. Tho next
meeting will be held at tho realdenoo
of Mn. W. B. Hamilton, 430 W Lilian)
o venue, Friday March 14, at 1:30 p. m.
A aurprlae birthday party was given
Miss Maud Malott on her thirteenth
birthday at her home, 861 Williams ave
nue. Those preaent were: Ilasel Ros
"JEdUn'Ryan. Vera Crandall. Mil
dred Eddy, Maud Malott. Qladya kind
ley, Ellae and Erun Kelnath. Claude
Crosby, Harry Oraeyaon, Jefferaon Cran
dall. Wllber Vinton. Bdwln MoCaiaon.
Floyd Stark, Roy Malott ami Alvah
Weston.
Mrs. F. M. Branch entertained the
Fellowship circle last Saturday even
ing st her eaat aide home. There wus
mualo and refreshments followed Inter
The circle was formed when Hi'njuintn
ray Mills wit here ana in dwoted to
"soul culture." Once a month the mem
bers plan to five a social at the Slruyer
mission for ths entertainment uf the
men of the north end.
Women of Woodcraft, Portland Thim
bu club, No. I. met st the home of Mm
Ada Worth Marrb 4. Whist was played
and Mrs. Bust Cook won the first prise,
s burnt wood Jewel case. Refreshments
were served at 5 o'clock. The next
meeting- will be held at the realdence of
Mrs. Mary F. Hurley, 114 Eaat Six
teenth street.S Wednesday, st 2:S0.
The Mispsh social club's dancing- par
ty given st Marguerite hall Frldsy ev
ening. February 18, was enjoyed by
60 couples. Eighteen numbers were
played by Qallchlo's orchestra. The
hosteeaea were Mra. Deldlna. Mrs.
Oreenwood. Mrs. Haynes Jr. and Mrs.
i nompaon.
The Misses Mary Ge Bott, Helen
etaridlrh. Frances Vandermeer and Jes
sie De Spain entertained about 100 of
heir friends with a leap year dance
ant Haturday evening. February 2.
nt the Artisan hall, Portsmouth avenue.
The hi, 11 waa decorated with green and
yellow.
The Phllothla club of the Eaat Forty
fifth atreet Baptist church met In the
class room Friday afternoon. A pleas
ant time was spent in mounting plc
turea of Christ.
dlana. Ths ceremony was read" by Ttev.
N, . tinopp ' of Jeff Arson. The writing
march was played by Miss Mink 1h)I?,
cousin' of the Drtds. Mlaa Klste Lt
attended tW bride, -and Albert Ferri. r
was beet man. , The bride wor white,
with xuU-Iena-tb veil, snd carried a bou
quet at whits carnations Tbs houi
was tastefully decorated with Oregon
grape, English try and potted plants,
snd ths bridal party stood under a floral
bwlL -After congratulations supper was
served - to 31 guests. Mr. and Mrs.
Wright hsvs left for their home in ths
SSJt. V A '-. ' : ti,
- i. C .' v
A slmpls wedding' Was cejebrated last
Mondsr morning st this :3 mass sr St.
Mary's church, when Rev. Father Daly
united In matrimony 'Mlas Kstherlne L.
Chambers snd Terrance J. Conway. -
Ths sister of ths bride. Miss Maris
Chambers, waa bridesmaid and Charles
J. Sheridan scted ss best man. Mlaa
Elisabeth McMahan presided at ths or- .
gan. After ths eervloes st ths chumt -a
wedding breakfaat wss served at ths
bride's boms. ,
The current events department of ths
I'ortnnmah Study rhib will meet st the -
home of Mrs. P. W. Stewart. 174 East
Sixteenth atreet. Wednesday afternoon
ai i o ciock. .
' W
Mount Hood Circle, W. of W. guards,
will give h St. Patrick's dance at the
Kant Fide Woolmna hall. East Sixth snd..;
17 at Vso"'' Tu,,'day snlng, March, -
W . '-:.:
J J Ilralm of Portland and Amanda '
Rose of Rnlnler were married la It.
Ilplrni 8nturduy, February 13. by Jus- '
tice WHtklns
ENGAGEMENTS
' . ii aj
Miss Irene Mnrguerlte Kellv and K. P.
Booser of Alnska will be mnr'rled In this
city May 27.
COMING EVENTS
WEDDINGS
MME. ALL A NAZIMOVA
"In Hedda I saw her using that remarkable neck of hers in the most
effective way imaginable. I tried the same trick I wis so enamored of it.
She sprang at me.
"'What are you doing!' she exclaimed, 'I spent four years trying to
learn that movement. I am short. I have to have it in order to overcome
my lack of height. You have no right to it' and I had to give up to her,
of course.
"At a reception given by the Pulitzers on one occasion a guest said to
her, 'Mme. Nazimova, I wish you would wear silk hose and pretty slippers
as Nora. I hate you as you are.'
"'Yes, that's just like you Americans,' said she.. 'All you want is for a
woman to be pretty and to wear pretty clothes. You don't care anything
about acting. You want us to be pretty.'
"But Mme. Nazimova isn't pretty and she is success
ful," I put in jubilantly, certain that it would prove a
poser.
"Oh, the people follow the critics like sheep, you
know," she said. I didn't know, but she continued:
"Not one person in 20 appreciated Mme. Nazimova's act
ing. It was merely because the critics went wild over
her that she became so much the fad that now on her
matinee afternoons it is almost impossible to get near the
theatre. You should see the other actresses at the mati
nee performances. I have watched Ethel Barrvmore
sitting resting her chin in her hands, sitting forward in
her seat so" all the time illustrating her talk in the most
interesting fashion "and scarcely moving through the en
tire afternoon, so intent was she upon catching every
tiny gesture and change of facial expression.
"We all watched her and all of us wondered and mar
veled and I can assure you that if we put on the pro
posed Ibsen matinees here that I shajl do my best to
imitate many of Nazimova's interpretations. I feel that
she knows more about Ibsen than any one else, so why
shouldn't I accept her way of acting him?"
I told her that I hoped she would. Also that I was
very anxious to see her in the Ibsen plays. And I am.
She is the most intelligent actress, the most finished en
tertainer under the disadvantages of a perfectly correct
drawing room in a perfectly correct apartment-house that
1 know ot. bhe ought 'to be a delight on the stage.
But I had stayed so long had so frightfully outworn
my welcome, that I couldn't even stay to ask her, in her
role as Ellida, how she ever happened to allow that re
markable step-child of hers, Hilda Wangel, to grow up
.a I . J tf ...... n . J-
into tne young woman wno cnarmea master tsmiaer oi
ness .into climbing the steeple.
Pjay, how on earth did you do it, Mrs. Wangel?
charming wedding took place Tues
day evening a week ago at the residence
of Mr. and Mra. R. C. Prince, when
their daughter, Frances M Prince, was
married to Frederick 8. Allvn, by Rev.
John R. Welch, pastor of the Fourth
Presbyterian church. The bride wore a
handaome dress of white silk, and car
ried Bride roses. The bridesmaid was
miss Dottle Wrenn, and the bride's sis
ter. Miss Vera Prince, waa maid of
honor. Both wore pretty frocks of pink
mull, and carrlod carnations. Muriel
McCully and Oeraldlne Root were the
riower girls, and they wore white and
carried pink carnations. The bride was
given away by her father. Miss Flor
ence Howe played the wedding march
I rum Lionengnn.
Arier tne ceremony the wedding sup
per was served by the Misses M. Mc
Laughlan, Verne Clawson snd Olga
ine nouse was prettily decor
ated with ivy and pussy willows. The
ceremony was performed under a bower
of Ivy and pussy willows. George A. B.
Walker was best man.
Mr. and Mrs. Allyn left on their
honeymoon the next day, and will be at
home to their friends at 1144 East Yam
hill street after March 15.
A pretty hpme wedding took palace
February 26 In the evening at the
residence of Mrs. Mary a Ferrier.
when her daughter, Flossie M. Ferrier,
waa married to Ruasel 8. Wright, s
prominent young man of Newcastle, In-
The E. fl A. C. girls an- planning ,tO
give their March clam ing party In Rlng
ler's hall Mondav evenlnir. Mamk is
The committee In charge constats of
junei jonnson, Margaret Brown, Ella
Strelmer, Alice Agler. Mahel Brown,
Gertrude Wetsler. Margaret Boyd, Mlna
Hoffman. Bessie Fltigerald. Esther Ed
wards, Freda Pfaender, Edith Elklngton
and Lenta Stahley. Stiles orcheatr
will furnish the music. The patron
esses are Mrs. W. B. I.ottman. Mrs. V,
C. Agler and Mrs. M. M. Rlngler.
Women's Relief .
Llncoln-Oarleld
Corps No. 19 will have s special meeting
l YV I
wood, for the purpose of sewing. All
ednesday at the home of Mrs. 1.
A. Spooner, 678 Lexington avenue. Sell-
members are urged to be present st .
10:30 a. m. Come prepared to spend tha
day.
The Vesper Stellas will glvs . their
March party at Murlark hall Thursday
evening, March 12, 1908. Praspn' or
chestra to furnish tha music. Patron
esses are Mrs. J. Olllen, Mrs. J. F. Sil
ver, Mrs. O. Couture and Mrs. A. llen-nlg.
The Mlipnh Social club will give S :
whit soc ial Thursday, March 19. at ths .
home of Mrs. Thompson, 447 Benton ;
atreet. ,
w
Learn to dance correctly from Prof.
Rlngler. Instruction dally. Phones.
PERSONAL
Mrs. Otto Kulper snd Mrs. Hortenns
Rice spent Sunday with Mrs. W. B. Pil
lard of St. Helens. .
Miss Florence George, one of - the
nurses at Oood Samaritan hospital spent
two days with ber parents in St. Helens
last week.
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Wllllngton re
turned Thursday from a five-months
trip to 'England and are visiting rel
atives In St. Helens. L
Mr. and' Mrs. "TV V. Kuettner of Elton
Court 'hve taken apartments st - the ;
New Nortonla. where they are st homo '
to their friends.
FRALEY'S
Hats of Distinction
212-214 Third Street
WILD AND WOOLLY.
: .
"Bad Men" Depicted in Alleged
Western Plays Are Surprise.
tu . Frem Boston Transcript, t
TV, , Vtr1 anil Wonll V " AenfetaA
dramatically or melodramatically in
Ifouc local theatres simultaneously,
serves also ss a theme ror a most en
tertaining little assay on "Tha Maga
zine We at." Its author, having lived
extensively In ths west, sxpresses mln-
ifiea amaaement ana aeiecuon over the
"bad men," "Senorltss and '"tender
f est'V of Everybody's and" McClurs's.
I It must be sight or nine years now
sines your clerk trod the gulches and
coulees of ths Rockies- time enough for
the wild and woolly to have quieted
down to an even tamer placidity than
when last be saw It, But even then it
wss not "as advertised." Cowhovs I
f:n yt,never once a cowboy
.5hieiuUV8KaJI Pf hlm llk- Had he
sure enough lie wore a "boiled shirt"
snd a derby, ad s a sombrero? Ift-
eviiaoiy ne would omit the "chaps." A
sorry mongrel, sartorlally, he recalled
uw iacinnng .incongruities or
mituma
missionaries -when . first
m pressed . upon the heathen
reported by
iney naa impressed iino
the spiritual potentialities of dry goods.
they had
Xn nine months of aweet expectancy
i aaw no recourse to gun play, encoun
lerea no ratuesnaKes. uui met ifiit nn
coyote, t Some .fascinating hold-ups took
place, I admit, though not so many as
In Boston. And, mind you. i was la
the very heart of the Wild and Woolly
an tne wnue, ana Keeping a Drlgnt look
out for "copy." Meanwhile, they of tho
Wild and Woolly maintained a pretty
stirewa surveillance over me. Many
and loud were their complalnta that I
was introducing into the Itocktes a sue.
cles of slang that corrupted taste and
norrinea an persons or discernment
From what I hear, the town has been
uncomfortably quiet and conventional
ever since my return to the east.
Still, I am a bit out of sympathy with
the writerf "The Magasine West" in
the Contributors' club. He seems to me
a little touchy. Indeed, rather unnSqes-sarlly-iervid
In his denunciation of
those "needy authors to. whom fbad
VIA. '. "fiftnAwlta " I
spell several square meats a year. The
Wild and. Woolly doss no reut barm I
In the magaslnes. . Real Westerners
have long since denied themselves the
anguish or reading Wild ana wooiiy
fiction, save for the fun of Jeering at
It. But when it comes to staging the
Wild and Woolly, that's different! Who
knows but, almost any night, some
touring, ranchman. In evening clothes
Snd a hopeful mood, may blunder Into a
theatre where the life of the ranch Is
so weirdly" travestied. A horrible scene
would ensue. Sobbing. moaning, and
begging everybody's pardon, the poor
fellow would dash out of the theatre
snd drown Ms woe in a tnimoiarui or
Moxls.
Champagne Iastead , Opium
From the filngapors Free Press,
. If ws take the experience of this col
ony, we are arriving at a stage in which
tho better classes of Chinese ere tend
ing to drop opium and take to ths con
sumption of liquors. "
Champagne Is by no means unknown,
and whiskey and soda Is commonplace
of domestic consumption with well-to-do
Chinese residents. t
m 1 ' 1 .f -
Mrs. H. E. Jackson of the Art Milli
nery has returned from an extended
business trip, bringinr with her manr
pretty novelties, including a number .of
the choicest patterns which - ahe will
be pleased to show her many friends
at her millinery parlor. 409 -Stearns
builaing. Sixth' snd Morrison streets.
New form model Wade corset l J7
Thirteenth street, near Washington.
388-390 East Morrison SU Near Grand Ave.il".i
Sec Window Display Today, on Sale Tomorrov
If you live on the West Side a short walk over the bridge;
will open your eys to the wonderful buying possibilities
of the "NEWER EAST SIDE : , , -
A HALF A THOUSAND SAMPLE
SHIRTWAISTS
Beauties every one all sizes -$I$I5 arid $1.50 Waists
tomorrow for v v - , r- t.
SEE
WINDOWS
You have never before had the opportunity of particlpatiui?
m such an offering as -this. SEE OUR WINDOVV awl
compare with the bier store Drices.:Panpv Tni AU.vjr.ri
. Alpacas, Fancy Galateas -ALL ON SALE TOMORRQV,
Al orJS-HALF AND ONE-THIIiD CHOP EAI!LV,