52 THE MORNING OREGONIAN, EBTDAtI OCTOBER , 1906. Conversation With Ellen Terry

World-Famo- us Actress Tells of Her Life Work and Also Records Some Anecdotes in Her Career

BY CHRISTOPHER ST. JOHN. I was not four years old. I spoilt it all (Copyright, 1306. by Central News & Press by howling at reheasal and refusing plump to be put into the mustard pot. Exchange.) . . more impossiDie- . to raptiBuu v'i "Put your child into the mustard pot, IS Mr. Terry." said the manager. TELm print Ellen IT than to reproduce in "Damn you, sir." said father. "I won't Terry's fascinating and delightful con frighten my child you or anyone else." PORTLAND for versation. But when father got me home he took a No Interview with her has ever seemed very different view. Looking at me sadly, to me In the least successful, for the poor and, as I thought at that time, sternly, he said: "Nell, my dear, you will never interviewer can only record her words. dreadfully are, off the make an actress!" He was and words with Ellen Terry ashamed of me, but he didn't give me up (CB stage as on it, but half the battle, and for all that. even that gives the words an undue promi- St. John Is it possible for you to tell nence In her art and her personal charm. me anything of the secret of your suc- The interviewer has a trick of making cess? N N inconsequent when she Ellen Terry What is the secret of all Ellen Terry seem success! It Is. it must always be, work! is only swift. She moves so rapidly that I think I can say that I have always it is quite impossible for the reporter to worked to the best of my ability, and keep up. Breathlessly he tries to follow without thinking of success, or being in day appears in print a the least ambitious. I have always been her, and next there too anxious to act to my own satisfac- conscientious reproduction of the chase. tion to think very much of its effect on It is not in his power, poor wretch, to others. reproduce the expression that clarified the Applause Is Natural. Y U words, the inflexions of the voice that O gave significance St. John Yet-surel- you had pleasurable OFFE the least of them and put sensations when you first realized that beauty, the mischievous humor that ' an end to serious discussion, the grace you were a success ! When you first 66 with which little phrases were turned, heard applause, didn't you feel something and while the delighted hearer noted them grip you just here? down, the Inimitable finish: "But. of Ellen Terry Left side that's right! No! CHANCE OF YOUR course, you any ra LIFE say that" I have never had sensations about E mustn't It has been my good fortune to enjoy applause or glory. When I first played Ellen Terry's friendship for seven years. Ophelia I succeedd in the ordinary sense Before that I had maintained a youthful of the word, but I did not succeed with ' correspondence with her. in the course of myself. ! If . .UTiV mB which she told me. with that character- But I do remember very well the first istic frankness which never wounds time that this ordinary sound impressed though it illuminates, that she wished the me. I was playing Prince Arthur in cost of posting a letter was a sovereign "King John," and there was ft rule in at least!" the theater that no one was allowed to During this time I have never heard take a call without the permission of the always management. There was also a feud in her "prattle." a trick which is the between actor who was attributed to her in interviews. She is in- theater the capable playing Hubert and the manager. of saying anything shallow, and After the scene between Hubert and Ar- No her infectious and gaiety thur one night there was applause as us- Its would not be so delicious if they were not ual, but we were not allowed to take the profound, lust as her comedy would not call, much to Hubert's disgust! As for Dues be what It Is if she had ever played me. I heard the people howling and yell- tragedy. ing and clapping in front, and was tre- Success Her house, in King's Row. Chelsea, built mendously excited, delighted and amused.. tn the lsth century, when domestic archi- The orchestra began to play, but thjr tecture was very simple and beautiful. Is noise in front went on all the same. No Has Been a worthy home for 60 simple and unpre retired to tne greenroom to wait. ior m tentious a woman as this great artist. A call for the last act (all calls were made little house. It is panelled from tip to toe. from the greenroom in those days, and Initiation and contains many pictures and books. I could still hear the audience shouting which reflect the fact that the Ellen Terry "Hubert! Arthur! Hubert! Arthur!" and who Is adored by the man in the street presently salvoes of applause. has also been the Inspiration of poets and Presently Hubert came striding in. In Fees artists. appearance he was very like Beacons-fiel- d. Ellen Terry's home is a museum full of I can see him now, ramping up treasures, but it has none of the un and down the greenroom in a furious comfortable and depressing features of a rage. "D'ye hear that, duckey? That's museum. Ivor is it luxurious. It is iust a for you and me! They're wanting you little home in which no jarring note of and me, duckey!" he bawled. rasteiessness or extravagant elaboration The noise of clapping and shouting still is allowed to intrude. went on. It contains two masterpieces of painting "It's all right, duckey." said Hubert in U'atts' portraits of Ellen Terry in her grimly, trying to comfort me, which was youth, and Bastien Lepage's living, char- not at all necessary, as I thought nothing acteristic presentment of Henry Irving. of the whole affair except that it was great fun. "It's all right! "When other In Private Life. people are lying forgotten in their graves, It is hard to believe that Ellen Terry duckey, you'll be up there!" has lived SO years, much St. John: He was a true prophet. less that she has Terry: manager give been on the stage for SO years! Ellen The had to (Great In In private life and in own El- at last. For when the curtain went up Society her home Our and he tried to begin the next act, the Educational len Terry generally wears a Chinese or Japanese garment, which is wonderfully audience would still have nothing but becoming. Her golden locks "Time hath to Hubert and Arthur. They sent to the silver greenroom for us. and Hubert strode A FAMILIAR SAYING that every home should have an Encyclopedia. There is no surer road to success than turned." but he has by no means across JILT'S completed the process, and it is as hard in triumph to take his call with to say what color Nelly Terry toddling after him, her little Knowledge, and quicker road knowledge good bright college education that bright pale hair legs quite capable keeping up no to than a Encyclopedia. Any boy or girl can get a out is as to determine the color of those of with his bright, mysterious eyes, long strides. which own neith- Of course we huge reception, of an Encyclopedia. er to blue nor gray nor brown, but have had a invented a color of but it wouldn't have amused me so their own. if I mana- What one does notice definitely is that much had realized that the But good encyclopedias are expensive too expensive for the average family. That's why this club is being organized to overcome Time, who has done ger was much put out. the silvering of the St. John I sometimes people hair so has delved no "par- hear high prices, by eliminating the middleman, and furnish good, modern of all allels" in that open argue that applause is inartistic, and to a Encyclopedia at a price within the reach and on the most fair and brow, and that the would be much bet- that Ellen Terry's skin is as soft and theater clear as a ter without it--' convenient terms. . child's. Ellen Terry How stupid! The Jap- She is sitting tailor-wis- e on a strewn sofa anese applaud in their theaters, and with letters, newspapers, books surely no audiences in any country tea, and an infinitely hideous fox terrier can be more pup! - intelligent than in Japan! When battles were a thing of emo- Our Plan. Our Object. I remember that Charles Reade wrote tion, a cry was a necessity, of her when she was young battle and pression that her ex- it seems to me that when applause is It is impossible in this limited space to describe fully the plans and On account of our immense purchasing and distributing power, we were "killed" any pretty face you saw abolished In the theater the stage will beside her. and the same thing is vitality, it now. Equally true of have lost its and have become purposes of tKe club, and the benefits privileges able to secure for you the Encyclopedia at about the actual cost of produc- true is it that her vi- a mechanical, dead thing like a dead and to, be derived by vacity kills any ordinary liveliness language. tion. By distributing it through club there will be comes near It. and her that members. Suffice that a no extra age gaiety makes aver- St. John Yet I suppose the decrease it to say arrangements have been made with one of seem positively of applause is one of the changes advertising expenses or salesmen's commissions to pay. . This makes it possible lumpish! largest houses How which have taken place in the theater the publishing in the country for an entire edition of a new, is it possibe to ask such a woman during the last SO years? for us to supply the Encyclopedia saving of at least one-ha-lf the regular questions about at a her life? At the moment Ellen Terry It is not a change that high-gra-de Encyclopedia, which will be distributed to the members of the she is more interesting than her life has been brought to my notice yet. I price and on remarkable terms; packed as her life say, is with triumph. am glad to though, when I went ve 1 Club. Payments will be made in small monthly instalments WeVer' make a bold and be- to the Varieties Theater, in Paris, the at gin eff" other day. to see a most delightful st. John: May I ask you some ques- comedy by young de the rate of ONLY A FEW CENTS PER DAY. tions? Croisset, there For the Home For Busy Men. Isn t that the best way to make was much less applause than the play you tell me what I want to know? and the perfectly splendid acting de- New selected for this enterprise because Forbidden Questions. served! The Standard Encyclopedia was Shop Talk. it is generally considered Encyclopedia for home, for busy Ellen Terry: Fire your questions at me. Every Man with a Family to be the best the will St. John Don't you think that this and "I answer all things faithfully" may you for school students all schools that Is. be due to the fact that have men and of ages. Many have already adopted if I can. but there are some ques- long since passed beyond the reach of should at once investigate this wonderful offer, which may never be made tions which it is never wise to answer. jealousy yourself? and officially endorsed it One of the stock questions put Ellen Terry I won't say people again. You it the boys and girls who to me is: that owe to are growing up. Give them Its articles clear the facts "What is your favorite part?" I always feel better, but at least they behave bet are written in a simple, style, containing all in answer "The part am ter, and in a profession like burs, car life I playing every possible help for the struggle that awaits them. It is always the te, moment. at the ried on in the public eye, behavior is concise, readable form. It is complete in every respect, thoroughly up-to-da- everything. It is a bit of the truth, and. as Mr. young people in family who use an Encyclopedia the Bnaw says in what St. John In what other ways has the a most and is recommended by leading authorities and public educators everywhere. must he called my stage progressed since you favorite part at present, who ever knows acted with the whole truth about Charles Kean? anything' Oh I Ellen Terry Progress is such could get on capitally if I talked to inter- an odd viewers entirely in quotations. thing! We gain and we lose Mrs. Kean I have played Hermione In bunched-ou- studied so many words in my life that t petti- are wue and true, and coats, but if the petticoats were full of when I am not pleats, the voice was full pathos, actually saying them on the stage they of and keep on coming the whole performance most dignified and into my head, expressing sincere. what I want to say so much better I can. than St. John How do you think Charles St. Kean's production would compare with John: I think most of us feel that those of the present day? even this extraordinary demonstration of 1. the public's love you Ellen Terry I hate comparisons. But .1 iuUDiLs o for was but a faint apply promptly I don't mind saying those were who expression that there of the debt we owe to you many beautiful effects for all the joy and beauty that you at the Princess's brought have which I have never seen surpassed. In into our lives. To many who the "Tempest." through an ingenious me- could never read a line of poetry, you chanical contrivance, my sister Kate, as if you have no Encyclopedia at all, or if you have one that is old and unsatisfactory, it will cost you nothing to get particulars. Merely mail have been a living poem. . . . You Ariel, given never touched the ground. It was have us things that are beyond a most perfect illusion, and Kate a most the coupon shown below, which Is simply a request for information and does obligate or bind in and will receive, free of charge. X price and beyond thanks. perfeot Ariel! not you any way, you Ellen Terry: Now that's a compliment, St. John was a mistake, thirty-si- not question, so It then to a beautiful x page book, containing portraits of many of the editors, contributors and revisers of the Encyclopedia. It also contains full page Xx a and not In the bond. say that you were trained in a period Proceed to question 1. when the stage was unfurnished, and duogravure of the Mikado of Japan double-pag- e St. John: A blunt question. How did costumes and scenery of small account? portraits and the Czar of Russia, suitable for framing, as well as maps of Japan and Korea, and the you do it I mean how did you get on? t.llen Terry I have never in anv acted new Republic of Panama, where the Canal is being built, besides colored sample First Appearance on' the Stage. theater where these thincs were not con many beautiful plates, pages showing the text, etc This sidered, and rightly considered, of the xx Ellen Terry: A pretty big question to greatest importance. Charles Kean, oiler made only to responsible men No apply. with, Charles Reade. the Bancrofts, Is and women. children need start off itn't it? If you want John Hare xxOregon- - to know how came tseerDonm Tree, my son, Gordon Craig, I to be an actress at and, above XXX all, all. Henry Irvinsr all In their I can answer at once "Because I was different ways presented nlavs Ivtsntl. lan child parents the of who never thought I iuiiy, ana i nave never found that earn- - I X 'X Encyclopedia could be anything else." There was no aiicitiiuu iu ueians ana accessories THE Club question about it. My sister Kate began paraiyzea acting, as I believe they sav The demand will be large, the XXX before she was years old. and was soon now. Portland, Oregon dancing a hornpipe in a Of course it is quite rjossihle to h. little sailor's hat. meaninglesaly NEW STANDARD Jumper and diminutive duck .lavish and gorgeous, but V PI-- ,.. c- -A . trousers, care, thought, patience, knowledge, Club Sets rapidly which, marked "Kate Terry." are still In and taken. a poetic- - sense of the charge, information regard in the family archives. My first attempt atmosphere which ENCYCLOPEDIA your to "get on," however, was win Desi neip tne play can never do any- new Encvrln. not at all a help success. You know the mustard-po-t thing but the action. John Hare's pedia Club: also soecimen story? production of "Olivia"- at the Court in TwIv Lartfe Volume of the Encyclopedia, including 1S78 was eo lovely If you to St. John: No. that when sir Henry Pag desire investigate, portraits and colored engravings. Ellen Terry: Oh. irviag revived it at tne jjyceum in 1SS5, 4.500 it's a chestnut! great master of stage pictures St. John: I think we might chance it. as he was Illustration (with many Colored Plate) X?X he found little or nothing 3.000 Ellen Terry: With a new feature to alter. you should send thrown in. perhaps. You might say St. John Your son has verv strong 150 Maps in this that views on the subject of stage produc my sister Kate claims it as her mustard-po- t, not mine all. Of tion, i oeiieve.' 55.000 Article Street. ... at course. I don't Ellen Terry If I began to talk- ahnut her, hap-pene- believe because at the time it d him I should never stop! A Universal Gazetteer An Atla of the COUPON AT ONCE she was a n His little book. actress in ine Art or tne Theater." has ben World Biographic Dictionary A A- A those little white ducks, and couldn't pos- translated into nearly every European sibly behaved so badly. of .0 have language, and but I am much too tired General Hl.tory A Lexicon Literature. x Besides. I had yellow hair, and she con- to be a proud mother! Science, and the Art Occupation fessed she hadn't. The scene was a re- And now, if I don't go and lie down hearsal for a pantomime, the place Glas- at once, thero may never be ariofhr address gow or some Scotch town. I was to be Jubilee. Forgive me, won't you. but one Business the Spirit of the Mustard Pot. for which of the of my helng xx secrets able to work important part a shock, of yellow hair, hard still and take pleasure In my. talent, my being s work inherited and small is an noui-- sleep every afternoon ! enough to be put into the pot, were sup- Good-bye- ! I don't think you have done posed to fit me. your fair share in this conversation, do Certainly I bad had. no experiences for Koul