Theatrical and Circus Life: or, Secrets of the Stage, Green-Room and Sawdust ArenaJennings, John J. (John Joseph)
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Theatrical and Circus Life: or, Secrets of the Stage, Green-Room and Sawdust Arena
Jennings, John J. (John Joseph)
Circus; Theater -- United States
Clara Morris is an excellent subject for an interview. Miss Morris
always prepares to receive the representative of the press in some
picturesque attitude or pose. She has a fine perception of artistic
effect, and never loses sight of the fact that it is an interview, and
hence has an eye to what will appear in print. In her discourse she
aims to be epigrammatic and witty; likes to be novel and original. Her
knowledge is very varied, and she converses with ease and fluency. Her
face sparkles, and her reception is always extremely cordial.
Modjeska, otherwise the Countess Bozenta, is, perhaps, the best
educated actress on the stage. She is a gifted linguist, well
read in French, German, and English literature. She is a charming
conversationalist. In manners she is a perfect lady, without any stage
eccentricities. She is a delightful hostess, and dispenses hospitality
most gracefully. Her bearing is courteous but thoroughly friendly,
and there is the impress of _la grande dame_ in her demeanor. She is
partial to canine pets.
Adelaide Neilson captured every journalist who ever interviewed her.
She seemed to bend all her energies to captivate her visitor. Her
remarkable beauty was a powerful aid, and the charm of her manner was
irresistible. When necessary, she was almost a man of business, and
transacted her affairs with much ability. Poor Adelaide was too potent
a spell for ordinary interviewers to withstand, and she always carried
her point.
Mary Anderson is a great talker. Her mother and step-father, Dr.
Hamilton Griffin, are usually in attendance at an interview. She is
decided in her opinions, and expresses her views fearlessly, but her
remarks are superficial. She is lively and a regular tom-boy, and
hesitates at nothing.
Fanny Davenport, who is noted for her expensive costumes on the stage,
is the reverse in private life. She is nearly always in a _neglige_
attire and looks somewhat slovenly. Fanny is rather averse to the
interviewer, but when she submits she is as charming and pleasant a
hostess as can be imagined. But nevertheless she thinks it a decided
bore to entertain.
Maggie Mitchell is a whole-souled, generous woman, without a spark of
affectation. She is frank, pleasant, and amiable.
Lotta, vivacious Lotta, is very demure in the presence of her mother
and the journalist. She is quite unlike the Lotta of the stage. Mrs.
Crabtree joins in the conversation, which Lotta carries on in a very
subdued but friendly manner.
Janauschek is firm, solid, and determined in her convictions. She has
strong likes and dislikes. She talks with much emphasis.
Mrs. D. P. Bowers is a pleasant lady to visit. She is quite motherly in
her manners. Her conversation contains much shrewd, caustic depth.
Charlotte Thompson is intellectual. She possesses what the French call
_esprit_ and her conversation is always enjoyable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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