THE COMING OF ELLEN TERRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2120, 11 April 1914, Page 11

THE COMING OF ELLEN TERRY

Miss Ellen Terry's visit to Australia will be ono of the notable events ai u year -which is to be distinguished by tho presenco-'o'f ,a-. number of celebrities. Early this month tho famous actress wili set forth upon her long.-voyage. "I shall not 'act', in Australia," she said to,a. //Standard" .representativer tho other day. "I; shall just giveniy little comments on Shakespeare's'heroines, interspersed with some of their most notable speeches, that misguided people will insist on calling my 'lectures.' It, makes me laugh, it really docs. Lectures I Think of me lecturing 1" And Miss Terry rose to pace tho room as sho expressed her objection to a term that, indeed, seoms curiously out of sorts with her gracious personality. As she moved quickly from side to side- of the spacious floor, it .seemed strange .to think of tho generations which havo known Ellen Terry, and gazed upon her beauty and her talent. Grey-haired she is, and perhaps the outline of her face has not the dimpled soffc ness of long ago; but tho protty head still rises erect from graceful shoulders, the long limbs are still Bupplo in their movements, and surely no women) of the present scant-skirted period know how to fold and float their draperies about, them as does this woman who celebrated her "jubilee-" on the stago nearly a decade ago. "When I return what shall I do?' asked - Mis 3 Terry, in an introspective way, as she stisred a log into naming life on the broad hearth. "Well, that is on the knees of tho gods, I really l think I ought' to .contemplate obscurity and retirement. No? But why- not? Do you think'people still like to see me?" Here spoke the trilo woman. "Ah! that's nice to hear you say t-r like-that"—and sho sighed contentedly. "Well, perhaps I'll do some more 'lecturing'—now,. really, it is an abominable vrord, isn't it?

"Yes, I am goiug to tako my own 'properties' with mo to that great 'Dominion beyond tho seas'; but they don't amount to much. Just a reading desk, my big book -which has print expressly made.to suit.my treacherous eyesight, and my grey curtains. How do I feel about going bo far away? Why, as happy as ..possible, for I'know that I shall roturn full of renewed life and energy. The' idea of ten whole weeks at sea. reconciles me to tho six weeks I must spend on land working hard all the time. Five weeks in. the ship going there—five weeks in the ship coming back—and-nothing to do except _ sit on deck and eat and drink the air that blows right off- the salt water! Weather! Why, I never'bother about weaftier. Like the captain of the Pinafore, I am 'never, never sick at sea,' and weather firie'br'.'dirfcyi'-as the sailors call it, invigorates me, and I feel—well, a good deal younger than I'ought to feel." , The'tour, which will include' New Zealand, is to bYgin at tho Melbourne Town Hall on April'2l.. . . Miss ' Ellen Terry is to give a scries of what she herself" calls '"discourses" on Shakespearian subjects. The titles/of theso discourses open a charming vista of delightful thought to, all lovers of the Bard of Avon's works. They aro /name—"The Triumphant Heroines of Shakespeare," "Tho Pathetic Heroines of Shakespeare," "Letters in Shakespeare's Plans," and "Children in Shakcspcaro'e Plays."