The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 26, 1902, Page 7

THE SUNDAY CALL. 7 A /7ara Zlflf e T ARMINIAN SOCIETY BEILE Heroic StruGGle of a BezUtiful Amazrigzn Scgiry Girl W, © Wen Famg cn thg Stage Just to R:rn Enolgh Momeh to Get Her Fath'r Relezsza Frem a Turkish Priscnh. NDOWED by nature with a pretty face and ommonly magnetic ing sopr ne of the most active of adelphia’s s sted a stage ca- reer three years ago In order that s rt set ficlent money might be earned to free Rev. Dr. Mangasarian, from n with his wife and grated from Stamboul, Tug- me fifteen years ago to take up hie residence in the Quaker City, where pastor of the Episcopa- Church. His intelligent orations and services were suf- ntly impressive to place him on a scale of excellence, and the name of asarian soon became knownm in the e society of Philadelphia. Dr. Mangasarian, however, advanced from the Presbyterian sect to a study of ethical culture with Dr. Felix Adler, whom he later assisted at Carnegle Hall, in New York. During one of his lectures he was thoroughly carried away by his own emotions in defense of the Arme- nians who were being massacred and his iations of Turkey's Sultan were of & strenuous nature. The Sultan in some way was informed of Dr. Mangasarian’s public denunciation, loud' terms his displeas- he later be vteri ure against the man who hid formerly lived under his flag. About three years ago Dr. Mangasarian was commissioned to execute a secret mission in Constantinople. Considerable care was observed to conceal his identity, as he traveled incognito and even shaved his beard and mustache. Through some mysterious channel known principally to Oricntals news of the pastor's visit was carried to the Sultah, and when Dr. Man- gasarian landed at Constantinople he was immediately arrested and thrown into prison. All efforts at the time on the part of the American Consul were ap- parently futile. His family was left in an almost destitute condition, and they were vnable to communicate with him. Through the kind offices of Dr. Felix Adler the wife and daughter,” Zabelle. were brought to New York. The girl was pretty and had often afforded much en- tcrtainment at home by her clever ama- teur work. What little money they man- aged to realize on the effects which they were compelled to dispose of soon dwind- led to nothing, and with great reluctance Miss Zabelle's mother finally agreed to allow her daughter to adopt a career on the stage. which might eventually pro- vide the requisite funds to assist in free ing Dr. Mangasarian. Inexperienced, unsophisticated and with much temerity Miss Zabelle made an ambitious tour of the various theatrical agencies in New York, and every appli- cation was met with the same cold reply —to the effect that an inexperiehced girl was practically useles: At about this period Henry W. Savage was organizing a second Castle Square Grand Opera Company to present ope.a in English, and the young woman approich- ed the manager with little hope of secur- ing work. Mr. Savage tried her volce and finding it satisfactory gave her an en- gagement in the chorus. Her refined ways, quiet deportment and ambitious application to her work was ob- vious to her associates and while it was impossible to give her work of sufficient importance in ‘grand opera which might command a more remunera- tive stipend than chorus work pro- vided, Mr. Savage did not fail to recognize that Miss Zabelie was above the average chorus girl who infest the Broadway -agencies. It was not long ‘be- fore her story became known to the mem- bers of the company and little by. littla she gained that knowledge of stage craft, which is almost impossible to acquire out-" side the chorus, to qualify her for some- thing better. One season with the Castle Square Opera Company’s chorus fitted her for better work and the following seasén she was en- saged to sing the title'role in “San Toy,” the English-Japanese musical comedy brought to Daly’s Theater, New York, from London. S8he experienced consider- able d.fficulty In this work, as she was compelled to undergo comparison with Marie Celeste, the original of the role. During this period of her stage career Dr. Mangasarian was unconscious of his daughter’'s advent into the theatrical pro- fession and while she was supporting her mother and herself she managed to put away each week enough to eéventually contribute to &n attempt to release her father from the terrible clutches of the Sultan of ‘Turkey. No summer vacation was to be thought of. An engagement with a musical or- ganization which played Atlantie City was the next step and then a winter engage- ment in ‘“The Messenger Boy" with James T. Powers brought her into metro- politan favor. When Henry W. Savage brought his “King Dodo” company into New York for a run at Daly’s Theater he gast about for metropolitan favorites and, remember- ing the work Miss Zabelle had done in his chorus two or three seasons previ- ously, together with her work in several other productions, he engaged her to sing the role of Annette. 3 The question of salary was easily set- tled, since Mr. Savage was familiar with her mission on the stage, and the young woman made a pronounced “hit” with her fascinating eyes, cultured voice and vleasing stage presence. At about this pe- PO o [75 i/l dririg national power to bear with Tur- key’s Sultan. Miss Zabelle continued to sing and dance and dance and sing withno thought other than that of freeing her father, from whoms she had. not heard for three lon ¥aars. Many of her former admirers, scions of wealthy families of the smart set in Phi adelphia, had heard of the Mangasar plight. Each offer of assistance was firm- ly refused; each proffered hand in mar- riage which might bring untold weaith into the family was as firmly rejected. Zabelle Mangasarian worked on and on. Finally some slight encouragement was in sight; the Sultan was beginning to feel the power of Uncle Sam’s far reaching pretection. 23 The “King Dcdo” comra~y completed I's New York engagement and was to be again presented in Chicago. Miss Za- belle’s mother accompanzed the company and on the second week of 'its run a ca- blegram advised them of the successful effort which had been brought to bear to free Dr. Mangasarian, The usual complications arose in the matter of arranging details, indispenisable riod she had earned sufficient money to to international matters and on the last dium height, plump, and .engage a reputable attorney of ipterna- night of “King Dodo’s”” Chicago run Dr. tional connection, Who set to work, armed Mangasarian arrived to see his daughter tract the most blase with a retainer of no small proportions, to for the first time on the stage. A cordial reception was arranged by Mr. Savage, who had admired the young woman's motif from the ng, but Miss Zabelle was n en owing to the Paci t tov e was in duty bound compelled to make aMter having seen her father for only a few hours. This is Miss Zabelle's first appearance e she would un- midate the plans and wh ances in San Fran der no circums of her present empl who was | mental z her in a pos her fa ays an ob vous dispositis hasten the end season. a theatrical While as f career was probably rather tha of pru Br points to the chorus sion 1 to cultivated for his gra tion of jet black eyes, whic ater-godr by rea~ son of their luster.