Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/858

608 God save us clean unto the end,

Send death, but pure; and if for gain

We slay the youths, withhold thy grace,

If shameful quarries we maintain,

Then like the lightning in our face,

Great God of battles lift thy hand.

Portland has sent out into the world two actresses of rare talent to portray the woman, and please mankind. Miss Blanche Bates was born in this city; her parents being Mr. and Mrs. F. N. Bates, both actors before her and great local favorites. Mr. Bates was the manager of the old Oro Fino theatre which stood on the northwest corner of First and Stark streets thirty years ago. Miss Bates has the reputation of being the foremost emotional actress on the American stage today.

Miss Annie Pixley, also an actress of more than national reputation, was a Portland girl, and one of her sisters still resides here at this writing. Miss Pixley created a very popular character in the play of "M'Liss," and for her the piece was composed and arranged. Out of the popularity of this one drama, which she played in all English speaking countries, she made her reputation, and a large private fortune.

And from the showing of this chapter, it is no idle boast that Portland, Oregon, has produced literary ability in all lines of mental development equal to if not greatly superior to that of any other western city.