The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-08-29
A Theatrical Reminisc enee.

"0thello" was ended. The excited audience
had called the renowned stranger, who here
for the first time played the leading part
repeatedly and with almost frantic enthusi
asm before the curtain. AS | could reckon
myself among the oldest friends of the ge
NAL artist, FASTENED into his dressing room
to salute and to congratulate him.
Contrary to his usual manner towards
me, l found him extremely silent and dis
tant. Lost in melancholy abstraction, ht
stood there and slowly passed his hand ovel
his forehead, as if he would drive away GER
tain troubled memories.
Although my deepest sympathy was
called forth by his singular behavior, still
would not press myself into his confidence
Indeed he seemed too much busted with his
own thoughts to notice me.
When, after a time, he had won mas
tery over his feelings, with all his old friend
illness, he excused his absence of mind.
81 beg your pardon" said he, laughing,
'my manner must appear strange to you, but
we actors are peculiar people. Even our
friends know little or nothing at all Of our
inner life No one dreams Of the sadness,
Of the deep sorrow we often bury from the
world. We must often smile when ouI
hearts are breaking, and like the Roman
gladiator, receive the death stroke amid the
huzzas of the multitude. The public be-
lieves that we only sport with passion, and
only represent the unhappiness Of others.
We are supposed to render our well-learned
roles with more or less feeling; to feigu love
and jealousy hate and despair, only to de-
ceive those who come to hear U.s. But
whoever, like myself, has cast a glance be-
hind the scenes Of the theatre, knows that
but too often under an antic appearance, the
deepest, the most fearful truth is buried /;
that the laughing comic actor is thinking
only of his sick child, or his dying wife ;
that the much admired hero trembles in
view of the debtors prison; that the wanton
s0ubrette is herself betrayed wife, who,
perhaps, after the representation may, driv-
en- by despair, lay violent hands upon her
self Not seldom we represent our own life
upon the stage; render almost word for word
our own thoughts, and feel in ourselves the
same sorrow, the same pain which we por-
tray in ideal form. can, from my own
experience, prove to you the truth of these
words. have myself seen an actor in the
role Of tender father, when telling Of the
death of beloved child,so overwhelmed by
the thought that he had shortly before lost
a blooming daughter, that he sank dying
upon the floor, while the public, without
any misgiving, appIauded as if all were in
accordance with the design of the play"
"Horrible" exclaimed |, shuddering. Il
now begin to comprehend your own excite
ment in the representa- ton Of Othello You
must yourself have experienced all the tor
lures of jealousy in order to portray them
in such a mastery manner"
He nodded as if in assent, but said moth
ing.
Meanwhile we had left the theatre, and
almost unconsciously had reached the trag
edian's dwelling, where supper-table was
already spread for us. My friend ate al
most nothing, and was too much excited
to do justice to the elegantly served viands.
After a servant had cleared the table and
Withdrawn, the interrupted conversation
was resumed
81 know not whether you are acquainted
with the story of my youth, p" said my friend.
eff mistake not, have told you that
am of Jewish parentage, and
was reared in poverty. Like the Moor,
l belong to despised race. have also
had to encounter the curse of prejudice, un-
der which have bitterly suffered. Still in
time rose above all obstacles, and if have
not like otheIlo become great general, I
have become at least a passahle actor"
''Say rather an artist in the highest sense
of the word.
''If | am an artist, OthelIo has made me
so; or rather, love and jealousy, which are
bound together like light and shadow Mine
is a singular story, and although its remem-
brance is very painful to me, | will tell it to
you"
Before commencing his narration, he
poured out glass of Rhenish wine, and
emptied it at single draught as
if to strengthen himself for a heavy task.
''After long wandering" he began at
length, 81 found a permanent engagement
at B, where chance had at that time
assembled a company Of rare histrionic abil-
ity. 1t was pride and a happiness to be-
long to such stage, equal in all respects
to that Of the most splendidly endowed
court theatre The actors were animated
by a common ardor and tie public reward.
cd our efforts by or DIVIDED houses and ever
increasing applause. For me this stage be-
came in a peculiar sense a school for cult
walton, and in a short time L made such
rapid progress that greater roles were as
signed me, although | was only young be-
ginner, and had not received that Legitimate
conservation as an artist which was ere long
to come to me through sorrow.
"Our director himself an excellent por-
trayer of Character interested himself fol
me and gave me every oppor unity to enrich
my repertoire and to develop my talent My
colleagues all treated me in the same friend.
ly manner. felt myself especially attract
ed to our manager, who, though he did moi
shine as an actor, was especially distin
guished by his high cultivation and good.
ness of heart. His only daughter, who like
amiability rather than beauty and tai
ent, loved me with the pure affection of I
gentle sister. Every day this family be
came dearer to me, and l sometimes serious
" thought of asking the good Bertha to b,
NV wife, although / at that time loved hel
less than she deserved from me.
80 l remained quiet and happy in thi
circle of honorable friends, busted only wit
my art, and experienced for the first TIM
the happiness of living in comfortable cir
cumstances, among cultivated associates AM
good men, after having learned to my dis
gust the Indebtedness of strolling player
and vagabond theatrical companies. l wa
happy-happier than had ever dreamed
being; and to-day l recall with strang
longing those beautiful, beautiful days
''And still" interrupted !, sit was per
haps fortunate that you were compelled t
break away from this quiet life. l hav
myself learned to know many promising