The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-01-21
lLldridge. fhe Cal0red actor.

: ~
The dramatic critic of Wilkes .Spir7
atofitke TSntes has the following &C
count of Ira Aldridge, the celebrated
colored actor;l "a ID nH4-s51 0y 4
About thirty years ago. being
youth of IL twenty "A ldridge went
to England with the elder Wal
lack in ID the humble 80 capacity
of body servant; but SO great
was his aptitude for the > dramat-
ic art, that, without any instruction,
by mere association and contact with
that great actor, he inhaled and ab-
sorbed sufficient skill tocome out as.
an actor himself, in 5Othello, in the
slave and in several other parts with
which he was identified by his color
For many years he struggled on. in
England in the arduous endeavor to
win fame and fortune upon the STAGE
AT times he was lin the greatest, pow
erty and distress :, but he held on
brayely and at last his reward came.
But he did not reach his greatest sue.
cess till he went upon. the continent
lin 1852 There hisIyictory was .com-i
5plete and overWh elfhing. II. IN '5s yq5
Y " 80 = In Austria, Germany, France, and
pre- eminently in Russia, he has ever
since had. the MOST stupendous1 tri-
umphs. In Moscow and St. Peters.
burgh so great is his popularity that
Che students have often embarrassed
! the horses oof his chariot. and drawn
) him home from the theater as a con-
queror An extraordinary Fact about
his success is that he does not know
the continental language well enough
to employ them upon the stage !, and.
that from the very outset he has
spoken his own parts In English, 1t
is high evidence of his ability, that in
a language utterly strange to his
audiences, by sheer force of acting,
by look, tone, gesture, attitude.
movement, he should electrify and
delight the most cultivated nations of
Europe. And from the deep poverty
of his early years he has risen to opu-
lence. Nobility and royalty have
showered upon him their fayors.F He
has been knighted and bears the title
of cheyalier. He wears rings given
to him by kings and queens; and he
could load his breast with the deeora-
tons and medals of1.the different
orders he has received. om9f sah lia
DOE His wife is Swedish baroness,
and his residence is a splendid man
sion inithe suburbs of London, near
the Crystal Palace, and he owns not
only the house which he occupies, but;
five villas efequal proportions. There
is not alive a more, successful man
than Chevalier Ira Aldridge, K, s., !
thirty years ago Wallack's body, ser
want 2 What are the practical bear /
ings of this career? They are, essen
tally to this effect: theyyshoW, what a
negro can do Hyou will only Igivelhim
chance. Had Ira .AldEidge remain
ed In America, amid the cruelties of
old social customs, he would have
probably remained "a, boot-black and
a hair dresser. He has had a. chaRcel
And see what he has now become
not onlyiVery srich,q a man of rank,
title and high consideration. but as re-
lined and elegant a gentleman as walks
in Piccadilly or drives in Hyde Park.
Yet he is a pure black, has the thick
lip, the fiat nose and the curly hair.
Give the whole race the same open.
untrammelled field in America which
Ira Aldridge has had in Europe, and
who shall say that they will not prove
their fitness for every utility and for
every duty?"