Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-08-16
A Theatricar Ieemin1scence.
!. .TransIated from. ..ple eartenlaatupe.n


q, Translated from, g Die Gartenlaubc."
The representation of Shakespeare
g Othellon was ended.rg The excited audi
eflce had called the renowded stranger,
who here for the first time played the lead
ing part, repeatedly and with almost frantic
enthusiasm before the curtain. AS I could
reckon myself among the oldest friends OF
the genial artist, i fastened into his dress
iigroom to salute and to congratulate
him.
Contrary to his usual manner towards
me, found him extremely silent and dis,
tants; Lost in melancholy abstraction, he
stood there and slowly passed his hand over
certain troubled memories aI
= 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 time, he had won mas
terry over his feelings with all his old
triendliness, he excused his absence of
mind.
IL 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 sad
ness, off the deep SORROW we often bury
from the world. We must often smile
when our, hearts are breaking, and like the
Roman gladiator, receive the death.stroke
amid the huzzas of the multitude. The
public believes that we only sport with
passion, and only represent the unhappi
ness of others. We are supposed to render
our well-learned roles with more or less
feeling, to feign love ahd jealousy, hate
and despair, only to deceive those who
come to hear and seesius.. But whoever,
like myself, has cast a glance behind the
scenes of the theatre, knows that but too
often, under an antic appearance, the deep
est 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 sou
bretts is herself betrayed wife, who, per
haps, after the representation, may, driven
by despair, lay violent hands upon herself.
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 imam ideal form. i can, fromm. own
experience, prove toyou the truth of these
words. Al Lhave myself seen an ,actor in the
r0le Of a tender father, when telling of the
death Of a beloved child, SO overwhelmed
by the Thought that he had shortly before
lost a blooming daughter, that he sank dy
ing upon The floor, while the, public, with
out any n1isgiving, applauded as if all were
in accordance with the design of the play
:" Horrible I" exclaimed !, ,shuddering
now begin to comprehend your own
<a,,f In ,faft <.fn fhD1
10. You must yourself have experienced
all the tortures of jealousy in order to por-
tray them in such a mastery manner"
lie nodded as if in assent, but said moth
ing.
Meanwhile we had left the theatre, and
almost unconsciously had reached the
tragedian's dwelling, where a supper table
was already spread for us. My friend ate
almost nothing, and was too much excited
to do justice tothe elegantly served viands
After a servant had cleared the table and
withdrawn, the interrupted conversation
81 know not whether you are acquainted
With thest oryof my youth, ,'said my friend
'sH I mistake not, I,have told you that I
am of Jewish parerltage, and was reared in
poverty Like the Moor, i belong to q
despised race / have also had, to encoun-
ter the curse of prejudice, under which j
have bitterly, suffered. Still, in time rose
above all obstacles, and if I have not like
Othello become great general, Il have be-q
come at least passable actor" ft.4.xA
Say atheran artist in the highest sense
of the word
-"H / am an artist, Othello has made me
so; or rather, love and jealousy, which are
bound together like light and shadow.
Mine IS singular story, and although its
remembrance is very painful to me, will
tell it to you"
Brfore commencing his narration, he
poured out glass of Rhenish wine, and
emptled 1t at single draught, as if to
strengthen himself for heavy task.
After long wandering" he began at
length, found a permanent engagement
at 3, where chance had at that time
assembled company Of rare histrionic
ability Hwasa pride and q happiness tor
belong TO such a stage, equal in all respects
to that of the most splendidly endowed
courf theatre. The actors were animated.
by common ardor, and the public re-
warded our efforts by crowded houses and
ever increasing applause. For ME this
stage becamein a. peculiar senseia school
tor cultivation, and in short time Imade,
such rapid progress that greater roles were
asslgned me, although Twas onlg young
beginner, and had not received that legiti,
mate conservation as an artist, which was
ere long to come to me through sorrow.
Our director, himself an excellent nor
trayer of character, interested himself for
me and gave me every opportunity to en-.
rich my repertoire and to develon NV
talent. My colleagues all treated me IN
the same friendly manner / felt myseIf
especially attracted to our manager, who.
though he did not shine as an actor, was
especially distinguished by his high cult
walton and goodness of heart. His only
daughter, who like her father possessed in
tellectua1 culture and hari1iabiiitys rather
than beauty and talent, loved me with the
pure affection of gentle sister Eyery
day5his family became iearerl TO me, and
sometimes seriously thought of asking
the good Bertha TO be my wife, although /
atthat timelovcd her less than she deserved
from mr., 2H5 ssna3 s6sr0lisH assg III rafss
yrh frTgfsZ hns ,slsvsE .sllfd a3fgHs a.
So remained quiet and happy in this
circle of honorable friends, busted only
with my art, and experienced for the.first
tune the happiness of living in comfortable
circumstances, among cultivated associates
and good men, after having learned Atomy
.aTs LOS IS ETTMS
So .fsf xA-T f~sza