New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-31

THE DEATH OF MARK SMITH.

In the ucatn Oh MARX Smlth-WhO has sud-
denly and sadly passed from earth at the age Of only
fortyfve years-the stage has suffered greater loss
than persons will realize than any person who
know him thoroughly well can easily express. He wass
man OF unique Individuality and large Intellectual re-
sources He had developed slowly and thoroughly
though not yet eniirely-and had steadily risen and
fitted still to rise. In art-growth that never
paused. He was student aud thinker. lie aimed
high and he content with nothing less than
superlave excellence. He possessed by nature both
the actors faculty and the literary spirit An stmos-
phere OF art surrounded him, naturally foliage
rounds a tree. No ono could be, even temporarily.
his companion without percelylng IN him an
innate and profound love for letters rare and
subtle apprehension Of the beauty and the
significance Of artistic forms; ample and exact
knowledge Of many books; keen intuition combined
with wide store OF wise observation upon human ma
ture and the spontaneous delight alike OF the child and
the philosopher In those things that make human life
radiant and lovely These faculties and qualities hs
had done much-and circumstances had done more-to
develop and cultivate. The influence that radated
from his character singulary charming IL was the
sympathetic force OF thoroughly honest nature good
tender. cheerful magnetic to virtue and simplicity and
exalted and made both picturesque zestfu by tho
thrill Of imaginative and aspiring intellect. Mark
Smith was not the kind OF good man whose work Is te
dious and stupefyng-aDd therein may injure virtue
almost as much as II he were profgate. In him tho
everyday virtues grew brilliant-takng rosy grace
from the piquant loveliness of his character-and
his comrades not only rested his perfect
proby, found continued delight and comfort in hs
presence. No one could him act, either, without
being In quite equal degree, conscious OF this per-
sonal charm The attribute of winning goodness that
endeared him in private life the attribute that
shone through his acting, and endeared him upon tho
stage. As an actor he was the Cheeryble Brothers
rolled into One-and that one was endowed with .
CON anHi intai a
with helpful and lovable benigny. When Mark Smith
was upon the stage-as Squire Broddtdnds, or Mr..
April. or Mr. Harmony, or COL Dumas, or Sir Oliver
Sdcc-the spectator nvountarily felt that every ray
OF manly worth joyous serenity, and humane feeling
that flashed through the character had its native source
heart OF the himself. This was the magnetic,
attractive power OF his art and the attention which he
thus captiyated his versatile mimetic talents
and his adaptive and fortunate personal char
acteristics failed to repay. H would
be almost impossible TO name actor so thoroughly
satisfactory Mark Smith In many sorts OF char
acter His range Of shakespearean parts-to name only
those Of his presentations from Shakespeare that wero
familiar here-included Polonus Piar Laurence. Kent
Brabaat,o Duncan, Heeae Oasca. Autoycus, the Host
of the Carter the Duke Of Venice, and Adam; aud TO
these may be added Shakespearean parts In which he
was proficient Dromo. Shatlop, Vergss Sir Toby BeIeh
Bardolph and DogberrU He did not play them all
equally we'll; but In each OF them he was an artist;
extreme Sir Peter Tease and at the other Dggory and
POhdtan. One of the most complete pieces OF acting
that adorned stage was his impersonation OF
the vain, amorous rcketty, polished old coxcomo, SI
William Fondlore-in which be made his frst appear
ance at Waacks Theater, on the 18th Of March, 1851
Another characteristic and charming work was his Doc
tor Desmerels in "The Romance Of Poor Young Man"
Old Rapid ,Hardcase. Sir John Vesey Stout Harersde
Dc Blossiere "Henriette lord Pantaganet, Solo
rnon Bob Tye Mr. Irorsides, Lord Duberlev and many
more-that playgoers will readily recall because they
cannot forget themtested to his versatile abilities,
and afforded channels Of observation through which
mi ght be traced the pecu lres Of his mind and the
springs his art Whatever defects there in his
acting arose from overcorrectness aud nfexibty He
was formal actor and sometimes he hard and dry.
But this good defect since 1t arose out OF his pro-
found desire and scrupuous care first OF ALL TO be rle
and it was defect he Outgrowing aud would In
fably have outgrOwn, with the acquisition OF perfect
mastery himself and OF the methods OF his art Those
who his stately sweet and tender personation OF
Jacques Faurel-two years ago. at the Union Square
Theater-saw, clearly enough, how much the angular
precision and SEE utterance OF earlier days
had faded away, and how richly his nature was de-
velopng in the direction OF maleabe and ductie humor
and pathos 1t is easy to astray In attempting TO de-
ne human being aud to indicate the results OF crcum
stance likely to flow out OF the tendencies OF charac.
ter; but there is doubt that Mark Smith was richly
lived complete his experience he would have become
one of the great of his time. His fidelity TO ma
accurate a reverent intention could make
1t. He was a graphic delineator. He q rosy and
jolly, and yet humane and refined humorist He pos
sessed unusual natural dignity Of mind that, while
he respected the real worth Of old models he thought
for himself. and struck out pathway Of his own. HIS
human sympathes were comprehensive and warm. He
had remarkably keen intuitive perception Of
the shades Of character, ant-as his County
Squire alone sufficient to proye-he had
the delicate and trained capacity to make them seen and
felt. That hard, genial stubborn yielding eccentric.
simple, bluff hospitabe. peremptory English gentleman
representative the American stage now that
Mark Smith gone. If any actor known to this country
could have put Sir Roger de Coverey into the theater,
and made him fine and as ioyable there as he Is IN
the pages Of Addison, Mark Smith was the man. This
points his quality and his rank and TO the aeconate
remembrance in which he will be held. He belonged
to the school of actors that Munden may be SAID to
have founded and that Burton, Blake, Gilbert,
and Warren have, In tme illustrated SO well.
He was not droll Blake, nor did he
possess as Juicy o humor but IN serious moments
he resembled him and, as to severe accuracy
OF FORM he often surpassed him. The breadth OF his
scope amply indicated in the number and variety OF
parts that he could adequately play. The field Of art
in which stood alone is that which English literature
has peoples with characters representative OF ambient
large hear ed hospitality tnged with sentiment ana
eccentricy His Imagination took delight In images OF
and OF kindness. The prattle OF chill
ren and the soft laughter Of young lovers sounded In
his mind and gladdened it, He was at home on the
green lawn Of ancient manorhouse, under the i'm
memorial elms, browning the feast with welcome
amidst the blessings Of music and sunshine
and fragrant Summer wnd-wth. over ALL
hazy tranquil air OF restf1l antiquity ana
gentle romance. SO let him pass into
the region of sored memories and takes his place Tor
syer-the pobest type stage has presented OF the
nnre and simple country gentleman Scott and Irving
would have loved this wholesome nature ana honored