The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-07-11

u
daughtcrto Mr.. Sartoris brings hi m and
his f,miy in direct connection n with the
Kcmblcs,
THEIR FAME AS PLAYERS.
No family that has ever struttcd its
frctful hour OF celebrity behind the foot
lights has equaled in pre- eminent his
trionic ability that OF the Kemblcs.
Mrs. Siddons, greatest fhcr race, and
her brother, John Philip Kcmblc, shonc
rs the brilliant particular star in the
dramatic armament Of their day, and
that dag is regarded by grave stage au-
thortics as the golden ago of the En-
elish stage. AS Garrick, Bcttcrton,
Peg Wellington and Mrs. Abingdon
went out, the great Sarah Siddons fash.
cd onthe world like a meteor and snuff
cd out all minor rccollcctions. Nor did
her brether, tfe~.statcly John, take Il
mac!i !!0wer rank among men. lie held
the stage as the Hamlet par excellence
and the rcprescnta tativc Of characters in
the higher range of the drama during
his continuance OF the boards, and it
was potuntil the elder Kcan rushed be
fore the people with his fierce natural
ness 7thc very antipedes of Kemble's
stilti dignity that the world learned
to kHAT the true distinction between
art ,aA III nature While this may be
saidfof John Kenble's peculiar style
and 1multitudinous mannerisms, the
charge does not exist nor hts ever cxis
ted his sister, and while at this distance
ol time we arc unable personally to
judge by how much or little the ccasurc
of unnatural stiffness was described we
know that in his time he stood without
Il rival il his profession. We also know
that to John Kcmblc the honor is sduc
Of introducing correct costume on the
stage; that while David Garrick, the
French English Roscius, played Mac
beth, Caesar and the other heroes Of
Shakespeare, classic and otherwise, in
court suit, silk stockings, bag wig aud
diam ond shoe buck les, Kcmblc noun
ted the Highland costume and the Ro
man to 90, and BY so much lent a gran
der completeness to the illusions Of the
scene.
TIE FIRST STAGE
When Roger Kenblc managed his
little company Of strolling ''vagrants"
so they were styled By the act Of rarlia
mcnt-thc profession of an actor in the
provinces Of England was not as it is
now. Roger was said to have been pa
hair dresser before his vaulting ambi
tion rctirtcd to the stage. lie bostcd
of belonging to a good old Catholic fami
Iy, and some Of the kcmhlc biographcrs
claim that one ancestor fought stoutly
FOR the king ut Worcester, and another,
a priest went bravcly to his death for
his religion. While theressis said to be
no direct proof Of this, there is the in
direct evidence ~of gentle blood->f we
may admit Of such a characteristic in
republican landDin ohc severely cllssic
facial outline, majestic form, imposing
dignity and stately courtesy Of every
member through three full generations
In the opinion OF many, these patents Of
good birth will stand the test, without
| further warrant from the horold's col
legc.
ROGER KEMBLE AND SALLY WARD.
In 1852 Roger joined John Wards
company, at Coventry, and fell ain love
with the managers daughter. Sally
Ward was very handsome, and is said
to have "once been tempted by n coro
net. ga conccit which though it may
read well of the future mother of the
kcmbles, is quito unlikely to have soc.
Cured to the daughter Of n spoor stroll
Ing manager, without acceptance. Ro
ger was bitterly opposed by John Ward
"a respectable Irish actor and man
but when the father saw the further