National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-30

NlslE0 MOGElS, &C.
The presence in Washington of Mr.. Charles
Pope, a gentleman greatly distinguished in dra-
matte circles, proprietor OF the olympic thea
ire ST I0uis and tragedian OF marked strength
and popularity, has been keenly enjoyed by his
friends during the past week. There is in Mr..
Ponies presence fine, natural, healthy surround
ings To q large, compact physical organization
he adds mental temperament ever on the alert
for study and perfection in histrionic art. From
his youth up Mr.. Pope has been wOrker-a hard,
faithful, conscientious student, and is now reap
ing the reward of the Acknowledgements of his
countrymen that he is true interpreter Of noble
tragedy.
We have had the pleasure of eonversng an
hour or two with Mr.. Pope on matters concerning
the profession and some account of II will cOnsti-
TUE pleas ant. reading.
RICHELIEU.
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN. Your appear
ance as RicheIieu leads Us TO ask when and by
whom it was first played?
MI PorE Iimy memory is right it was first
produced at the COvent Garden theatre, London,
in 1859 or 40 The first impecsoaa,or OF the
priest. soldier and statesman was Mr.. Macreaiv
and the first Julia de Mortimer was Miss Helen
Faucet. However, soon as it was produced in
Loudcn il was sent 20 this country, aud was re-
ceived by Mr.. Edwin Forrest and in 1910 Mr..
Forrest produced it at WallIck's old National
theatre. New York, he. OF course, appearing as
the Cardinal, and MS equal in the roe has never
yet appeared.
EDWIN FORREST.
TIE RErUEL1CAN. You used to play with Mr..
Forrest, we belieyt2
Nr.lcPr Yes. have had that honor. Forrest
SsS S Tr1 rcr5 F1il Of TuEgei grSndeQr he
could attune his voice TO the gentlest pathos. His
Lear l think his greatest performance. His
enormous physique had to eXpend its force
sCue way, and it often found vent at re-
hecrSslS, where lie, by his ferCeness, would
hali lri2hteR the life cut Of young actors.
He was ;Ull Of vitality and never seemed TO be
weaIied. Forrest was splendid Story-telleT, and
be would Tecite pathetic stories in a style that
drew tears from all listeners. He always wanted
actors associated with him as immediate supports
CO their best, and he was quite willing TO help
them and was pleased when they got applause.
The elder Booth, by the way, was Just the same
A young IaEO once said TO BOoth that he was
sorry not 10 have had instruction from him in re-
gard To position. &c.. and told Booth he was
afraid he would distress him. Never mind, my
boy" Booth replied, do what you please 20
where you please, and when want you III md
YOU Once alier Mr.. Forrest had played very
long and successful engagement at the Broad
way theatre be gave the company 4 supper. and
while making some remarks, said that when he
was young and playing The part OF Richard in
Western town Re Wa utirnontshct =. the close or
the performance by 4 gentlemen present that he
had mace Shakespeare appear ungrammatic n.
a grammar, and never suspended its study until
he Was its master.
IOsETH JEFFERSON.
TIE REPUBLICAN. And now, to leave tragedy
10y moment, what are your thoughts about } el-
ieTsOn?
MI PORE. He is one Of my idols What labor,
what patience, what culture, what success! and
shall any gay il is not deserved? He is the dear
est, sweetest and most gentle Of men. He is
gentleman. II yOE C0Eld only 20 hshiag with
him and hunting with kin, &rd hear him talk Of
how much he appreciates his good foTtEas, and
4! the happiness il brings 70 him and all his
friends, and hear him talk of authors, artists,
pictures and everything that is beautiful, you
would ind out how charming he is. Need say
how great think be is as an actor. He loves
acting for its sake, and he is considerations with
every performance, never sighting the least de-
tail, and that is great task TO one who has
played the immortal vagabond Rip more than
thousand times. Jefferson has the strongest bold
OF all the actors upon the quick and cordial sup
PoTt Of the community. can only characterize
MIN IS eTInently refined and spirituelle in all
hls life. His fai:h IN a conscious Immortality be-
You'd the grave l. s5Esathing sublime, but here
must step or be led away into religious topics
Z, L. DAyEEPoRT
And what do you think Of E. Z. Davenport
Nj. FCTE. l regard Mr.. Davenport as the
1t is NY opinion, however, that he has
playe too great a diversity Of characters
An actor 10 he successful should not attempt
too much. Those who are fortunate enough
10 hit the average taste with specialties have an
easy road. His greatest character is that OF Ham
let, though lie is eminent as Sir Giles, part re-
qU!Ting tremendous power yet disagreeaOle, and
tor this reason, if no other, he could not hope TO
hold the public in such q part. On the contrary,
Maggie Mitchells name is Identified with that
OF FanchOT. Making hit in il she has seldom
scattered her ire. \ woman in Germany
has held the German stage IN the same
way: She was called the Cricket-Die
Gnlle-aIU was not known by any ether
name. The same illustration holds good with
jefferson as Kip Van Wrinkle; with Ovens as So
Ion Single: with SOthern as Lord Dun1reary,
and last Of all with Raymond as Colonel Sellers.
But Il must be remembered that tragedian
labCTs under this disadvantage. There are so
many masterpieces Of the dramatic art that have
been gwen TO Us by Shakespeare aud Messenger
and Know les and Bulwer and Schiller and D'Aste
and AliieTi 1.-THE two latter the Italian authors
Of "Samson'' and saul, y that he cannot c0ahne
hUstIi 10 any one part The educated public
demand Ct the classic artists the production OF
Leah Oihello. Macbeth, Richelieu, COriOlanus
Hamlet, Richard. Charles De Moor, Virginlus,
Damon. Sir Giles Uyerreach, EgmOnd and Sam
,o,,. AedS. Marie Stuart, Phelre, &c, hence
they caLEUt cOufne rrrulseIYes 10 single one oil
these. ana artists achieving sucacs7 u 'hese LOSs
do il by magnetism and brain power. 1 NJ au-
Venti;yUS aids Of make up, facial expression AZ
tiiOCes and stage business are nothing TO the
trageLiap without talent Of the heroic order. In
this regard the mere comedy man has decided /
II he does anything 70 make an eu-
dGLce laugh he is in the line of success 1t is his
busineEs TO make them laugh. but the tragedian,
he must grasp the higher emotions, the
which md their expression in the emphasis
OF the language aud tone OF voice that
delicate shading Of tones which only a superior
Intelligence can give. One can easily enough re-
collect and tell why they laugh over the imper-
SOEatlCns Of great comedians in such characters
as Toodles and MAJOR Wellington De Boots, but to
borrow an idea from Cooley CiDber, in his magnih-
cert eulOgy Of the great Thomas BettertOn, IL is
quite another thing TO attempt the perpetuatiOn
IN description OF the harmonious elocutiOn Of a
great actor. II is more difficult 10 tell why you
remember him.
EDWIN BOOTH.
TEE REPUBLICAN. The names OF the great ones
come up as We talk. What OF Edwin Booth?
Mr.. PORE. Edwin Booth has sWamped 4 large
fortune in his devotion to everything that is good
and noble in the dramatic art. II he had not
trusted the administration OF his business affairs
10 others his grand theatre might still be in his
possession. he is a glorious fellow and the
worthy son Of great sire.
JOHN MCCULLOUGH
TEE REPUBLICAN. There is John Mccullough?
Mr.. PORE. Yes. Mr.. Mccullough began mis-
starring tour at the Olympic theatre under my
management. He was made great success from
the start. He deserves the appellation OF &c
NAL John, y so happily given him In San Fran
CISCO for his personal magnetism is great. He
has done as much as any actor IN the last six
years to uphold the best purposes Of the drama.
ADELAIDE NELSON.
THE REPUBLICAN. Miss Nelson is a great IA
voTite in WashingtOn-prObably after st. Louis,
her strongest city. Do you know her?
Mr.. PORE Very well, indeed. / think AIDE
Iaide Nelson had the finest opportunity to place
herself at the head Of the English and American
stage Of any actress who has appeared In the past
twenty years. She has the true spirit Of the ar
tiEt. She loves the Juliet Of Shakespeare, and
should OIe Romeo die she will ind another. Her
Iriunphs are by no means dependant upon her
beauty. She has taste and talent, AMI thor
Cugnly feminine tact. She is immensely popular
ID 81. Louis.
JANAUsCHEK.
TEE REPUELICAE. We want to ask you about
JsLauschek.
Mr. Pope. She is the marvel Of this age. In
the realm 81 tragedy she is a great queen. Her
mastery Of the English language for a woman
almost forty is without parallel. She has the
brain Of a Bismarck, but her birth as BOhe-
HiRn and her faith as Catholic would prevent
symIaJEy with him.
TEE ROYAL ROAD.
THE REPUBLICAE. What shall we say OF So
cieUy plays and Of fuIIhedged actresses on debut
nights?
Nr. POTE. The royal road to histrionic fame is
uphill. DO these women imagtne-l mean those
who have run through all there is OF life, have
become t1dse, faded, and who are about say from
thirty 10 forty, they say they are tWenty-iOlrl-
90 they Imagine they can, by putting on nne
dresses and flashing their diamonds before the
public from the stage, satisfy the world they are
ACTRESSES, when the poor girl, and endowed