Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-05-06
A LIFE srUDY-MAcREADY THE ACTOR

One Of the strangest of recent social devel-
opments is that presented in the view of the
inner life Of Macready, the tragedian. The de-
tails of it are given by the man himself-a fact
which gives them their Importance. specula-
tions upon an individuals career may be in
teresting, but the main thing that will strike
most readers of the sMacready "reminiscences,
is that it is fact and expressed by the persons
chiefly concerned, and with evident sincerity.
We refer to Macready's extraordinary confession
that he hated his profession and was an actor
under protest.
We call this assertion extraordinary, not
forgetting that most men live in state OF
chronic dissatisfaction with their lot, and in
belief that they would have dome better" in
almost any field of effort other than that to
which they have been called. That is 80, but
most men are not notable men. Merchants are
constantly heard bewailing their fate that they
are not lawyers, and lawyers afiict us with
their self-reproaches that they did
not study medicine but the merch-
ants, lawyers and doctors and all,
classes of business and professional men,
who have fairly done what they set out to
complish, do not utter these notes of disappoint-
ment and misgving. With the unfolding of
their powers has come the philosophic spirit
through which they realize that life in all its
habits means labor and that contentment is the
one priceless jewel of earthly possessions.
This is truth in general terms but how shall
We apply it to the case of Macreadys We see
here man whose claim to trne success in life
must be allowed even When tried by the
highest standards. He was one OF the
most justly famous men in all the
world. He barely escaped being the
ideal player, for while contemporary criticism de-
nies him something of the electric genius be-
longing to Edmund Kean and George Frederick
Uooke-and which may also be seen 10 onr own
day in salvini-he united gifts OF remarkable
kind with high education and culture and with
private character beyond reproach. He was
not only moral, but he was deeply religious,
man. He enjoyed the society of artists and
literary people more than that OF members OF
his own profession whom he found generally
to be ignorant and ill-bred, and he was domes
tic in his habits and passionately devoted to hit
wife and children. II it be urged that thest
characteristics are antagonistc to theatrical life
AZ generally understood, the rejoinder is newt
able-why did he not leave the profession
More than this. how could he command tht
energy requinite to the favor which he incon
testify received all the while loathing his yoca
tion and despisng himself for submitting 10 it
requirements?
This ls surely an curious presentment of per
sonal facts as has ever been put OH literary re
cord. We cannot term Macreadys position al
afectation, for, as before remarked, Ii,
was 8 stern moralist-a man even NOR,
severe upon his own failings thar
upon those of others. Neither can it be sale
that other occupations were closed to him, sinct
he WAS person of such good natural parts, ant
of such correct habits, that he was sure of
comfortable subsistence in many ways other thar
stage ways That was his true province, ant
there he did best, but he was in no wise confined
there. Furthermore and this is strangest Of
all--he WAS man OF Independent wealth long
before he took leave OF the public, go that for
third of his career, at least, he had no possible
excuse for doing violence to his feelings
II is true that at one time hi
embarked in managerial enterprises in whicl
he lost heavily, but how did lie summon the
spirit to further schemes which the whole drif
of his diares and letters practically discount
snances The force Of circumstance s offer
irresistible and Alacready tells how his fathe
being manager, and he as youth being sur
rounded almost exclusively by theatrical associa
tions, he seemed naturally to step upon til,
stage, bat although this satisfactorily account
for the opening of his career it does not at al
explain the subsequent Inconsistencies of char
Acter OF more than ordinary strength.
The world, however, is not sorry that he did
notl have his wish, and though Macready'
ife may be at variance with one truth, it is il
exact accord with another that it s not only
or mainly, for ourselves that we toll that ou
mission, rightly viewed is to do what in us lie
for tbe comfort and bettering of our fellow
creatures.