The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-09

The recent election was in this city
marked by that intensity of excitement
which always accompanies party fight.
The rise and fall of John Kelly i, but a
fresh illustration of the rapidly with
which metropolitan politicians run their
career. He was the leader of ''Ioung
Democracy" against old Tammany when
Tweed was grand sachem of the latter.
Kelly succeeded in crushing his enemy.
1t is said that the New York Times, when
making its war on the ring, was defended
by John Kelly and his myrmidons. Kelly
was then sheriff, and his power inundated
Tweed's bullies, who otherwise would
have mobbed the assaiing journal. Kelly
then enjoyed a grand triumph, and saw his
enemy at last an inmate of the peniten-
tiary. He had his brief hour of dominion,
but it is now gone forever. Having fool
ishly overestilnated his power, he now be-
holds the men whom he determined TO
crush reelected by large majority. Dis
trict Attorney Phelps has won such public
confidence that the defeat of such man
was too much even for John Kelly to de-
mand. That both Phelps and Hackett are
retained in office arc matters of general
satisfaction.
THEATRICAL MOTIFS.
Booth in his recent hit as Iago shows the
versatility of his genius. His favorite role,
as is generally understood, is Hamlet.
lago is of strictly opposite character to the
royal Dane. and hence few performers can
excel in both The greatest Hamlet of his
day was John Philip Kemble, who seldom
went into the baser character of the drama.
George Frederick Cooke on the other hand
exceled in Iago and other demonstrations
of treachery and mallgnlty, but failed in
Hamlet. Booths success in both shows
how readily he grasps the extremes of hui
man nature and yields antagonistic pas
slons. While Booth is now the ACTOR Of
the Fifth avenue theatre, his former grand
establishment has run down to the lowest
pantomine. How strange to pass Booths
theatre" once the scene of high tragedy,
and see the ludicrous advertisement of
"Humpty Dumpty," ITO what base uses
may we come at last"
STILL GREATER VERSATILITY.
Booths range, however great, by no
means eXcels that of the tragedian who
electrified this city more than half cen.
fury ago. This man was Edmund Kean,
who was then the wonder of the stage,
and who in some points has never been
equalled. He never reached Booths sue
cess in Hamlet, but in other points his at
tainmenfs U1arn varied to q. surprising de-
Shaft which he placed in st. Pauls church.
yard to the memory of George Frederick
Cooke, who died in this city in 1912. Cooke
was then 81, and bad broken down a con-
stitution of wonderful strength by bard
drinking He was no doubt a greater in
ebriate than even old Booth, and was more
unstable in respect to engagements. Mel
Their Of these men. indeed, could be de-
pended on, and managers were compelled
to keep them under lock and key II they
desired 10 lie certain of their services.
Kean also was hard drinker, and fell an
early victim 10 that destructive habit. He
was the smallest actor in point of size that
ever attained distinction, but that little
form bad wonderful powers. just look at
his gifts He sang so sweetly, that he would
have done well as vocalist; he was an &C.
complished dancer, and at the same time
an adroit pugilist; as fencer he had no
superior; he was ventrioquist, and also
an admirable acrobat, and played harlequin
TO delighted houses. To these points 1t is
to be added that he was the most terrific
of all living dellneators of high tragedy.
Kean's black eyes startled and attracted
everybody. They were said 10 be the
blacklist ever seen. Kean was 33 when he
appeared on the boards of the Park theatre
but though he made capital Richard ILL.,,
he could not succeed as hamlet.
STRANGE CAREER.
Kean's history was more peculiar than
that of any player on record. His mother
was a fourth rate actress, and he was from
early childhood brought up to the stage.
He itinerated as harlequin and made his
first reputation in pantomine, from which
he worked by force of genius to high trag-
| edy. which was performed on the boards
of the first theatre in London. His acting
then gave him for several years an income
of 10000. He saved old Drury from
bankruptcy, and yet died penniess. His
last appearance was in London in 1888, as
Othello, on which occasion his son Charles
played Iago. Kean tainted in his sons
arms, and was Orne off the stage. With
in three months he died, being then only
46. Kean's birth was Swallowed by illeg-
itimacy, but his genius transcribed this de-
feet, and it was forgotten in the homage
paid TO one who was the Admirable Cricn-
ton OF the stage. The monument placed
by Kean over Cookies grave in 1920 was
repaired by Charles. his son, in 1916, and
also by E. A. Sothern in 1874, so that ii Is
now restored to original beauty. This is d
remarkable succession Of respectful tokens
following from one generation to another
| cannot gaze upon that monument with
out recalling Dir. Francis description OF
Kean standing by it's side the evening OF
his departure for England md singing II
bis sweetest manner, "fhose Evening
Bells" and also Come Der the sea.
Though not an admirer of play actors,
should have enjoyed such a scene as that
THEIR GREATEST DANCER.
This is intemperance. Cook, Kean ant
the senior Booth were lamentable illustIa
tons of the destructive power Of this hab
it, which at the present time is doing 1T
work of ruin in the theatrical world. ON
reason of this Is found in the exhaustin,
nature of stage performance. Some o
tlose parts which seem the easiest are real
ly The NJ verest in their effects. Kean wa
wont to cay that only young man coul
play liking Lear" because it was 80 labo
rous part. Players soon get jaded b.
the intense strain ON the nervous system
and the resort to strong drink seems In
evitable. Ballet performers generally hav
trying part in the performance, and there
fore drink freely. The inside life OF th
dramatic world is full of sorrow, and pre-
7 sents a strange contrast with the garis
splendor which fascinates an audience
INEDRIATE AsYLUMs.
Having spoken thus far concerning in
temperance, may now add some facts o
a kindred subject, especially as our inc
h briate asylums are now so frequent re
q sort. The most important of these institu