The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-19
ADJUSTMENTS.
The Man with n system.

remember most prcposterous incident
TINT mfrd our theatrical waters a little. TWAS
Ahont ten years ago. young man came from
Paris. whore he had boon studying. and pub
lrlv assert ID TINT the stage needed reforming.
lie also expressed strong determination to do
all lac 'oulj 20 reform it.
The announcements created great deal Of
amusement. There w"r" becry pcais Of iron
irAl 'aulh,cr in the Iotos Club. and contcmptu-
Gus paragraphs snapped and fixed in the dra-
naticc columns Of the papers.
The most damnablo thing about the young
n,an was that he had "A system
The thcarc fraternity might think, have
overlooked his impudcncc in attempting re-
form. hut it could not tolerate his idiocy I'm hay-
ing system.
There is nothing so maddens n confirmed
actor of tho old school as to talk to him of n
system. He denies that the rules of his art can
be formulated He believes that acting is the
result OF n divine Gift and all attempts TO UNDER
stand only impair il.
The young man. however. took to the lecture
ROOM IIc rxplnincd his system before the
inner consistory" Of Boston, and after that the
Intelligence of New York thought it would ut
least crafty its curiosity by listening to him.
Ho spoke so earnestly. 50 enthusiastically,
and SO intelligcntly Of the drama aud OF all art
that II was a pleasure TO hear him. There was
about him that fine dogmatism that we forgive
in man who believes thoroughly in his work
and in himself and lie WINS SO ably equipped
with science and philosophy that nobody cared
10 dispute with him.
lremembcr in one Of those lectures he pointed
out with amazing efficacy what the stngc might
be with organized intelligence. academic dis
cipline. and sincere csthetic ambition on the
part OF the players. 1t would then be the great
est moral and social angina that civilization
could WELD. for 1t could put before the race the
ideal man in proprid persona
So long as the young man kept to the lecture
room he was admired and applauded 10y moral
lists and speculative philosophers. who were as
tonlshcd at the facility with which he formu-
lated all science and philosophy They believed
in his theory--it was so simple. II set out with
the proposition that the more artists the stage
had the better. and the only way to have artists
was to have Il school.
He even proposed to open a school.
This Is where the philosopher merged into
the philauthropist and threatened to pass the
hat around
grand conservatorium. or something of that
sort was talked OF. And the moment the sys-
TEN " threatened 10 take practical shane the
whole conservatism OF the stage shrugged its
shoulders and began to secrete bile.
The one or two licensed snok.smen of tho
traditional old slow coach poor-poohcd the NH.
losopher One of them said that the stage had
had too many systems already. and none of
them had ever agreed with IL but the ono To bo
found in Blair's Rhetoric. Another one. an inn
memorial cricket-he's dead now. believe: nj
least never hear of him-was pnrticulnrlv
merry over the scientific phraseologv Of the
philosopher who came suddenly befor, the pub.
lie as AN motor. having taken tho st lanes
Theatre and organized a school in IL
I'VE can get along" said the cricket ",oler.
ably well with Krepshua and Areoon AvvaLtain
and Poorooshottama and even with Nakshas.
tras. but it is not 80 easy To be reconciled TO
projects for the regeneration of the dran,n nv
calloy amateurs who in public scarcely know
what to do with their hands and feet"
This fearful load OF contempt was actually
dumped ut the door Of the young philosopher.
who. as l have Just observed, had commenced
10 reform one corner Of tho world up In the ST.
James Theatre.
II was at this time that the philanthropist
merged into the actor.
With others, went to the st. James. curious
to see philosophy act we'll its part. l saw a
young man playing the role OF an artist-an
Italian artlst-with an artists looks. manners.
spirit taste' sehslDllity. enthusiasm and dress.
saw an Italian. Tor the player had caught the
national no less than the professional pecu-
harity oil his subject. and portrayed ii with
fidelity and spirit. was surprised. did not
eo'o see II the play was good or bad WANTED
10 see thesystem. especially desired to see
ia yro could interest me- and he did. In one
scene he mad TO model head in clay The au-
ulence laughed at It, because they did not I'M
uersthhu what ne was up TO. l thought at the
uine that there was not an actor in New York
VINO coulu nave played the part and preserved ia
'he enemlhacy ana ardor. the almost morbid
sehsloiiy ana volatile spirlts that IT called for
~ secineu 10 mo th"t the payer had extraor-
u'narS ihteihsehce ana great Skill / dld not
m'suhuers'ahu ms ehallenGe' lie mad said VIZ
tuA"y 10 'he pubic Come ana see what l. who
10 NOT cain 70 De great genius can do with
"is ar' anu Vhch !uuEe ior yourselves what II
Will uo LOT 'iiose VINO nave great gllts lhese
"Ie my pup'Is. hurriedy selected' ms Is my
s0Hooi' can make genius nor can ma II nj
" moheh' > houce' but can make your igno-