The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-22
LITERATURE.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER.

BIRDS or feather.
.'Birds Of u Feather'' &c. ", Carleton & Coz 10 a
volume, II Is almost unnecessary say made up OF
the sayings and doings OF that inimitabie comedian
Mr. T. A. sothern. The title OF the book tells
It's source Tor Soihern long been regarded as the
father-or. rather, tho stopathcr-of this provcrb.
'sBrds OF a feather flock togclhor.n Who that has
seen his Duudreary-and where Is the unhappy man
who has not-wili ever forget the impression mad.
BY that dclis hiul donkey IN repeating this old say
Ing? One could scarcely believe that 1t could be
tortured iuto much iuu. The editor OF the book
has evidently enjoyed his work. Tor nc has produced
with genuine appreciation tho dry humor oil The actor
The reader may take up the volume al any moment
but 1t Is not 20 easy 10 lay II down. Although there
is connection between the scores OF anecdotes and
"reminiscences that cover The pages he Is led by
the irrcsistblo fun that bubbles from the
other. guarantee "Birds ot Feather"
for the blues Behind all the joking FUR, however
is seen the careful ana studen. Of charac
ter ard IN this volume Of pleasantly is proved that
success in onos profession Is only attaued by hard
work, oven when united 10 quick Intelligence. The
actor is described as ioows-
He IS magnetic III manner, humorous IN speech
rich In rcmluiHcence, responsive anu sympathetic,
1000 listener, nh equally good ialkeI, and always
sparkling like newly opened bottle OF chainpagn..
In person Mr. Sobcrn Is PROBABLY ave i.et ten inches
III height aud put together as II Intended for hasd
work HQ is wiry, elastic. Us restless us bundle oil
nerves under galvanc influence, and would DE iarkcd
III any crowd as man POSSESSED oil strong indy.du-
ality aud unusual personal characteristics In age
the actor has been we'll preserved that, like Inn
Linkinwatsr, he might have been born one hundred
aud lty years od aud gradually come down 10 i've
tnd-twenty, Tor BIO seems younger every birthday
than he was the year before ln truth, however, ne
Is nily-on years OF age and MILFORD chucSngy refers
TO tue lnct that, having come into the world On The
LIST OF April. "Dundreary" and his ''lrother sam"
are naturally April iools.
Used 10 The stage Mr.. Sothcrn is no often Is us
frightened Us y novice before au audience In con-
vcrsaton with the editor oil this yolume he saia:
lbelleve that most oil first class pain
FULLY nervous especially on the hrst Two turee
nights oil performance IN which They may DO
specially Interested Aud my cxpcrience is thai peo-
pio with this temperament are never ully satisfied
with their inbors. They are perpetua,ly polishing,
improving and revlewins. Inc very Instant actor
Is satisfied with his own work. aud believes himself
nave reached the acme of cleverness, from that
uent he bogins 10 dcterorate. Atn more nervous
gong DUore un audience now than was twenty years
ngo.
Duripg tho first nigat OF the .'crushed Tragcdan'.
IN this CITY MISS Ida savury, with .hon was pa v.
my, tod thought Mas goiug TO drov Tho
stage faint aud thought 50 loo, Tor my hands
ana iect coid as marble. Tins, however, Is
not anomalous thing in The profession. have
oil The Oldest and most distinguished ACTORS
on the English stage with his tongue 80 completely
psrAly for several SECONDS that he WAS Obliged
wet his Ups before ne could deliver u line.
| Somebody once asked Sothern, "How did you hap
pen that strange hop, skip and jump bust
ness nich has been effective ia your uelfnea.
ton of tho character OF Dundrearyy"
.'Wny,' said Mr.. Sothern. iau2nngly, 'lt was the
Simplest thing III tho world II was mere accluent.
nave naturally an elastic disposition, and during u
reAcarsa cold morning was hopping at the back
Of tho stage when MISS Keene sarcasticaly inquired
II going To intro .uce that IN Duutreary. The
actors and ACTRESSES standing around ,ausLeI and
taxing the cue, repicd, Yes, Miss Keen THAT'S
WOW Character Having SAID tnis, was bound
TO suck II, progressed with the rehearsal
found that tho wuole COMPANY inc'u9'ng scene
Shutters property men, were roaring with laughter
ut my internal nonsense. Wien saw that the puDh
accepted Tho satire toned II down The broad
which may be seen at Tho present Jay by any
one who has quick sense Of tho absurd"
Anecdotes OF brother gctors-Raymond, Florence.
McCul,ou and many others--are introduced. One
can readily Imagine the result, for comedians are
most OF them, as conical OF as on the stage Alto
gcther aBirds OF aFcather' is an amusing book. one
could scarcely find jolier companion