The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-12

1t is crcditablc to their scn.c of Justice
that the treatment Of Nj. Ronmr joins
sruN. the esq. ri,nccl an1 paiu-' aking actor
who played lucniu, To- the Hamlet of
GEORGE. the Count JoNNNt- the other cVcn-
ing has awakened the Indignation Of several
OF oar correspondents. TIA" probability,
however is that Mr.. JOHNSTON was not
aware that people went To the play that
night simply to have fun. and that no in
territorial di7courtcsy toward him was COM
nittcd What he said when n compliment
which should have been paid 20 The Count
was given tc him. proved Mr.. JOHNSTON 10
he a man of spirit aud sclf-rcspcct. If, how
ever he had property interpreted the tem-
per of the audience. he would not have got
angry
N must be- II little trying to actors who
really take q pride in their profession, and
who honestly strive to do well as artists. to
take minor parts in n performance in which
the Count Is the chief figure. There is II pc
culiarity about his hisirionic efforts which
commands the undivided attention of the
audience. and the most conscientious Po-
lonius finds himself unnoticcd when the
Count Is on the stage as Hamlet But a
sensible man sccs the situation IN a moment.
and other feelings than those III anger agitatc
his breast
Mr. JOHNSTON, therefore, was wrong when
he tried to disparagc the Count in his very
interesting interview with ono OF THE suns
reporters. Everybody knows that before
the Imperial palatinc conferred on him the
noble title he now wears, GEuRGE, the Count
JoANNEs, was simply GEORGE JoNEs, an
NJ VOL.
According to Mr.. JOHNSTON, the Count came
TO this country about forty odd years ago,
and pursued tho business OF an actor. IL
seems that he was "a fair stock actor, but
was always exceedingly unpopular For
some reason or other. perhaps because OF
thor jealousy Of his dlgnihcd bearing, his
fellow players got much amusement from
putting up tricks Oh the Count. They even
at one time filled with water u very hand
some pair of boots ne wa- about TO don in
the emergency of performance, thus caus-
ing him to make u ridiculous appearance ON
the stage.
1t seems strang. that IA his oheckercd
career the Count should have awakened so
much ill-iceing. When he left the stage
and became u councillor at law in Boston,
the Suffolk bar through jealousy. envy. or
u failure TO appreciate ms eminent legal
talents, started proceedings against him ~
a barratnr, n legal nuisance. one Of those
lawyers who vcx the tribunals of justice with
cases in which they are both attorney and
| client Yet If the Count was wrung.d, he
had an undoubtcd right to plead his cause
| before the courte Of which he WAS one Of
| the friends and advisers. \ man knows
| more about his own case than any goulirYl l.
| lor he can employ; and II he II. besides.
| learned in the law. an orator and noble
| man, there * reason Ia conclude that he
| does well II he saves the price Of Il retainer
| to another member Of the bar.
GEORGE. the Count JoA,SEs. IL not a
| young man. Though his hair - -.lll az
| black as the ravens wing, and his step a.
elastic as ArOLLo :. it Is undoubtedly true
| that his years are not few. Mr. JOHNSTON
remembers HIM az acting Ia the Old BoWery
Theatre moro than forty years a1o. and
oven at that time he was OF mature years.
Instead Of speaking Of him in vcnomou-
terms, therefore, Mr.. JOHNSTON should re-
joice with us that age has not chilled the
heart Of the Count, and that he IS still able
10 play that most romantic part in all dri-
matte literature part Of SHAKEsPEARL =
Romeo
But the Count was unpopular in his youth.
Perhaps he cared little for the appreciation
Of his contemporaries, 80 long as he won
the praises of his own conscience Popu-
larty is no test Of a mans genius. Still. we
confess we pity the really conscientious
actors who have To make their living by
being fouls 10 GEORGE, the Count JOANNEs