The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-06
tened poetic wings to II. and they lin It out Of
the speclal into the general

tened poetic wings to II. and they lift It out Of
the special into the general.
1t has. too. the merits OF knowledge and good
taste added to inherent grace and beauty OF cx-
preston. and think it wins people Of good
taste.
There are n great many little but significant
actions in 1t that betray tho acute intelligence
no less than the sure intuition Of tho clover
woman who knows something Of all arts.
But it is not in tho mere possession of knowl-
edge that find anything to admire-it is in the
assimilation OF 1t. for knowledge Is not power to
an actor unless 1t is organized knowledge. Tho
deeper his insight into tho spirit and meaning
Of role the less able will he be TO touch the
sympathies of his observers or to make himself
Ineligible to them unless his perceptions have
become convictions. Your encyclopaedia man
in any case Is not the man who enchnins the at
tcnton or moves tho listener Nor is he In the
practical world the successful man. We have
all learned that where power IL difiused over n
vast area OF space II is less effectual than when
concentrated on given point. The theatre
everywhere presents examples OF clever
men who know too much for their profession.
They are painters linguists machinsts. critics
musicians poets wits. They have read overy-
thing that has been written on tho stage: they
have seen all the great actors; they are tho
oracles OF the company. But they never rise
above the level OF responsibility and usefulness
ms actors. We must clearly understand that the
apprehension OF many facts II worth less to tho
player than the adequate expression Of n single
truth. And unless his multitudnous facts con-
verge upon expression they are n hindrance to
him. have known an actor whose knowledge
| OF Hamlet was astonishing. His lectures in
| his own circle on the pny were marvels Of
philosophical insight and metaphysical skill.
| He told us of thousand inner beauties in the
text that we never suspected. He opened a
multitude OF delicate suggestions In the lines
| that had never occurred TO us before To hear
| him was to get closer TO the mind Of Shakes
peare. But he played Hamlet indfrerently.
! Those who knew him personally imputed OK
cclcnccs To his performance that did not exist
in II for the multitude OF Intelligent people.
His acting was cold. pcdantic. and artificial
| have known another player-he was origin
| ally a chair painter-who knew less of tho met
| uphysics Of the role than anybody ever talked
| with about II ; who had, in fact. never attempted
| to analyze the part. But he played itwith truth
naturalness a princely and scholarly bearing
and made every one feel that he understood the
| role thoroughly.
To say that one Of these players possessed
knowledge and the other did not il. TO mymind
manifestly unjust. knowledge. undoubtedly
belonged to both of them. but the quality no les,
than the degree varied. The healthy under
standing. remarks CARLYLE. is not tho logical
argumentative but the intuitve. for the end o
understanding is not to prove and find reasons
but to know and believe. II health consisted II
an aggregation Of food. we might similarly be
lieve that knowledge consisted in ali aceumula
ton 81 facts.
knowledge with Modieska has become par
OF her action. II has been so assimilated tim
we ieel it as an added energy that flows through
all her pantomime and even gets into the con
fluent lines Of her drapery. NYM CRISKLE