New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-27
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
,,n n.ys Of THE AMERICAN STAGE.

Anecdotes Biographical Shttchte vi -,
rearcd upon the Stage in the Mssissppi valley. ny
H. NJ LUDLOW, Actor and Manager for thnVs,
wears. svo DID, 733. st. Louis: g. l. Jones Il CO.
The stage as all object of almost universal puoi'c
attention, has. within the past ten years asS""'
great prominence, and one of the many c"'ioa'
signs of its advancement in practical puoho"S
the widespread tendency now visible toward co"
memorating it in books. Among the most RECENT
works which this tendency has evoked Is a po'uy
volume entitled Dramatic Life AZ founo H. o'
NM Ludlow 1t Is at once autobiography ana
history Mr.. Ludlow went on the stage III 1919
mud left il i'm 1853 and in this work he has re-
counted mis- personal experiences rs an actor ana
manager The scene of those experiences WAS
the theatre of the West and Southwest u
region in which, for time. the MUSES. mot VIII"
anything but ease and comfort. and in which, &C
coraiurlv an actors life was long series of hard
ships The late Sol Smith, 10 his recoilectIons OF
.Theatrcal Management IN the West aud Souih
for Thirty Years "-published in 1865. by Mcs'rS.
Uarper a. Brothers-gave the earliest ample account
that we possess of the strange and often comic OF
pathetc vicisstudes of theatrical life in that pa'
of our country Mr. Ludlow-once his partner. now
his severe crt;c-traverses much the same ground,
and writes in kindred vein. HIS style Is some
what diffusc aud ragged-the style OF man appar-
emily unused to literary composition, ana certainly
deficient OF the of art III the use OF words ana
OF proportion in the choice and treatment Oh SUD
jycts-and his narrative is heavily weighted win
many trivial details and some ponderous plasitudes
of moral reflection yet his book is. to some extent
entertaining and usefu-tor It's pages are spr'hK'ed
here and there, with odd little incidents aud anec-
does and his record suggests All instructive picture
of the growth of the stage. rs popular institution
amidst the many adverse elements of rude CIVIL
,xatlon In England in old times. the players were
despsed on various grounds Of inferOrty In the
wilder parts of America it was their lot for a timc'
to be neglected as useless. Mr.. Ludlow's account
harmouizing as TO this point. with those OF Smith
and Wemyss serves to show III what manner the
stage has proved its necessity, justified It's exist
ence Won It's place, aud advanced ana augmented
its rank and power.
Mr.. Ludlow was born in Whitehal-st. New-York,
I'm 1898 and removed to Albany i'll 1913. He re-
members the War of 1912 and he records shat he
narrowly missed becoming midshpuan III the
United States service While vet boy he evinced
q fondness for the stage-stimulated by the sight
of performances at the old Park Theatre in the
DAYS of Mr. and Mrs. HIlson, Mrs barley, and
George Frederick Cooke He joined in 1919. dra-
matte company then organized by Samuel Drake
stage-manager for john Bernard of Albany.-and set
forth into the West The journeys of actors III our
time are often made in paace-cars; Mr.. Ludlow and
his companions travelled by road-wagons ox-teains
aud fiat-boats: and he records that III going from
Oiean TO PIttsburg they, more than once, had 10
take precautions against an attack OF wolves. Inc
contrast between the state of theatrical life in the
first and last quarters OF this century cond not well
be made more significant than il is by such incl
DENTS as these. Mr.. Ludlow acted i'll Pittsburg
when that city co. tanned fewer than 5000 nhabl-
tants and ia Mobile when its population was less
than 1000, and h.s company gave lDecombcr "A,
1917 the first dramatic pcrfornlanco III the Eng
lisb language that ever was given in the city OF
New-Orleans Voyages down the Allegheny, tho
Cumberland the ONO and tho Mississippi
rivers are described in much detail,
and the author is shown IN tho man
sgement of theatres in Cincinnati. Nashville,
st. Louis Louisville, Mobile. New-Orleans and
other places In Nashville in 1913 Mr.. Ludlow
acted as manager of an amateur theatrical COM
pany formed by divers young gentlemen OF that
city, One of them was Sam Houston, afterw ards
Governor Of Texas.
After had csst tue pieces ard put them M in ne
greenroon otner%lse r'1, cast nScre ~
had been placed for the OF tie empels OF mo
elb. wbea he came 70 ihe farce he s7i, 10 ne, Lag
low my bow what Is this you have got me up tor in the
sferpece r. replied. Lieueuant Avn ABOUT 10 test
dnc bit Of ow comedy short, but all fat H. turned
around and boxing full the face, said. Wat
low comcayi SAN Houston IN low comedyl Great Goal
NV friend Ludlow what are You tiinaiag o. eI Ely
nal SIR the pt ople will hiss me-" HIS admiration Of
GENERAL Jackson great that he often inGGlIcd ~
The Genera s fsvoIile oath knew ils character woi
be sumner to hlu for my friend Houston priced
himself then not litue oD bis cooc ooSs ana WIN ;i
sou, told him he nccd not appcnsDd thut ICE
people would hiss him, they were iO1 "elbred 10 40
hat Sa! should a..nne fe 80 rT s We'll
said be- shall hold YOU 10 that; adduz. g VIII at,
spS 1es paIt ssued to The
he mad 10 represent drunken fellow. who his but
two IN the farce.
When the night came aud tic first piece was over.
took that he shou be well dressed for the chaac
.fnr E.tffF Ak
stockings, heavy shoes req oGt.3n hecHercnea ea
smashed hat with The and hens1ng on one
aide. fnal touch painted his nose red. TO finish
til. character OF the drunkar Was sitting quietly III
The gTeeI-ro0n, rs the farce was about 10 Confluence
wben Lieutenant Houston cane H. rta.y TO 40 on the
stage The first thing he dld was 10 walk up 10 arr
III the room. and take view OF blicsen
raem "nr viii sIenor voice BY the Eternal !
can this he sam .Houstonf sO.heoOdy tei ine VINO =
s,andina around He paced the or like mad lion,
apd ssore ali the gods ne would not 90 on the sag
ewouidi said Oh, Lieutenant. you'll he ID n
don the audience eNpSe, ao1 ana S aTo
Into the greenoo, and after le mad talked with honr-
Iob few the latter consented to undertake to
play the part saving me, Look here, LuiOw II the
people hiss rue tonight, III shoot you Tomorrow" l
ssid, Agreed accept The conditions, fer know You
Will perform the part We'll "ad reeve NOR appausS
than any one IN the farce As Genera EPn re'a
the and urged him 70 see tDat houston was wen
sppiauded The General fell into my views. and said he
would attend TO that matter When the porters scene
came Houston staggered on 10 the stage WIN a
leave II at the house 10 Inch it direced As soon
~ s came forward and commenced speaking the auCl
enee began applaud; ana v aeh he mad finished the
scene WAS staggering on there was such roar OF
applause nide fear that the seats Temporarily
fitted up) would give way and come DOWN VITA "A grand
ernsL IIous tJi was riNlng. "D-n their souls! what
40 they mean by thatl' he said. " Mean." said !;
"why. they mean it applause for your dao acting ?
Pine d,smuato sir They mean to rtdicule me, sir ]!
"NOt at all" SAID L; they mean that you have acted
the scene 10 perfection" And be had it was adrn
rabe have never seen II performed so well by any
one into hands il has fallen III the OF the
regular profession. But no pcissn seemingly. could
couyince him that he acted that part we Ihe peope
were lBcir applause, and the new spapers
spoke hs acng the part 10 the surprise ana adfnira
tion ~ the aud,euce generally
Fw peIsbns who knew General III ustoD, ana OF those
.,liiY vi lnInAte With hun, would be