The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-12-10

comes TO introduce us in the heSn, as one
might say, to the creatures of his brain. whom
We have known and loved. He is not before
us as Q critic, even of our demeanor towards
himself. He is before us as an artist, and as
such we accept him.
The first night that he came before Boston
audience was to introduce "Posson Jone" and
jean Poquelin." With "Posson Jone," of
course, came that. most delightful little creole,
Jules st. Ange," and by the time the evening
was over most of the audience felt as If the
author and his.creation were one and the same
Small, slight and dark, Mr.. Gable looks the
French creole to perfection, or our idea of the
creole, which is not far from the reality, Born
IN New Orleans, where he still lives, he has
had ample opportunity to make a study both
| OF the French resident and the negro. He did
not begin to write early about ten years ago
he told me-and he is now little over forty.
| He tried business In those earlier days--was on
| the cotton exchange, and held at one time
| some city office; but he did not find his real
place until he appeared in Scribner's Maya
zine and Appleton's Journal some time in
1874. The people began to ask questions about
this new and original writer. Why, this was
genius! Here was an unknown shining star
coming to the front. From that moment his
success was assured. He does well in present
ing frequently to his Audiences the favorite
Jules 81. Angen and jean Poquelin" for his
own natural proclivities, his power OF mimicry
lie specially in their direction. With est.
Ange' too, he has an arch sympathy th at is
contagious and delightful.
The second might be brought forward for the
first time. "The Grandissimes," and here for
the first time the feminine voice was initiated
in the courtship scene between Honore and
Aurora The scene was charming, was inter-
esting but to the critical ear was not so salts
factory piece of dramatic representation as
what had foregone, for no masculine voice can
fully adjust itself to the feminine. Perhaps
Mr. Gable can do it better than most, but we
did not lose, in the others, his own PERSONAL
ity in the counterfeit presentment.
The third night he gave us scenes from cdr.
SEWER" the story that is running in the Gen.
tuiy. Here again we had a woman.-an Irish
woman-Kate Riley. 1t was very funny, the
representation very good but not Of the per-
lection of the native creole-the man creole.
It was admirable story telling, really, inimita-
bic story telling, but as exact reproduction the
Irish brogue and accent was overborne By the
French tone and quality OF voice. But in
"Narcisse" Mr.. Cable was exquisitely real.
line negro and creole songs, which we're given
between the readings, were quite surprise in
the way of their melody and rendering, for
Mr.. Gable had modestly suggested beforehand
in card to the newspapers, that he had no
the musical critic. The critic. however, found
his voice "very sweet and flexible" and de-
clared that ''he sang with exceptional correct
ness of information, and in style which proved
the tineness both of his ear and taste"
His own enjoyment of his characters on this
evening gave force and fire to every word that
he spoke. His audience, too, a very large one
for the capacity Of the hall, were SO in sympa-
thy with him that his power was at its best
He was giving pleasure, and he knew it. and
all his own dramatic personality responded
with sort Of joyous exuberance. 1t was in
tensely interesting to every one present when
ne reproduced the old war days upon Southern
soil, for he was Confederate soldier himself
Whether at that early day he was the hater of
slavery which his stories now show him to be,
do not know. There was no word of this, no
alasion 70 2 "canse, but picturesque de-
scription of those first days of enlistment and
such eloquent touches here and there of the de-
psrture OF the troops that the stiffness in the
hall was something to be felt Literally one
could have heard pin drop.
In social life this charming reader is as salts
factory as he is on the platform; and this is
saying great deal. He is satisfactory because
he is natural, and simple, and with frank,
fine gaiety, giving grace to every word and ac-
ton. | was happy in having quiet little visit
from him, where / saw him entirely separated
from his public capacity, or as lion in the
midst OF q crowd. He more than ever
struck me then as himself, frll of the very
spirit OF the dramatic French creole whom he
represents so we'll. When he spoke of Jules ST.
Ange, seemed to see before me that charm
ing character, so light, SO airy SO sparkling
was he in his responsiveness His enthusiasns
however are not confined to any of his own
creations. He goes out of himself and ex-
presses bis admiration and regard for other
writers with warmth that shows his hearth
ness of nature
can't recall such success as Mr. Gable
has been here in Boston. Bret Harte came to
us from California with great prestige, and
there was eager curiosity felt about him, and
he was invited everywhere as we say; bat
though he was run after and admired, he did
not excite that deep interest that Cable has
nor did the admiration hold and intensity as
this interest holds and intensifes. The refined
warmth OF Cables nature seems to have called
out a correspondingly warmth in others, and
the gay hnmor which invests his characters
makes personal atmosphere of charming
agreeabiity which one does not often meet.
Bret Harte had charm for those who charm
ed him, should say. Gable has a kindly hui
man interest in everybody which everybody
feels.
The receptions that have been the order
during the visits of the three distinguished
men have mentioned have all been notable
ones. That given by Mr.. and Mrs. Howells,
and Mr.. and Mrs A. v. Anthony to Mr..
Cable-the latter, however. including Mr..
Gable with the Lawrence Barretts-haye been
the most talked of, A pretty reception was
given the other day to Mrs. j. T. Sargent, now
OF New York, by Mrs. Gushing of the Back Bay.
Gable was to have been there too, but he had
something to arrange for that evenings read
ing, and had to absent himself. Wendell
Phillips, who shows himself SO little at par-
ties nowadays, was thSfe however, looking
fresh and strong and well, despite his seventy
Two years. his rolling voice could be heard in
response now and then to the eager questions
OF some young people who gathered about him.
and the Hatt9ring attention with which he lis
tened to the opinions of both the young and
the older people was all of piece with that
social gracousness of his which is in such
marked contrast to his public manner have
heard him talk good deal in the years have
known him, in private social parties, but never
at any time, no matter what the political ex-
element was outside, no matter what promin-
emit place he had in this excitement, have /
heard or seen from him the slightest exhibit
ton of the spirit that moved him while before
the public. One would think that sometimes
the smooth, social mask would slip, or the in
ward ire would burn through, but it never
does. IT this is early breeding and training, it
is certainly most admirable. Il think it is,
however, only partly that, and that the other
half is thatstrong reserve which is such salient
point in his character, and makes him seem so
inscrutable to most people.
We were ali sorry nOI 10 see Mr.. FRANK
Sargent with Mrs. Sargent. This young
gentleman is sustaining his reputation as
reader and teacher from year to year, in such
broad and vigorous way that Bostonians are
getting to be very proud OF him. His last pu-
pill by the way, is Mr.. Gable. Mr.. Sargent in
uniting the Delsarte method with the school of
oratory training, has done not only service to
himself, but all actors and readers. There
has been good deal Of adverse criticism and
1ng now and then at this method, but the re-
suit of the training and Mr.. Sargent's success
are the best arguments for it, and prove all
that is claimed for it.
The new books for the season are nearly all
out; but the news of the successes of
these books is only just coming in. 1t is early
to speak Of the success of SO lately published
book as "Guenn," Blanche Willis How
ards new novel, but it shows what fnture is
before it, that the publishers have already sent
out ten thousand copies, and prophesy ten
thousand more. There has not been such
success since 1.-THE Lass of Lowrie."
There has been little book published lately
"a book of poems, "Songs Of Fair Weather."
which has had an unexpected success-noth-
ing great. hut for an unheralded, and unknown