Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-05-31

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course, if the child was already dying, moth
ing could save it, or if it has already eftu-
siOns in the lining of the heart or brain, it
is much better that it should die. But if
the above is applied in due time, under the
eyes and direction of a competent physi-
clan, I will guarantee that not one in hum
dred children will ever die of scarlet fever.
l know this will startle some ofmy readers,
especially those who have lost children al
ready, but shall 60 still farther. / main
tain that child will never get scarlet fever
if properly treated. If child has correctly
mixed blood, it will not catch the disorder
if put in bed with sick child. This is still
more startling, but nothing is easier of proof.
THE ACrOR's ART.-The essence Of ac-
ting is apparent spontaniety. Perfect illu-
sion is attained when every effect seems to
be an accident. If the defamation is too
measured, the sense of truth is at once i'm
paired; if, on the other hand, it falls only
shadow of shade below the appropriate
expression, the auditors sympathy is in
stantly checked. "The union Of grandeur
without pomp, and nature without trivial
ity," is of all artistic ideals the most diff
cult to attain, and with this goal before him
no actor can feel that art is plaything.
The end of all acting is "to hold the mirror
up to Nature" Different actors have diff
erent methods, but that is their common
purpose, which can be accomplished only
by the closest study and observation. Ac-
ting, like every other art, has a mechanism.
No painter, however great his imaginative
power, can succeed in pure ignorance Of the
technicalities of his art; and no actor can
make much progress till he has mastered a
certain mechanism which is in the scope Of
patient intelligence. Beyond that is the
sphere in which a magnetic personality eX-
ercises power of sympathy which is ire
sistible and indefnable. That is great ac-
ting, but though it is inborn and cannot be
taught, it can be brought forth only when
the actor is master of the methods of his
craft. l am conscious that no words of
mine can add any weight to the lessons
which are set forth with such earnestness
and brilliance in Talma's pages but 1 ven
ture to emphasize them by two golden rules
Let the student remember, first that, every
sentence expresses new thought and there
fore frequently demands change of intona-
tion; secondly, that the thought precedes
the word. "The actor should have the art
of thinking before he speaks" Of course
there are passages in which thought and
language are borne along by the stream of
emotion and completely intermingled. But
often it will be found that the most natural,
the most seemingly accidental effects, are
obtained when the working of the mind is
visible before the tongue gives it words.
COLONEL YELL's ELECTIoNEERING.- In
1885 Colonel Archibald Yell, of Arkansas,
became candidate for Congress. He had
a competitor at the beginning of the can
vass, but soon scared him off the track.
Here hangs tale, and l must tell it. The
two were to dine together on certain day,
and came across some men who were shoot
ing for beef. Colonel Yell asked them if
they would allow him to take part in what
he called their "game." On receiving their
assent, he allighted, made several shots and
won several quarters of beef. He then in
quired: "WhO are the poorest families in
the neighborhoodw On being informed he
sent them all the beef he had won, with his
compliments.
Mounting their horses they soon arrived
at campmeeting on the wayside. There
they tarried several hours. When the COM
petitor thought it was about time to be
moving on he searched all over the camp
ground for Colonel Yell, but could not find
him. At length he went up near the altar
and there stood Colonel Yell, singing at
the top Of his voice: GLOW firm tOunda-
ton, we saints of the Lord" The reader
can imagine MS surprise. WIN some uH!-
Guilty he succeeded in getting Colonel Yell
one side and said. "I'm off," "Off where?"
asked Col. Yell. "Off the track" respond
ed he. 81 see it is perfectly useless to run
against man who on the same day can
shoot for beef with the ungodly and sing
pious songs over the mourners at camp
meeting"
Colonel Yell was elected, and reelected in
1887, serving until the 4th of March, 1889,
In 1910 he was elected Governor of the State
for four years. In 1S45 he was again re-
turned to Congress, but resigned in 1916 to
serve in the Mexican War. He was mus
tered into the service as colonel of the First
Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry, and was kill
ed in gallant charge upon the enemy at
the battle of Buena Vista, February 26,
1S47.