Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-13

"as the little fellow in hlaak. Ehy he
only acted naturally" This is always
the highest mark OF genius. Garrick
brought back nature TO the drama
but it was nature ia its erandest dc.
yelopment. He died in 1779, and, a
in the case Of Betterton, il may be said
that Hamlet died with him. The car
thus created, however. was soon 70 BE-
filled by another honoFed name which
though less identified with genius is
worthy Of high rank IN the Shaks-
pearean record.
fH y Z (TBE KkMBlEs. UugL
Last Saturday night the Kemble
society Of Brooklyn held dinner al
the Hotel Brunswick 70 celebrate the
centennial OF John Philip Kemble 1
debut al Drury Lane. which took
place September 90 1888. Kemble
appeared just four years after Gar
rick's death, He was then twenty
six and he held a distinguished posi-
ton 10 the British drama until his To-
tirsment third Of century after,
ward. His best role was Hamlet. ia
which he won a distinction which has
become traditional, and we thus see
that although two centuries had
elapsed since the play was written
there had only been three HAmlets 90
the stage. The Kembles as a family
held q distinction ia the drama e
which | need only make passing refer
ence Gifted, however, as all the
members were, John Philip and his
sister, Mrs. Siddons, were far superior
and the latter has probably never been
equaled. John Philip Kemble retir.
cd about the time Macready appeared,
and the latter proved himself worthy
to be his successor. In him, indeed
the drama beheld its fourth Hamlet
and though far inferior 10 Garrick, he
was the best British Hamlet ever seen
on the Amsrican stage. Uharle:
Kean had essayed this difficult role,
but it was evident that he was made
quate to its high requirements Mac.
ready, however, had fine conception
otthe character, and occasionally i'm
1 personated it with remarkable success
iehH BOOTH. fft
The fifth Hamlet in the dramatic
record is Edwin Booth, who is really
the most Shakespearean OF all Ameri
can performers. His father may have
excelled him in Richard Ill land per
haps Forrest equaled him in Macbeth
butin the general conception OF Shake
espeare and the mastery OF his creates
characters Edwin Booth bears thu
palm. His large dreamy eyes and tn,
pecnliarly intellectual cOuntenancl
add much to the general effect, ant
taking the various points into consid
Grafton, it seems that he was born Il
be the American Hamlet. Booth
misfortunes have also done their par
in what may be called the subjectiv
preparation. He has indeed bee
taught some Of the bitterest lessons O
experience, and they gave a deep an
solemn reality to what might other
wise have appeared the players ART
Henry irving, the sixth Hamlet, vii
find an audience worthy Of his genius
and he will also receive a warm vel
come from Edwin Booth. The tim
indeed is past when an America
player cannot allow an Englishman I
play on our boards. Forests jealous
died with him aud will never have
resurrection. Henry Irving will re
, ceive an ovation beyond his expecta
ton, and will carry home the larget
amount ever won on American board
! by any foreign tragedian, with perhaT
! the sole exception Of Salvini.