The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-13

4 DsssisgussAsA Assss - ~ Dsslias - tA<
Ms1sgn 0sages

As1sva otaGes
In art enthusiasm 10 two-thirds Of the
battle. and am sorry TO b obliged 10 admit
that II is very rare on the modern stage. There
was time whom young beginners looked with
reverence upon their senior colleagues who
had gained honor and distinction. and whose
career was q spur to Thorn. Macready adored
Edmund Kean and John Kemble. Young. Van
denhoi. Phelps. and others. In return. paid the
Same respect to Macready.
Garrick and Barry. Of whom Il 10 said that
the one only elicited cheers from his audience.
while the other drew tears. though rivals still
loved each other like brothers. Nous srons
change tout celia. Our present actors have BE-
come tradesmen: those who have been fortu-
nate enough 70 raise themselves above medi-
ocrity. through hard work and enthusiastic
ambition. are looked upon with envy and
hatred by the other members Of the profession.
The average class Of actors ana actresses. as q
rule. have no ambition: they are contented
with their position 30 long - II pays we'll and
does not require too much exertioH. To them
inspiration Ia folly. enthusiasm. madness.
1t Is hard to conceive the amount Of labor
and persuasion II requires to impress some
actors with the importance Of comprehending
that energy and enthusiasm arc necessary for
such or such character. They look upon
their mentors as tyrants. whom they should
regard them. In fact as friends. Against their
own will you have to teach and impress. when
they should only be too anxious TO receive. A
fair actor last season In America resigned
his position In Salvinls company because
he said. his life was not safe with the
great italian tragedian. He was mistaken I:
It was not q question OF life. but Of
soul: the great actor tried to inspire him
and infuse o little Of that precious article.
enthusiasm. into his sterile brain. where he
found there was no receptacle. That man con-
sidered Salvini . brute and himself u gentlo-
man. The erroneous impression which exists
among some inferior actors is surprising.
Their conceit actually leads them to believe
that those who wish to toach them are jealous
Of tho good opinion the public entertains for
them: and eonsseSuently lend deaf ear to all
tage ..Oi course there are many exceptions,
who always succeed they willingly follow good
ago. the great actor Edwin FOREST i ieuts
sEd oq to Eho could mot
sio1a s9u "a DO ssIs DO
ths late Adoiatde Nelson Was ANXIOUS that I
SS da sss 5ss1 As my
told her she ruined the effect By crying her-
@ she IKE
tifully. but then she had enthusiasm in her
soul. Enthusiasm is a strange thing in actors
strung to such state Of excitement OF. the day
can iisrssy "a. o. dTRk Mas5saiE hs
ny mans on the bills as SiostT ' in R!chard
H. Then emit there are some who emb9dy the
oa aesSr ' Wis rS s Sas
neeessary moi money Tor house expenses from him
g day before the performance. as on that day
h. hs wSHl1 k Dr With n sn And when he
dassers at the Two edsst That man NAN 'S was
History III says Of Roscius that on one occasion
he was so thoroughly carried away with his
ence. But II must be remembered that In those
d days saye's lille, He was q little value Miss
Juliet. an! numbers OF similar aneclotes might
be related OF actors. past and present. Tho fire
Which Ieads The artist e to Better ana sreaer
must not! @ Schiller sSsa 'sa e oSe
not soar to boundioss heights. but must re-.
sense and reason cool is yesrnns bro%
The late Lord Lytton told me once that he
could not CONCEIVE now anything Srent could
be accomplished without enthusiasm; and
Emerson. In his essay on Circles" Gays:
:. Nothing, great was ever achieved without en-
thusissm." And yet how often do wo hear
pseoplss say with sonteHmptuops shruS Of tho
:9ld,er or an artist "ao r an enthusiast" as
lost individual. He is an enthusiastic That
is. he lives In the land Of dreams. ideals
impossibilities and consequently il Of little
use to this practical world. 1t Ia true. moth.
is achieved. TO have 10 to have" says
Touchstone. and possession Is nine points Of
tho law. but how many hard toiling mortals
are there In this weary world who. with noble
ambition and true aspiration. struggle In vain
to achieve that which only a few arc destined
to realize-successl Fortune Is blind wench
who docs not always bestow her fsvors upon
the deserving. Shakespeare says:
Reputation is an idle aud false impostion.
OFT got without merit and lost without deserving.
II We draw our hypothesis from the ruling Of
Talleyrand namely. that q mistake Is worse
than a crime" then only those who lack the
Promethean spark Of inspiration deserve to
succeed. For where Is the enthusiastic soul
that does not rush occasionally into dangerous
grooves and channels. out Of which only sober
sense and reason can extrcate i. and lead Il
what ayails sense, reason and CALM ludGme Mt
Would they ever have produced GuttenburR.
aGalilco Shakespeare, IN Arkwright. aSchil-
Ter. a Washington. q Newton, . Nelson. or a
Napoleon2 Would they have Invented steam.
electricity. or navigation2
DANIEL e. BANDMANN,