Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-01-15
DISSERTATIONS OF A RETIRED
VETERAN.

While comparison Is not the principle OF
criticism, and must of necessity be favor
ed with egoism, yet it is tool 60 easily
worked with, and 80 popular with the
mass of readers, that, in spite OF the mis-
leading results so often attending it, IL 10
0ftenest used. 1t freely satisfies that class
of amusement lovers who hold that acting
and singingiare matters OF tasse. and Una
the artists in both who please he greatest
number and.varlety OF preloi Ices, arc
therefore the best. Even Tile -suvOcaJeS o.
that mode, however, must aumit that /
ing an audience not at une Win him Ill
experience, the lnsuru,Ounbd9 dlmcul6;
OF inability 10 bring the models lie uses Tor
comparison, to the eyes and ears OF the
listeners. Hamlet IL perhaps Tie field In
which critic may be nearer to lis audi
ence than the other characters played, for
there are few men whose tastes lie atal
in that direction, who have not either seen
or read the play, and most Of them more
than once. Of the audience that saw it
here, think can say that there never
assembled in the Opera House one better
qualified Intellectually to form an appre-
ciative estimate of am exposition of this
wonderful drama. To those of us who
have read, and for myself must confess
been little bored by the intermin able
essays of Shakespearean authors on
Whether Hamlet s Insanity Was real or
assumed, there IS always LITTLE exhilirating
expectancy in awaiting the fourth scene to
develope which theory the actor is COINS, to
adopt. This expectation satisfied, one can
settle down comfortably to a journey over
an oft-trodden road, and with a watchful
been developed since last he Travelled it.
1t has been my fortune to have seen six
Hamlets which impressed themselves OH
my memory. OF whom four were men and
two were women-Booth, Davenport,
Fechter, and McCulloch; Charlotte Cush-
man. and Melinda Jones. Among the
six. two. Edwin Booth and Charlotte
Cushman, were artists of towering genius;
oAo OouNao "OAO oIUOl0 VI klCdU UdIOAhs L
should say of Mr.. Min that he is the
equal of any of them in acting except
Booth, and the superior to any of them e1-
ceps Booth and Miss Cushman in his read
ing. To say this of man who has not
yes been on the stage three years, may
seem extravaganza to those who know how
hard the road of knowledge of the histri-
onic art is, but it is nevertheless true. The
man it is said of, however, is very far from
being an ordinary man in respect of his
profession or. indeed, in any respect. I
had the pleasure and instruction both, of
him socially while here and was
much impressed with the strong intellec-
tual, yet lovable character Of the man.
Four years ago he was the pastor of the
church In Chicago which had been minis
tered to by the famous Robert Collier.
His salary was $4,000 year. He had
graduated at Princeton with distinc-
ton. He had, as he now has, wife and
little daughter to whom he is devoted. He
found after nearly four years preaching
that he differed with his church--a Con-
9regationalist one. which means Presby
terian except the form of government-on
a doctrinal point, and could not preach
what his conscience did not approve. He
10 told his congrega ton, rendered his re-
signation, and in closing his pastorate
preached five memorable sermons which
we're widely spread at the time, and which
one Of party Of gentlemen at dinner
given to him in Sta unton. Sunday, was so
impressed by at the time that he was able
this far off to quot, from one. His stage
history has been very Interesting. Such
man would naturally, on the field of the
dramatic stage, select the highest walk,
and he took the exposition of Shakepeare's
characters. Amid great obstacles, great
financial straits, and much to discourage
him in the craze which the American
public has had for some two years past
for the sensational melodrama, he has
never taken his hand from the plow and
with innexible determination has held to
In that field some Of those who
saw him here will, if he lives, yet see him
the first actor in America. To man of
thirty -four, with his genius and courage,
all possibilities are open. On the long
journey from Texas which landed him in
Staunton, nothing but ill-fortune had at
tended him. He had a disagreement with
his business agent in Texas and dismissed
him, and in return the agent notified all
the towns ia which he had been announced
that the engagement could not be filled.
At every city along the route Min found
he was not expected and as a consequence
he had poor houses the whole way. When
be arrived here the troupe had not made
dollar on the whole route and yet, despite
financial straits, he ws.s buoyant and full
of pluck.
And now word as to his acting. His
of Hamlet was highly intel
lectual, and he had not ended the first SOL
llOquy 'Oh that this too solid flesh would
MELT before the audience knew that an
actor of the highest type was before
them. He has chosen the theory that
Hamlet's insanity was acted and SO rem
dered it.. All through his rendering ran.
that subtle strength which comes to q
man who has possessed himself by study
Of the conception as we'll as the words of
the author. In the scene with the Queen,
which with the theory of assumed madness
must always be the piece de resistance of
Hamlet, his acting showed that rarest
Of fire with perfect read
ing. He was called before the curtain
after it, which was the best testimonial
a Staunton audience of the character that
witnessed Hamlet could give-a cold and
critical company that oftener let's
good thing 60 by, then applauds doubt