The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-24

pAlu, rcinulheu SenticnlAn WHO nuu
been through the null, yesterday TO an
ArrEAL reporter. The man OF the mill
was in communicative state OF mind on
that subject over criticism no had just
glanced over, and continued:
"No, stree; the local manager has my
sympathy straight through. Do the very
best he may to bring strong attractions to
his theater, he is abused from soda to hoe,
by press and public. Nine times out OF
ten this treatment is unmerited, because tho
manager could not possibly foreseen have
it. When his 'little list" is made up in
New York during the summer, how can
he discern aud protect himself against
rcyerscs Of fortunes which bciall com
bnalions before they reach Memphis?
Nearly every attraction billed for Memphis
or any other regular southern theater, be-
gins the season in passably capable hands.
OF this the manager assures himself before
entering into contract. Very well along
in the middle or latter part OF the season,
that once promising attraction comes along
aud, oh. horronsl IL is all broken up, aud
does tho same for those who witness IL on
the opening night. The audience leaves
The theater cursing the management and
Kissing tho mystic word, 'rottenv Next
morning the papers appear containing
fiery cxcoriation OF all concerned, and the
universal wall Is, why did you bring those
things alongT Another thorn in the
managers side il, that every other fellow
he meets wants 10 attend performances on
complimentary tickets and becomes
wralhy il denied the satisfaction OF work
ing his dead head racket"
allow do such radical changes occur In
the organization after II takes the road?
DO not all parties enter into contract for
the entire season."
Granted that they do. The same docu-
ment siipulates, either expressly or inn
plicdly, that salaries shall be paid at least
scmi-occasionally. ii the combination or
star does not prove sufficiently magnetic TO
draw money enough 10 keep up the pay
roll there's going TO be disruption sooner
or later. The leading man will pack up
his traps and skip; the leading lady, II she
places proper valuation on her record, will
say, I'm not going 10 blight my prospects
by appearing with such company OF
sticks, and away she goes. II they are re-
duced 60 the necessity OF living on their
own private means, they prefer doing IL in
New York, the headquarters for all the
profession"
Suppose an organization u thus tenn
porarily affected, can't more leading people
he secured2 Are not the woods full OF act
ors and actressesY"
"Striclly speaking, there ARE no more
actors, or will not be when the few like
Booth and Barrett soon pass away. The
real article is fast disappearing. Genius
and its accompanying fire, trained in the
old school, Is surely passing away. Edwin
Forrest -ah, there was the grand old actor
for you, He had the name OF being YER
table old bulldog. n tyrant toward stage
people lie was nothing OF the sort, but
merely loved the stage and It's lessons in
all their excellence and purity. When he
saw stick he Lost his patience and CURLY
told him 10 20 and leaTu trade. But he
nourished and encouraged genius. John
Mccullough was his dresser, and thus be.
gan n career that landed his name well up
on the pinnacle OF fame. And how was Il
begun One night. in the absence
OF member OF the company, John
was intrusted with a minor part, the only
business in which was TO come upon the
stage and deliver a message. The am
h,ious youngsler had studied laboriously
over the lincs their import and spirit, sue.
ccssfully made the combination and caught
the attention OF his employer. Fouesi
took him in charge and made an actor oi
him. Barrett IL another who carries the
reputation Of being rough, overbearinp
man, but Il isn't NO, for the snme reason
that applies TO Forrest. Barretts burning
ambition is TO purify and elevate thostsgc
Perhaps there are one or two more fin
ished and pleasing actors than he, but moi
one who In higher degree merits the adj
miraiion and esteem Of all who properly
appreciate and love the stage. Further
more. he Is literary man OF the broad
Qnure type, O mcthodical and close stu
dent Ills standard forambitious aspirant
is a lofty one. They must possess undoubt
ed talent and aptnoss, cultivated. ant
ladies and gentlemen. Booth Is similarl,
disposed and determined, hard and faith
ful student, and thus II is that we find hin
using texts never dreamed Of by the grea
mass Of common people. | ut one time
wears ago, contemplated making the stag
inv profession, and entered into scyer'
course OF training. In those days an acto
was not regarded even up TO the aycrag
Of capacity unless thorougly familiar will
Shakespeare, Schiller, Knowles, Sheridan
and the English comedy writer's We ha'
10 be In order 10 meet the demands mad
upon MS every week. II was in the day
81 stock companies, and the limit Of tim
for learning new play was three day.
u was not an unfrqucnt occurrence 10
members Of the company TO be called upo
almost nj the last moment to take paI
they had never before played. Thus 20
see, familiarity with the full text was In
measure absolutely necessary"
"While know we have not the stoc
company, with iis broad and rigid rcquir,
ments. what causes the painful lowern
OF the siandardT'
"Thc methods by which the country
flooded with inferior and cheap articles
In New York, for instance, in addition
few regular schools for The proiessio
alone. there II n world Of teachers OF ami
tcurs, apparently for amateur. efforts onl,
This youngser throws all his absorpiiy
faculties into the mssicry OF the one par
Tho night for It's performance arrives
friends OF the troupe assemble ~ grc'
numbers; the leading man carries II
audience by storm; the newspapers choc
him full OF his own scli-imporiancc nm
1aitcring future. Let US grant that q
these distinctions arc In q measure d'
served that he really acquitted himse
with infinite credit. What follows2 II
r. pulled out 20 double his normal propo
tons with pride and conceit. lie appli.
10 some shrcwd manager, displays his abb