The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-06
"Reminiscences of Campbell.
From the Washington Post

"reminiscences of Campbell.
From the Washington Post.
Though BARLEY Campbell has been re-
moved from public view since his loss of
reason compelled his confinement in an asy-
lum, he has been held in atfecticnate remenl-
brance by those who knew him, and the
news of his death has been received every
where with profound regret. During the
last year of his active life, Mr.. Campbell
was rather an uncomfortable associate on
account of his unbalanced intellect, but be-
fore his affection became manifest he was
one of the most genial and generous OF man
ayers and had hosts of friends
The writer first met Mr.. Campbell some
seven years ago, when he was here with one
of his plays, and formed an acquaintance
which lasted until the poor fellow broke
down under the mental strain over his I'M
fortunate financial embarrassments, aud it
was seen that he was incapable of taking
care either of his affairs or himself.
Our first meeting was after the perform
ance was over and we sat down TO a nice
lunch and for pleasant chat, which lasted
for several hours.
1--WE had an awful hard struggle, old
fellow" said Campbell, but I'm on top
now. If l hadn't possessed the most indom-
liable will and perse 7orance | would have
been doing newspaper work now. | com
menced life that way-as a common re-
porter-on the Pittsburg Leader, and
think did some very good work, too Then
| got to be dramatic critic, and | made it
hot for the jay actors, | can tell you.
Il always had high idea Of the stage
and my own ideas of acting, and if a man
didn't come up to my standard used to
score him very severely. got the paper
into all sorts of scrapes, and finally started
a newspaper of my own, but had no mon
ey and it went under. Then | did news
paper work in various other cities, but my
ambition was to pr duce a play. | had
written several, but could get no one to
produce HON.
II used to walk around the streets of Pitts
burg with big roll of manuscript under
my arm, which would be the last play
that had written, and the fellows used to
guy me and tell me had better let play
writing alone and go to work / knew
there was good stuff in me, however, and
you see | was right" He smiled with a
self-satisfied air and then proceeded to speak
of his success.
"The first of my plays that made any real
success" he continued, twas NV Partner,
and that was written for Louis Aldrich.
That put me on my feet, and have kept
them ever since. I have made considerable
money, but the managers have made more,
and, let me tell you, my boy, that the only
product of his brain is to be his own mana
ger and engage his own company. That's
what am going to do hereafter
Subsequently Campbell carried that be-
lief into practice, and at one time had four
companies on the road at once, all playing
his own pieces. He made money quite rap
idly, and was at one time supposed to be
worth S500,0 600
In regard to Campbells severe criticism
of tha N tho OOpaQipI1 rafarrad
to, told story to the effect that an actor
who had been very badly scored for his al.
legged incompetency in certain part went
to the newspaper office prepared to thrasE
the critic The irate actor entered the
room, and the first man he came in contact
with was the city editor, to whom he made
known his grievance and wanted to meet
the critic. Campbell was seated at desk
at the further end of the room, and as he wa.
seated he looked like a moderately small
man. about the size of the offended Thes-
plan.
The city editor pointed to Campbell's desk
and the actor started for BARLEY with
blood in his eye. Campbell, who had heard
the conversation, waited until the visitor
was within few feet from him and then ht
began to slowly rise from his chair. The
man stopped as the real hight of Campbell
began to slowly develop, and when BARLEY
cluded that he didn't want TO castigate thai
much critic and he went out of the Office
without word. BARLEY laughed heartily
at the story and said he had had several ex.
perienees of that kind.
The last time BARLEY Campbell was in
Washington was with his play "Clio, which
he wrote to forestall the tour of Wilson Bar
rett in Claudian." 1t was noticed then that
he had changed in manner, and the people
in 10 IF tfno
''queer" at times. lie greeted the writer
very warmly in the lobby of the opera house
and began to talk of things that happened
since we had last met; of his latest trip tC
Europe, of his fortunate investments in
real estate, of the great success of all his
dramatic ventures and particularly of the
elegant diction of 'Clio"
why" he said. "there are some passages
IN this play that l think are equal to any
thing that Shakespeare ever wrote. and l bo-
lieve / must have had the assistance of
Shakespeare in my work. You know
Shakespeare and 1 are great friends and
upon very intimate terms with each other. ,
Look here" interrupted, 'are you often
taken that wayw
What do you meanF asked Campbell.
"Why, talking about an intimacy with
Shakespeare, or are you simply gaggingp
"Oh, well, " said he, ''you know what
mean. Or perhaps you don'tl am some.
times rather uncertai what mean myself
But come, let's go back behind the stage
and sit down where can talk to you"
We went back and chatted for awhile, but
his conversation became SO rambling that
excused myself and left him, believing that
he had taken too much wine and was rather
muddled on that account.
saw him subsequently, however, when
knew he was "cold sober" and there was
the same habit Of jumping from one subject
to another IN his conversation, and the same
eDdeavor TO impress me with the great
wealth that he had accumulated.
whats the matter with Barley Camp
bellf' l asked Harry Fiske. us he going
the way Of poor John McCulloughf'
"IIn afraid So" was tho reply. And so it
proved.