New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-09
SUNDAY EDITION.
SEPT. 9, 1883.
A TRIBUTE TO WALLACE.
THE COMEDIANS CAREER AND SERVICE.
MR. WILLIAM WINTERS SPEECH HITHERTO I'M
Published Ar THE nIRrnpAY pINNEa,


ject, II not the audience, is well nigh exhausted, 10
were think better for me to remain silent than for
me to speak; yet since you VIII compel me to emerge
from the obscury of silence must at least make tho
endeavor respond II not with adequate words. GER
tanly with sincere feeling TO generous welcome
thank you for the privilege Of being present at this
festival / thank you for the surprising Kindness
with which your chairmans anectonate mention Of
my name has been received I was not aware OF tho
existence OF strong a sentiment Of favor toward
myself among the actors OF YORK, who arc so
largely represented here, and must DO permitted 10
say that this tribute Is in high degree gratifying to
my feelings.
One reason that ndnced me 10 accept your thought
fu invitation and come to this place my desire to
do all possible honor to Lester Wallack. your dis
tnguished leader, and for many years dear and
cherished friend Of mine. Not that the presence of
so humble an ndiv dua l could confer any dis
tnction upon this renowned leader OF the comedy
stage Of America. never thought that But 10
seemed 10 me that by my presence might at LEAST
express my sympathy and respect, and had reason
to believe that this would not be nwecome to him.
There comes a time in every mans life when the
clouds begin to gather and the shadows to deepen
around him. when In the secret chambers Of his soul
the voice OF experience whispers its solemn afmoni
ton that there is one whom the world cannot do
without In that sombre twilight OF decline he natu
rally turns toward his friends. He IS wshfu TO
feel that they remember him and love him; that he
still has place I'm their hearts, and that he IS still
recognized and honored in the community TO which
the labor of his lifetime has been devoted The Leash
that do for q friend, when that hour comes
IS TO rally around him and take him by the hand.
Another reason that had for coming hither was
my desire to and hear the representative actors
OF New-York in the present day At a time which,
by many of you must already begin to be regarded az
the distant past, 1t my fortunate privilege to I've
I'm I'm N
with many actors who leaders OF the stage or
were conspicuous ornaments upon It; with James W.
Wallack IT,, and Edwin L. Davenport Mark Smith
and Humphrey Bland, George Holland and John sef-
ton, John Brougham ard John f.. Owens, Georye
Jameson and George Jordan, Daniel f. Sctchell and
Tom Placde Dolly Davenport and A. W. Young,
Barney Williams and owen Marlowe. John Mccullough
and Edwin Adams, Edward A. Sothern and william r.
Floyd Reynolds, Norton, Hind, Hanley, Raymond.
and many more. They were the companions OF my
everyday life. They partook Of my social pleasures.
did Of theirs. knew their feelings their am
billions, their aspirations. One by one those friends
have been Withdrawn, to where beyond these voices
there is peace" For me also, time and experience
have taught the solemn lesson Of vicissltude muta-
bllity, and resignation. The flowers arc
still fragrant and the leaves still rustic but the fra-
rance of flowers that have been gathered and the
leaves that rustic longer hang upon the branches.
but lie whitening upon the ground In this company
L
remote and nalf-orgoten ieriod, TO see the pageant
and to hear the music of a order Of things.
And all that have seen and heard here tonight
has impressed and delighted me. Especially am
impressed and delighted by your afectonate APP
probation Of your distinguished leader He deserves
1t all The character and achievements If Lester
walack arcvn a high degree valuable anc significant
to the members OF your profession He is one OF the
few remaining actors of the Old School wno, to some
extent preserve for our title all that IS best in tho
traditions Of the English spei king stage. He has
been actor during forty four years-forty OF those
years in NewYork His career illumines far-reach-
Ing backward vista in theatrical history, Locking
upon him tonight, remembering the parts that h
has played and reviewing the work that he has ac
compshed, In that golden perspective the long
and stately line of his dramatic ancestry-the royal
figure of Robert Wks, the magnificent william fowls,
tho superb Elison, the courtly Charles Kemble tho
brilliant Charles Mathews. and that ustrious Wal
lack whose name was bis proudest Inheritance and
whose great reputation he has worthily maintained
Treaiing in their footsteps. Lester Wallack wears
their laurcls and transmits their example. 1t is no
common ability and common devotion which have
thus kept alive the sacred fame that was lighted in
the great days of Wilks and Cibbcr. Kynaston and
Mountfort, upon the altar of English Comedy.
In one of the old theatrical books there Is record
of remark made by George Frederick Cooke. to John
Phillip Kemble, in the days while yet they were on
and l were pounded together in mortar, we should
not make limb OF Garrick' This tho tesu-
mony of one of the greatest actors that ever lived
an actor who had Carrick and Sprangsr Barry;
an actor who surpassed Henderson; an actor whose
Genius inspired even great man as Edmund Kean-
and this testimony was given I'm recognition OF tho
unrvalled greatness of comedian. For this, beyond
doubt the distinctive royalty of DavE Garrick.
who, in the fitness Of HIS fame at the if.uudt Of
his greatness, when at length he retired fror $40
stage, took leave Of the public, not in CHARACTER Oh
tragedy. but in character Of comedy; paving, no'
King Lear, in which he had been simply famous, our
Don Felix, I'm which he was unrivalied aud supreme
These facts point to conclusion OF practical anh iar
reaching Significance. Nobody dreams of depreciat-
ing the tragic art or its great proessorthe art thai
i'm plloates Hamlet, Macbeth, and Richard; the arr
that has given to the American stage rs Co5snr,
Mary Dun its Edwin Forrest, and us Edwin poo't.
but Interdum tamen, ct vocem Comaedia toiiit'
he NOBLE actor whom You honor tonight VIII %
the line indicated by such characters as Sir ,os%in
Mortland Harry Jasper, Captain OF the Watch. '@n-
tine, Prosper coGramon', Don iei hsd ana a. Larry
those who know the literature OF comedy this
and which am sure no NewYork plar-gocr
experience would think OF denying is a voh.-
Itself .,,
saving any word that might lee considered sad or harh
but cannot omit 10 declare my CONVICTION that tho
retirement OF this superb comedian from tn" active pu
lacks Theatre witout Lister waack at the head of 1t
l. no longer an iuslitution-it IS the SHADOW of
But it IS always the part Of Wisdom to look the facts
of life saualvy IN the fac. " hen man comes near
the verge of three score years and ten h is entitled
TO wish 10 retire from the responsibilities the strife
the tmt, the stress ana stial8 OF active conflict on
tbe icic OF public life Lester Wallach did not rclin
ansh the coltrol Of Wallacks Theatre because he was
failure but BE- cause as manager his work was done
For nearly a quarter of century succeeding his ID
mcnted fathers death In 1854, conducted tina
house. and his noble career was now rounded an,
fulfilled
We arc living In period Of chang. Every man o
conservative ideas ana feelings has felt pressure.
Th- ideas and feelings Oi Lester Waliack, tho
province the OF acting AID the relation Of tho
Stage society, were, probably. no longer in practical
harmony with tn spirit of these times Ia my own
humble sphere In the press uf today, have seen tho
introduction and gradual prevalence of ideas and
toms which nil with profound solicituac and dis
may. They are. perhaps, right but If So all the con-
vic,ons and practice 81 my past life have been wrong.
have doubt that thy VIII entirely prevail There
IL multitude OF y rsODs 10 be amused. and
for that multltlde Inc chrOmo thOgraph has taken