Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-06


tho stage, attributes much OF his success
70 the fact that he possessed remarka-
bic memory, Veteran Ben. Baker the
other day ran over list of the old-time
actors when men were renowned for
quick and good study.
FOREST AND BOOTu.
Edwin Forrest was wonder in his
prime. He would read over page Of a
book and at once recite it of-hand. lie
did It frequently for amusement as well
az practice. In his later years he lost
this faculty to some extent
The elder Booth studied everything
and remembered everything that lie
studied. The only language that he was
unable to conquer was Russian. BE tried
hard though, and Veteran Baker laughs
still "a he tells how Booth used TO put o
cork in his mouth that If might eaablo
him 10 pronounce unpronounceable Rus
sian words, But 1t didn't. The great
actor did, however, learn french we'll
enough 10 play in the French tragedy
Orcski,' in New Orleans some time IN
1851, aud 10 do it in French, too.
Thomas l.. Hamblin, who in his time
played anything from farce 10 tragedy
John BrouQham as heppy John Drew
j.. ". Wallack q. =. Fox, who thought
nothing Of playing three or four parts in
the course OF night, and at short notice,
too Mrs. Shaw, afterwards Mrs. Ham
bin, aud host Of others were also re-
nowned for their splendid memories.
REMARKABLE MEMORIES.
Mrs. f. y. Conway, afterwards Of tho
ill-latcd Brooklyn Theatre. thought
nothing Of taking part home
from the theatre mt night and to
be perfect in it in the morn
ing. Edward Eddy's name is still IA
milior TO the gsllerygod. The more
parts no had to appear in in one night
tho happier he was. Ben. Baker likes to
tell OF Eddy's Impotence at long
waits between the acts. After
playing Richard III. he would
stride up and down the scene
and storm until the stage manager
would raise the curtain on ellis Last
Legs" or some other farce in which he
was also 10 appear. He would have no
waits, and the gallery-boy still yells
eddy Eddy when he wants the
curtain rung up.
J.. j.. Davenport had a marvellous de-
gree Of retentiyeness, and Fanny Daven-
port has inherited the gift. John Il.
Swift. who after Forrest, was the great
eat Rolla who ever tread the boards, pos
gcssed the Same faculty so did John
Henderson, one Of tho favorite tragedi-
ans of tho Old Bowery so did William
+. Burton, the great comedian, and so
did John Mccullough before his mem
DRY gave way, and so had Frank Barry,
who is still above, but who has fallen out
Of sight Of theatro-goers.
THE PRESENT ACToRs.
or the actors still on tho boards near
" ell those who were trained in the old
school have carefully trained memories,
capable OF obeying any reasonable call
upon them.
Edwin Booth was known as "great
study" but as lac now plays the same
parts continuously he has no need to eX-
erciso his ability in this direction. His
partner, Lawrence Barrett, enjoys the
same reputation. so does that old-time
tragedienne, Mrs. y. p. Bowers so does
that veteran j. i. Studley, who has
PLAYED everything from Rola TO melo-
drama 80 has Mary Anderson. So have
John Gilbert, Mule Levick, Mrs. John
Hoey, J. II. Stoddard, Mrs. John Drew,
whose Nus Malaproys is even now de-
lighting our public. Joe Jefferson Was
in his day called "great study 10y his
follow actors, and Dion Boucicault had II
similar reputation.
There are any number of the younger
actors who possess the same faculty that
was so useful 10 the elder members
Of their profession, but they are not
called upon to exercise it owing TO the
long runs of plays, which gives them
ample opportunities to prepare for a
now play before they arc through with
the old.
Louis +. Aldrich. Herbert Kelley,
Francis Wilson, Fred. Warde, James
O'Niel, Frederick de Belleville. and
others could probably do as well as the
old-timers, and the gift is natural to all
those mentioned.
AMONGST WATERS, ETC.
In almost every walk of life a good
memory is valuable. There is head
waiter in an uptown hotel who can
carry q score of complicated orders IN
his head Mt one time, and he has never
been known to make a mistake in carry
ing them into execution. There IS q
laundryman in Brooklyn, n Scotchman,
who does a large business, and who has
never adopted tho check system IN vogue
with Chinese laundrymen.
lie relies entirely upon his memory,
and yet makes no mistakes. lie claims
TO have no private mark, and never gives
his customers any check. How he does
il no ono knows. He says he doesn't
know himself.
Instances of tho possession OF this
GIFT might he multiplied. Those cited,
however, are enough TO show that n good
memory is a good thing to possess.
ELECTRIC HOUSE CONvENIENCEs.
What will not our electrical inventors
do next?
One of the ingenious members Of the
New York Electrical Club has designed
a dooropener, which relieves the dis
pusted traveller or visitor from the ne
cesSity of shovinga heavy mass Of wood
with his hands, or of wearing out the
toes of his boots in kicking it back.
A metallic plate set in the floor a foot
from the threshold is marked "door-
opener" The caller treads upon 1t in the
same STYLE as the peaceful streetcar
horse treads upon the clumsy iron switch I
mates. which now ornament every street .
where this style OF locomotion is in .
vogue. The plate yields quarter inch /
70 the pressure of The foot and forms a
circuit which Immediately starts tiny /
eleclro.motor that in turn opens the |
door, despite the door spring, air-yalve, |
or counter weight The moment the |
visitor passes IN the plate is thrown
back bv a coiled spriug to its former |
position, the circuit Is broken AMI the /
door closes itself with or without reso- /
nant bang as may be desired.
With swing.doors the plate is inset on /
both sides OF the portal. With double I
church-doors two pairs Of plates are ar
ranged so that the sexton can connect or
.N.H.