Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-28
AN ACTORS LIFE.
The Story of Sol Smith Russeu's Lie
Briefly Told.

The Story of Sol Smith Russeu's Lie
Briefly Told.
Sol Smith Russell, the inimitable come
dian, whose droll manner and semi serious
mirth is indescribable, kept his audience in
a roar of laughter last evening in BE
witched" But the piece is unworthy of
him, below even the least of his efforts,
and ought to be stricken from his repertoire.
Compared with Pa" or A Poor Rela-
tion," it is simply cipher. 1t is not sur
prising that its author felt called upon to
apologize for this weak stimulation of
central idea in Austeys Vice Versa"
1t was laughable, but only be-
cause of Mr.. Russell, who would
have quite as much entertained his
audience in his old-time monologues,
which recalls the fact to memory that
Russell first appeared here. we believe, in
monologues and character acts with the
Berger Concert troupe-at least he early
travelled as an eccentric character person
ator with that troupe, and his amiabie and
much esteemed wife was formerly one of
the Berger sisters. A gentleman promi-
nent in position at the State Capitol, was
Sol Smith RusselPs schoolmaster for
time, and speaks of him with interest.
The comedian was born in Brunswick,
Missouri, in 1913. The family removed
to st. Louis, and from there to Jack
sonyiile, H. The entire family was of IN
usual seriousness of thought and habit in
that respect being peculiarly noted-all ex-
cept Sol, he was the one restless, droll and
untaInable member He seemed to be
born with longing for the stage, and
while mere lad sought the theater and
concert troupes OF every possible occasion.
He ran away from home and went to St.
Louis, and sang with minstrel troupe,
but returned at earnest solicitation of his
father, and attempted to stick to school
but it was useless, he couldn't do it; the
footlights were irresistible in their attrac-
ton for him. But his old master bears wit
ness that though he could not be tied TO
books or business, he was always discreet
in habit, upright, clean in life, straightfor-
ward and choice in bis associations. Of of
the stage, while relishing wit and indulg-
ing in humor as it flies, he is really
a serious man. the cast of the family
trait of unusual seriousness being clearly
distinguishable in him. 1t is the humor
behind and shining through this family
characteristic that makes him what he is,
the drollest of comedians. His elder
brother was clergyman in Illinois, and
serious man to severity. His younger
yer in Minneapolis, and at the age of
twenty Sol had earned enough to send
this brother to college and see him safely
through his course, to the great delight of
the family, whose one "black sheep "
proved, after all, their pride and comfort,
for RusselPs life has honored the stage and
done credit to manliness. Now, whatever
there may be of superstition in it, and
whether there is any relation of the one
fact to the other, it is true that this
comedy off-shoot from the most serious
of families of the West was named after
an uncle of his by marriage, who had been
an actor, and comedian, and an author OF
witty turn. Who shall say whether or not
the fact influenced the destiny of Russell.
The Uncle Sol Franklin Smith, of Che
mango county, n. Y, left an apprenticeship
to printing to become an actor, gaining a
wide reputation as a low comedian. He
subsequently, became a lawyer Of distinc-
ton in st. Louis, was member of the
Missouri State Convention in 1851, and an
unconditional Union man in the troublous
days. He gave three works to the press
upon theatrical apprenticeship and jour
ney work. One of his sons, Mark Smith,
became an actor of distinction, and in
America and England was widely known.
Another son is one ofthe most esteemed cit
liens of Sacramento, a prominent financier.
Sol Smith was much attached to the lad,
Sol Smith Russell, to whom he had given
his name, and who shall say that there was
not some occult influence in the relation
that shaped the destiny of the actor of last
night, and made him what he is, the droll-
est of comedians, and most successful and
respected disciple of the American stage.