The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-28
THE HIsrREOSIC PUGILIST.

Corbett In his letter to the public has
proved that he excels Sullivan as COM
pletely as 4 writer as he does as a fighter.
Corbett shows himself entirely superior to
Sullivan in common sense by saying that
he does not propose to draw the color line
in the prize ring but is ready in due time
to fight Jackson. In the meantime. Cor
bett proposes to devote himself to the
stage. 1t ought not to wrench Corbett's
brains to make a more brilliant histrionic
success than Sullivan. When Sullivan
took to the stage Boston's most popular
statesman was lost to her little world. AS
long as Sullivan was content to play
pugilist ne was the most potential figure
of his native town where he included
everybody of consequence among his adj
mirers from the late John Boyle O'Reiliey,
poet and journalist down to ex-Mayor
Hugh O'Brien and the remainder of the
Democratic party in that city. But Sulii-
van lost caste with the Democracy of Bos-
ton by turning his back upon the prize
ring and seeking to acquire the peaceful
laurels of the tame and tasteless theatrical
stage. The ruling culture of Boston. as
expressed by its local Democracy, was so
virile that the spectacle of the mighty Sui
Ivan leaving the field of realistic blows
and genuine battle for the sham fighting
and mimetic warfare of the stage was a
severe disappointment. Boston felt as
much mortified as the fighting element in
Greece did when Hercules threw away his
war club, hung up his lion skin on the hat
rack in the hall of Queen Omphale and ac-
copied her distaff for a sceptre and her
sewing circle for court.
Boston was as much surprised and dis
gusted as Rene would have been if Marius
had become a song and dance man. or
Puritan England If Cromwell had flung
away his sword and become man mil
liner. Thus far Sullivan has posed on the
stage in characters who have little to say
and nothing 10 do beyond literally knock
ing out the heavy villains of the play. 1t
has been unfortunate for Sullivan's sue
cess that the robust. manly school of act
ing, in which he must shine if he shines at
all, does not afford a very large number of
characters in which he can display his
peculiar talents. He cannot be cast for
such lighting parts" as Macbeth, Hot
spur or Corlolanus, for all these fighting
men were not all blceps but chiefly and
primarily men of brains. The drunken
parts in Shakespeare might seem within
the grasp Of Mr.. Suliivan's natural habit
of incoherens thought and speech, backed
by his alcoholic experience, but unfortun-
ately all Shakspeare's drunkards are men
of wit and humor altogether too delicate
and sprightly for the density of Mr.. Sulli-
vans peculiar intellect 10 successfully in
terpret TO q critical audience.
1t has always been matter of surprise
to US that some manager did not cas-.
Sullivan to play AJAX in ''Troilus and
Cressida;" he is the prehistoric double of
Sullivan. Sullivan could not play
Achilles. because Achilles had some brain,
! while Ajax had none. OF Ajax Therstes
Gays that she stalks up and down like
peacock stride and a stand" that "his
! horse will sooner con an Grafton than
/ Ajax learn prayer without the
/ book" that he wears his wit in
his belly AMI his belly in his head"
! that he sis Mars idiot, and scurvy
/ valiant ass" This character of Ajax
| would admirably lit sullivan, who when
! he lurched across the stage and num-
| bled. LET ME think" drew down a roar
! of laughter from the newsboys and other
] gods of the gallery. Even the hoodlums.
{ who heroized Sullivan off the stage. roared
/ when he proposed TO think" Sullivan
could play Ajax, and even on pinch
) Achilles, Of whom Thersites says, Would
| the fountain Of your mind be clear again
! that might water an ass AT IT, l had
| rather be tick in a sheep than such a
! valiant Ignorance" valiant ignorance"
is q good description of great linking fell
lows who cumber the earth: heroes in the
| prize ring. but monarchs OF the Ounce
| block when thinking usurrs the place Of
| lighting.
| 1t is reasonably clear. we think, that
! Corbeit will surpsss Sullivan as an actor.
50 that he will not be cas-; for Ajax or some
other "scurvy vaiisnt" fighting ignorance
! and dizziness every night. He viii De per-
mitted TO say, Let me think" without
/ setting the ho.se in roar.