Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-01-07

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THE OLD STOCK DAYS MADE ACTORS"
Howe OF Henery lrving's company. He
IL slightly older than COuldock, bat be
Is an Englishmau. and in consequently
not nearly so well known here as the
American actor.
Who Is there that GOES TO the theater
at all who does not remember with
pleasure Couldock's magnificent imper-
sonation Of Dunstan Kirke. the stern
father OF Hazel Kirke? He is now
playing the rector In Robert Drouet's
play, Doris" which Elie Elsler is pre-
senting this season.
Naturally Mr.. Couliock has an in
teresting and apparently inexhaustible
fund OF "reminiscences. After having
appeared In England great mauv
years. he came 10 America in 1919 ia
Charlotte Cusbman's company. He
concluded TO remain here, and the rest
of il can better De told ia his own word:
The next year l became Leading man
In the great New York success, The
Willow Copse.' just such another play
as Hazel hirke,' | determined to start
on starring tour with ii as the feature
OF my repertory. opened in ST. Louis
in 1853 or 1854 AT Ben De Bars Opera
House.
Poor Ben De Bar! What great
fellow he was" ne went on. at was
through De Bar that l met John Nor
ton. On the street in New York one
day De Bar came 10 me and asked IL
had seen 'JohA A. that time I had
unDes-e Bars memory was
gone. 'JOhn?' oh, 1 don't
Wv De Bar severed. He's a good
>or aud good fellow 1t wasn't
|many hours after that until I saw Ben
H. had f0nr.d tTohr,
for the first time I met Norton.
The old stock days In this country
made actors. Every actor had dozens
CT things 70 DO in season, and as a re-
suit OF the training good actors were
graduated year in and year out. Then,
under that system poor player had
chance 20 command some Of the COM
forts Of life--now ne D, hustled from
city 10 city, week after week, all
through the season. The average
young man who plays one part three or
six months closes ms engagement with
little learned. That Is the reason that
the stock system was better for the
players than the plan OF to-day.
"How did ! happen 10 give up drink
ing liquor? Oh, l don't mind telling
you. ] bad been steady drinker for
years-nCt drunkard, but an absorber
OF alcohol. When the terrible murder
OF President Lincoln was committed. /
WAS so completely unUsrved that j gave
myself away 20 the habit. / Cancelled
engagements; drifting 10 Chicago.
where ! drowned my grief In WHISKY
Why was ] so wrought no over the
affair? Well, ] kucw Jonn Wilkes
Booth intimately. He was an actor
Those are the reasons. Our profession
had been charged with poverty, but
there was 10 blood on the escutcheou.
vowed az first that ] wouldn't act
again until Booth was caught. kept
my word. Indeed It vas some time
after the mao was dead when resumed
my work Friend. Zoo Chicago brought
q doctor 90 me aud asked him 20 do
something boz my behalf The phvsi-
clan looked me over carefully. Then
bee reported that J was sure 20 dIsi 7
continued 60 use whisky, aud that 10 !
didn't use 10 would die all the sooner
from exhaustion. BE left prescrip.
tion for tonic, which began % take
that evening.
"Wheu heard The doctors state.
meut OF my case. + resolved % dfeap-
point him. AID chat night walked .n
and about toe fremont House unable
70 go 90 my room Everybody else had
gone to tr1. tlt ] continued 90 tramp.
RRuaWIrr at mF stomach like the tear
1ng OF tuou--rd % vile. driving me al.
most t1 madness. BIt 7 knew that N
got through those "A hours 7 would
Boo the victor j got tnr0Ggat. and for
wees, J took Ode tonic that thr doctor
had ~. Soon after This siege ptysI-
tIan suggested 0gI.. @ 19 we'll TO begin
the drr<Ir- Of beer After a lew
months ] acquired liking fort. and
30 snort tms 10 v.. source OF much
sat-iaeton o. me wa. NOT many
years. however, aU.. was .tr.. kan