Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-02-25


plays remain dear TO the public the pos
sibiity always remains that there may
appear SOME American actor VINO Will
interpret them IN a manner to command
international fame. AT present. though,
there seems 10 be 90 American actor
who can DO said TO be even striving Tor
such an object. There are a number
however, who might well enter the lists,
and with good probability OF winning
success. | would like TO see some OF
them do IL. Richard Mansfield has In
him the ability TO win great distinction
as an actor OF Shakespearean drama.
While II would seem well nigh impossl-
Bile for any actor 10 fill the vacancy
upon the American stage caused by the
death OF Booth, Mr.. Mansfield might,
by Identifying himself with the acting
of tragic roles reach degree OF popular
ity analogous TO that enjoyed for so
many years by Edwin Booth"
Rose Eytinge, who Is now retired
from the stage, Is deyoting herself 10
literary work. She said laconlcally
that most OF the present day actors
would have 10 be born again II they ever
succeeded Edwin Booth as the leading
American tragedian. Booth" she con-
tinued, had the heart and soul OF a
great artist" He came OF q family Of
great players lie could feel as well as
act, for 10 his life he had known what
IL was TO suffer. His life was such that
it had developed every side Of 90 Intense
nature. and fitted MIN above all bis con-
temporaries for the faithful portrayal
OF human emotions. Where can We find
an actor to-day OF whom these things can
be said? / don't mean however, that
our stage does not beast OF many excel
lent actors-actors who possess talent
and even genius, but IL seems TO me
there Is lacking the somewhat which 10
An actor tends 10 kindls the heart OF
nation. and awaken that sentiment felt
by the American people toward Edwin
Booth.
There IS a young actor, az yet IN.
known to widespread fame, who, i
think. possesses qualities which may 10
time bring him TO the forefront OF pub
lie attentian. lie has had the courage,
rhrely found nowadays among young
actors. 70 begin his career In Shakes
nerean drama, 10 which be has been
emlpentlv successful from an artis-
tic standpoint, tn the judgment OF those
who can season their criticism with
homely reason. His name is Walter
Whitesldes. He played a short engage
ment a year ago az the Union Square
Theatre. I saw bis performance Of
hamlet, and IL profoundly impressed
me- Some Of tle newspaper critics, ]
believe, made satirical reference % the
similarity OF MS methods 10 those OF
Edwin Booth. The intention was 20
suggest that young Whitesides made
4 feeble effort at imitation OF the great
actor. Ny opinion IS that this was
unjust. That bis Hamlet was IN some
respects Ike that Of Booth is true,
but 10 did not str ke me that The resem-
blapce was the result OF studied imita-
ton. bat rather the mark Of 4 genius
all the more 70 be admired, because II
uosssessed traits Of the kind which con-
tributed % the greatness Of Booth.
That nay be called charitable criticism,
but I DO rot Intend IL 8. such. Al any
rate. believe that young Whitesides has
great talent. saw hin 10 other roles,
and af;ereach performance came away
with higher regard FOR his abilities.
I don't wish 70 be understood a. saying
that Walter Whitesides Is destined 20
be the successor u Edwin Booth Sc the
leading American tragecisn, but II
there are any aspiraDts 70 that distinc-
ton I don't think his cnsncs for snc-
cess is By any means the smallest"
Louis AldTich Is one OF the old-time
actors who knew Booth before be be-
cane famous and Is familiar with the
history Of his career, ss well as that Of
other American tragedians who gained
widespread celebrity. 10 his opinion
Louis James is the actor best equipped
70 take frst place - ths szponsni Of