Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-02

ence, tremendous industry and a robust
physique, forged his own way into rec
ognition. he tNwered ia strength and
manliness, very Saul among his fell
lows, and was for years the model for
al young tragic asDirants. In some Of
the robust lines OF tragedy he was really
wonderiul-Such fire, such strength,
such magnetism-and 10 "King Lear"
10 every shading Of the wondr0us part,
from tremendous power TO the most
delicate DathOs. be has, probably, never
been eQualed. A climber from the very
lowest rounds Of the ladder. be 40
length stood forth as the accepted and
most popular representative Of tragedy.
OLD TIME SUCCESSES.
such success was possible under thu
old regime; the rank and file, with few
excspA1 AWere men Of ORG s-y at
- The 49, Sne possessing ply
a.tQue, magnetism, aSgressiveness and
industry forged ahead.
a The eXigencies On the stage work, the
fcoDstant rehearsal, the severity OF
stage discipline, the frequent change OF
bill, produced a familiarity with
ShakesDearian and other standard
works that enabled a great number OF
our craft TO play almost any OF the
subordinate parts at q moments notice.
Far be II from me 20 detract from these
efforts; the parts we're acquired In 3
rough and ready way, no divergence
from ordinary rendition was allowed, no
license permitted; the stage business
was traditional and sacred As the
parts had been played so they must con-
tinue to be played.
The stage manager had almost abso-
lutte power aud used ia unhinchingly,
the unfortunate utility man coming In
for special marks OF his authority; the
iron rule was accepted; this was the
way, the only way, to learn the busi-
ness and gain experience and slowly
creep from one position 10 another 10
stock company.
Salaries, were, with very few eXcep-
tious, one.third OF what they are to-day.
Commodities, OF course, we're cheaper.
The actor was at much less expense for
wardrobe. Costumes for legitimate.
e., for Shakespearian or costume pieces
were usually furnished by the man
agement, so that the provident member
Of the craft was enabled, from the
length OF the season and the certainty
fortably for his wife and family. More
than that be seldom succeeded ia dc
Ing. The acquisition. Of competency
was almost Impossible to him.
FEwPRCMINENT ACTORS.
= Alas! the provident actor was ''rara
avis" 10 those good old times. The
heritage of reckleSSness, Of irrespOnsi-
bility came naturally TO him; society
held him az arms length; the whips and
ecorns Of time he cared not for. Had
not most great actors toysd and dallied
with fortune, felt the sting Of perjury,
glOried ia the summer Of prosperity?
Edwin Forrest had, among other eX-
periences, worked In a cirCus, tradition
said as a clown. The great Edmund
Kean, OF England, ia his earlier
struggles, being without a penny TO
pay the ferry toll, he, with his whole
wardrobe tied up in pocket hand
keTchiei and slung around his neck
AVIAN across the river TO I'LL his next
engagement. There was plenty Of pre-
cedent for almost any misfortune that
might temporarily assail the sock and
buskin aSpirant; another and most per-
niciOus cause, the root of the evil, per-
haps, was the almost universal use OF
stimulants. II was considered necessa-
~ by many, and at night a flask or
bottle could be fouOd in almost any
dressing room. The strain OF work was
: certainly some excuse; hours spent in
Ra6e theatre rendered regular diet almost
kufmpossibility. Between scenes, dur
rehearsal, general rush for re-
shments took place, and, Willy nilly,
~ were drawn into the vortex.
II was necessary 10 ''steam" 40 for a
good scene az night. The greatest of
our people did their work u1der its in
fuence Instances like the following
one were subjects OF constant discus
sion, minors listening with gaping won
der TO the recitals of their seniors. One
Of our greatest tragedians. so carried
away with q wild blending OF stimUlantS
Of intensity, OF deliriUm and OF his art,
\ fR the part OF his lunch backed majes-
Aty, Richard Ill, chased, pursued and
Almost snnihilated his opposing RiFsr
\ond from the stage OF the theatI, N
Aopeu space on Boston Common.
rhat a marvellous realizatiot "a
kd's lines:-'I think there bsNa
Ands In the field. Five havsW
ey instead Of him."
~ path OF the beginner
Avs was not strewn Wild
eapbles rather tia