Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-01

Ma0ame, the dctOE ucSpAA - -
lone, Il said awhile ago tnas nades ~"s
full of such people as you -.
Then he stopped for an instaa1
CAUGHT CLEAN Of triumph In the woman's
eve, "Yes, said that, he resumed on.
I was mistaken. It will not be full until
you get there
the theater.
an INV time. Mr.. Conldock continued.
81 have PLAYED everything among the great
narts II, classic drama. have been Rlch-
ari RicSelieu. Hamlet, Iago, Shylock, Otn-
ello and all the rest save Romeo. l never
plaved that part because was never puiie
Tor nnv Of those sweet, lover parts. Nature
did NOT, mt me in that sort OF a mold
did Nercutio when Cushman played Juliet.
INT 7 never breathcd line of Romeo. In
the old DAYS, before the fifties, and even
after. we used to start in on week with
.Ricbelieu' and play Richard on Saturday
night. Irecall performance of the Duke
of Gloster in Columbus. O., one night in
1857. The country was in the midst OF a
manic. and that night in Columbus the peo-
tle were walking the streets at the hour for
the curtain to go up. could see only SIX
people in the house. l had begun to put
IN nv clothes for Richard, but when l saw
that house got out of them, and throwing
the whole makeup on the floor trampled
upon it viciously. The stage manager came
In. and announced my intention OF going
home. The fellow vanished. Pretty soon
he came back with John Ellsler's partner,
Vincent.
Look here said he, you'll have to go
through with Richard
You don't suppose" returned, that
will play before half dozen people?"
Yes. do" said Vincent, and then he
went on and explained to me something
about contract and honor and disappoint-
ment until it was not long before was
down on the floor gathering up my Rich
ard suit. In half an hour went on, shout
ing:
"Now is the winter of our discontcnt-
"Ten or dozen people saw me through,
and when offered to barter my kingdom
for horse the roar they set up made me
think that the populace Of the town was in
front. was aftarward told that the elder
Booth never did better Richard than
presented that night. but believe that he
must have been giving me what you boys
in these days call jolly l never liked
Richard Whenever it happened that
could skip it, | always did.
''Of course made a great success in 'Ha-
eel Kirke' That is what might be called
the hit of my life l have played the part
of Duustan Kirke hundreds-yes, thou
sands-of times, until now it is a part OF
my nature almost
''Do | think - profession is improving
morally and artistically? Well, it is diff
cult to answer such question i'll anything
less than lecture on the subject OF course
the men and women are better kept, better
fed and altogether cleaner. more respect
able looking lot than they used to be, but
really have my doubts as to whether the
artistic value of their work is improving
further. of course, than it is improved by
the help that is lent TO it by modern stage
appliances"
Mr.. Couldock's only near relatives i'll this
country live at Mount Vernon n. Y. His
special pet is his little granddaughter.
When the veteran speaks of her, his eyes
light up with love- and he invariably signs,
"She's wonderful yOungster," he said.
''She's worth 20 other people to me. look
forward to the time when | can go home tc
her. My son and she are the only ones
have left had a daughter once. She was
Il lovely girl and an actress with the fire OF
genius in her soul, but she passed away
from me 81 years ago.
Couldock is the friend Of all the "olo
timers" as he is also of the younger gene