New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-23
THE OLDEST ACTOR on THE STAGE.
MR. HOWE OF IRvTNGs COMPANY. TELLS AN
INTERESTING STORY or KEAN.

From The Atlanta Constitution
yes, +, is true. I am TIC Oldest actor on the
one can readily believe it. for Mr.. lIowe's hair Il
snowy, but it is luxur.ani, Notwithstanding ms
line old gentleman, he is. fun Of life and sarit
ana more than hal; century on the stage.
The great Kcan Edmund. advised him no, t.
think Of going on the stage. This old gentleman
was In the ORIGINAL production OF -kicaeIen an A.,
has played every male part IN probably ten iiays'
amon- hem Ihe MeIoram' o gn've ,r.,,v
seven years at the Haym,rkci and was for long
Il wen, to see great L lmurd Kenn once. seek
Ing place in ~ ompIny. D. sad ~ was
lrst time to see him | was informed tia; ae would
not be up for hours. So went pack The next Day
al II O'Clock IL vas not W 'hen. nor the ,neSt
day a, Z. but finally. about the fourth day. dd
get to see him.
Kean exclaimed so this quaker cockey wants TO
be an actor He had seen In a moment That
was T rather 'ias; yonng fellow f5r friend
Mr.. Kean tcIl me not 70 think of n. sage as "a
a vaSabonl. Give up the notion But / argued
,'Turnng on me suddenly he asked sharply
Il replied that ga no, exactly unlersianl what
could i'i 20 Without food lie arswcr. ina, h. mean
exactly that. | remarked that starving ~ nut
before him night then a steaming hot bfeakm.,
My boy have gone Tor slK ana thlrtN hours
without food. except turnip perhaps. which
found In the hed by the road. could yon Do
THAR
That was true. too about his starving IN hi
younger days. II is told Of nm that th'r" Nns on"
theatre on one Of the country circuit. where he
occasionally played and always TO large audiences
after he had made his reputation. kclu woulI
never speak TO the MANAGER OF the hnuf" m
manager would take the stars share D, The e'!is
70 him every nleht and when the Well-known rap
See what that man wants Tine passed. AMI nc
once fOurshinc manager lost hi house ana hccam.
extremely poor. In another town krln was play
Ing when The old manager applied - him iIr
! fixed. Some nights previous 70 rs occurrence. a.
with some II the actors % the company. met at a
tavern in the town The room public one
whore the comedians ana many OF the patrons OF
the theatre occasionally assembled. There. on the
occ asion Ia question, was the Oh manager. Tho
lest went round not uuarclmpanicl by thr bow.
/ OF course. and the c.-d'Vduf manager. thinking all
former i-ftrling buried. rose. made speech alluQ-
pany that kean having known him In his pros
pority had consented TO play gratuiiously for his
benefit. This was received with load acslamaiiOn5
/ amid which kc1n (aud those who present
countenancc at that moment as IN any OF his
dramatic trumphs) and said: Don't let us mis-
/ understand one another am bound TO you by no
ties Of former acquaintance don't play for YOU
ger. II ever man deserved his destiny II - YOu
II ever there family Of tyrants II Is yours.
DO not play for you from former friendship. but |
play for you because YOU are a fallen man. The
addressed pocketed the affront ana the re-
cepts OF the night In question: which very
! great. kean explained his conduct thus. be-
! lcve I may say In exactly these words i am
| starving that fellow refused let a sub
scriptlon for me be entertained In hts theatre