New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-11


band at the time OF his death.
Definite arrangements for the funeral have not yet
been made. The body will be brought to this city
this morning. and will he taken TO the Albany at
Broadway and Fifty-second-st.. whore Mi Lewis
lived when in town. The funeral Will probably be
on Sunday and the buria! Will he in Greenwood
Mr.. Lcwis's last appearance on the stage In this
city was on February o. Court Counsellor Won
Mittcrsteig in THE Countess Gucki,' and his last
appearance on any stage was on August y AT the
Comedy Theatre London as Or. Qualities. in Love
on Clutches" He WAS spending much OF his time
al Westhampton in studying the part OF Falstah
The death of James Lewis dcprives the stage OF an
ornament and lessons the sum OF public happiness.
The prospect for the artistic part OF this community
was far brighter and far more auspiclous Il le"
hours ago than ii is to-day. The loss that we nave
suffered not at once be- fully reaized pu' hs the
time pa sses and no longer see that quaint inquire
or hear that familiar voice. it will be deeply felt
Lewis belonged to the small and rapidly lessehlng
band of actors. and his place cannot be hileu' Inv
influences Of time have not been propiuouS Io'
dramatic art The public has mainly craved
amusement and has given but little heed 10 acting
The greatest Stage successes 'of the last ten years
have to a large extent. been due to variety OF
extroneous causes and not to the power. pure ana
simple OF dramatic art. Within that time accord
nClv the concentrated effort or the stage mas SUI
did!v aimed to please the popular caprice rather
than IN command and TO lead the puoic mind; ana
neither pTOunc'u noi 'HVo"'"e''
conditions Of that malign description. Inc ne"
Generation of players compared with that "hich
preceded H. is altogether trivial. signs ol cieNei
ness are occasionally apparent put II II "o'"o'e
and IT Is significant. that the actors who are truly
Interesting are the few that have survived from
former generation. .
Louis who was an actor by instinct. as We'll as
he conscientious study and thorough training be-
longed to i foryher period, ana was survivor Vi "
brilliant dramatic past He adopted the stage IN
carly life and worked his way among the 'heates
i'm rho western part of this State About thirty-nVe
wears ago he appeared in Ncw-fork ana ne ltSt DC
came conspicuous here as performer In burlesquc
In that vein his personal drolery. his musical pro-
nclency and the vivacity and fine hnsh OF MS p'sh
execution made him delightful. Everybody recog-
nzed his humor and all thinking people recoghiZeu
his exceptional art He acting in burlesque, at
the house known as Lima Edwin's Thedtre'-h
Broadway opposite the New-York Hotei'-wheh ne
a,st attracted the attention of Augustin DAILY. and
when Mr. Daily first opened his theatre IN twenty
fourth-st in the fan OF 1859 Lewis became MEM
her of it's dramatic company In that company ~
has ever noe remained and every year as his nina
has broadeued and his humor mello"ed, MS 'aie''s
have seemed brilliant. the range OF ms capa-
CITY has grown more comprehensive, and his fame
has become more solid and more secure As an
actor he was intrnsically comical lie ala no.
vv..r, his auditor by even the least intimation OF
effort His achievements were the result OF carefui
,horoht and hard study but when once ne had de-
,.ruined on his course he followed II with sponta-
neous ease and he produced the perfect ehec' Oh
nature He was wholly unostentanous ana uhoo-
trusive equally upon the stage ana IN pilNa'" NE.
lie produced his comic effects. not by distortion ana
prnacc but by getting inside OF a character ana
uo.irc his drou hunor TO show itself through
reciia rifles Of dcmeanor and through felicies or
EXPRESSION both visual and vocal lie mas PidSeu
many and various parts providing lot edch one "a
them a distinct individuality and "A characteristic
makeup and IT is not remembered that III any case
he ever failed 10 present consistent and cohers"
iragc of nature or TO produce least the effect >
comic eccentricity
Tn. latest theme that engaged his attention was
FalstafY "A character that he approached with pro-
found anxiety but in which it - certain ma ne
would have manifested much OF the intellectual
aspect II not all OF the unctuous humof Oh ,nat
wonderful Shakespearian conception re "as ,,ii
very gentle person. appreciatVe OF DINERS anu III
1i ed uav A. The height of his career and he
Will long be mourned with tenderness ana remeih-
lewis liked not al any time to speak much of him.
self and the ma terias for a particular account OF
him are somewhat meagre. lie was a nttle sensl-
been Tar from sixty-fve lie popular equally In
England and America. and the news OF his death
will be a shock 10 many friends ana admirers, on
both sides OF the sea These bcreavemcnts are al.
wavs TO be expected. yet. in the rush and whrl OF
our busy lives We DO not look for tnrIn, ana ,h'is
coming often causes pathetic bewilderment az
well az an incxpressble grief. The world seems
lanes Lewis il thus suddenly taken away from It
but the work Is SIN to be done and the STANDARD OF
ART is still TO be borne onward. and thos" VINO ne
eve AZ he did in the dignity and beauty ana Dene,
ncence OF the drama must derive "n'o'Ths'm'h'
from his example.
4 prominent representative type OF human char
actor * .the humorous man" and that Is Shakes
nearc's phrase 10 describe him. VIII j. faculty .
humor a quality or attribute Joseph ADDISON
Laurence Sierne Washington Irving whatever else
they might have been. they were humoristS. OH
Roger de Coverley. Tristan shandy' Uncle Toby.
Dicdrch Knickerbocker. Ichabod Crahe-thcse ana
many other creations of their genius stand forth
,,uou their pages eXcmpiify this aspect OF their
minds Bur the humorist Of the pen may. person
ally he no humorist al all Addisons character was
austore. Irving though sometimes gently playful
WAS essentially grave and decorous. 'omical qnahS
in th.. humorous man whom nature destines Tor the
Stage must De personal His coming brings with II
q sense OF comfort and refreshment HIS mere
/ nresence warns the heart and cheers the mind the
sound Of his voice speaking off,, before he emertes
upon tn scene Will SET me "hole T u,r,d
in A roar This was notably true OF burton
and William Warren. The glance motion; cdi-
riAge manner. and The pause ana sthine ne,
I qbat ''' Robert Xokes had palpabe simplicity
Of which was often as uii"ceou ih stas
The late John f.. owens. describing me Gono ,cd
o i - " circle Of his hearers OF whom was one.
almost into conydlsions OF lausn,e, ,,.y hehaid
W. or H., his wooden composurc and indescribable
h hrni The Iamented Daniel +. setcheii
|
oeas FUNNY had he bur lived a little "hlIr lohtrl'
rss.nted A delightful cXnmpl" OF ~ponianrous nv
~ I, l. udcrous even now. To recall Inc Siinpi"
rrs,i,r not lemure. but perfectly solemn WIN
which Oh the deck Of HUDSON RIVER s,ra'nlou,,
w 49,. ,ver.. rossiug West Point. h" Indicated 10
me m. Koscusko monument, -"ying pI,e"i
"Th.,e tho place where Freedom shflrkeu- II
- ~. nualitV Of the mans t"inpcfhil"h that
nsde his playfulness delicious. Setcneii was IN.
",i,al desc.ndant OF Burton, - burton was OF
pave q nd as Reeve OF I.ston Motors Illustrate
Mind OF he -ediy Each species Is ds,iinoi ana s
d ntii, dscernible Lester WaLack msinthinea me
I ,res.. Of Charles Kembls William Lewis Elliston