The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-19
"OEAR OLD STODDARD."
The Veteran Actor Appearing In vau-
70 . deviIIe al keith's.
He Came TO This Country In 1854 and
Has Had a Very Successful Career.

The appearance of that veteran anu
capable actor, Mr. James III. Stoddart,
in vaudeville this week, is an event
OF uncommon INTEREST," and the puphc
will be under renewed obligations 10
Mr.. Is. +. Keith for the opportunity
to again welcome this grand old man
OF the stage.
Since the death OF William warren
no actor OF old mems parts has heio
so warm place in the hearts OF new
,Enganders OF mature years as Mr'
Stoddart-"dear old Stoddart,' as ne
is affectionately referred to--who mas
for nearly so years honored the Ameri-
can stage by his genius ana correc'
living; whose speech, suggestive, re-
motely, of the Scotchman, arrests at
tention: whose voice has the rare, VI
brant quality that may at once pro-
woke to smiles or tears, ana whose
kindly manners remind one Oh "oiu-
smiths village preacher.
Mr. Stoddart's face Is a perfect pehe-
diction and his smile the very essence
of loving Kindness while his sturdy
| frame and elastic step recall the plea
| of old Adam in "As You Like II:
| Though / look old. yet am 1 strong
and lusty;
For in nv youth never did apply
| Hot and rebellious liquors in my blood,
| Nor did not with unbashful forehead
\ The means of weakness and debility;
| Therefore my age is as a lusty winter,
| Frosty. but kindly.
| Mr.. Stoddart was born in Barnspy'
( Eng, of Scotch parents, October 10
1927. He inherited his fondness for the
stage as his father, for many years
| was first old man of the Theatre Royal,
| Glasgow, and the son was playing
minor parts i'm an English theatre
when only ten years OF age.
Referenc to the traces OF scotch
brogue i'm Mr. Stoddart's speech re-
calls an incident i'm a London theatre.
! He was playing the small role OF one
| of the Apparitions in Macbeth" where
he speaks the line:
Macbeth. Macbeth Macbeth, beware
| Macdun!
The stage manager corrected him,
and said: Don't say Mocbeth; speak
English, my lad"
MIR. Stoddart, while chatting with
the writer few years ago, recaiieu
an incident OF his youth, which Illus
| trated the ignorance prevailing In the
country districts OF Scotiand az 10 tne
theatre His father took him and ms
brother over TO 1.-The land o cakes TO
visit the fathers native town. Dunn
fries not far by the way, from the
birthplace Of Burns. The father ran
across a friend OF his youth, and the
following conversation ensued:
"Eh. mon Jeems. an hoo are ye!
81 am weel. Sandy, and / hope you
are the same.
IAN what are We doin, Jeems'
II am acting. mon.
An what is that. mon?'
ooh. l am playacting in London
theatre, Sandy. Playing Shakespeare
and the like"
"Eh. mon! Playacting. is IT? An
do We stan on yer heed Jeems, and can
ye tumble. mon?
| What a wealth of recollections must
be stored in dear old Stoddart's' mem
ory since 1854, when he came to TINS
country. and entered the STOCK com.
pany of the elder Wallack! Later ne
was in Laura Keene's company, ana
after was under the management OF
Mrs. Wood Boucicault and Lester wal
lack, and then for about 20 years was
an honored member OF A. Nj. Palmer
famous stock company.
His first great success in this country
was as old Lawyer Moneypenny In the
Long Strike" and in that character
he appears at Keith's this week. lie
afterward made a pronounced success
in Rose Michel" which ran for an
entire season i'm New York. He also
/ played for an entire season In The
;
Madison Square Theatre. under Mr.
Palmer's management in Saints and
sinners" playing a part strongly re-
miniscent of 'The Vicar OF Wakeheld
, In New England he is perhaps bes,
known for his remarkably successfu
work i'm "A Pair Of Spectacles.
, These are only few OF the many
r roles played by Mr.. Stoddart durinf
, his long career on the stage: and Il
will be seen that he has usually played
old mems parts.
| Mr. Stoddart possesses the scooter
t | trait of thrift. and has led a careful
V ! prudent life. The greater part or hi'
e stage career has been passed in n. Y
e city. making brief and unfrequent tours
To other cities During the good OLE
{ days Of the stock company regime !
was quite possible for an actor to hav,
e home and an abiding place. whicl
Is denied the actor of today.
Several years ago Mr.. Stoddart pur
o chased large farm i'm New Jersey
near New York. and planted more thar
q 900 fruit trees. hoping to find this in
n vestment profitable, enabling him Il
!: his declining years TO retire from tn
y stage: but. like many others, he foun
% farming an expensive luxury, and n
e sold his extensive estate, purchasin
n smaller one at Sewaren. n. j., wher
a | he has since made his home
II His wife died about six wears age
o When they first met she was on th
n stage as q singer. but retired afte
their marriage. His two children hav
been n delight and a solace 10 tn
father. the son adopting the law as
profession, while on tho daughter
i shoulders gracefully rested the mantl
: Of the mother
10 Mr.. Stoddart was for manv years
>, warden in the Episcopal Church q
Sewaren. maintaining position whic
n III. -. q. Of hA an
X munity.
;. Yankee Doodle Dandy.