The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-11
REAL STAGE TRAGEDIES
DEATH HAS COME IN STRANGE WAYS
TO MANY ACTORS.
remarkable Condolences I'm Which
players Have spoken Their Epi-
tnphS and Then Fallen Dead.
New York Press.

sali0n for that period thereafter allotted to
every great upheaval in human emotions
the traditional nine days. And yet I'M
toward accident, meditated design or nat
ural causes have extinguished Thespic lights
in the moments of their brightest scintila-
lion from the days of Roscius, who while
performing the part of Atreus in Rome
slew a feilow-player with scepter, down
10 the recent and sad ending of young
actress who expired in the wings of
Broadway theater Immediately after saying
her final lines"
The most remarkable of real tragedies on
the stage was that which occurred in Swe-
den in 1913 in the reign of King John II,
and which, if Swedish chronicles be au-
thentic, far surpasses in horror any scene
ever presented to an audience. 1t is this:
In the representation of the Passion Play
in Stockholm the actor who played the part
of Longinus had to pierce the side of Christ
as he hung on the cross. So transported by
the spirit of the action was he that he drove
his spear through the other actors body,
causing his death. The King, enraged at
the terrible spectacle, drew his sword, and,
rushing forward, cut off the head of Longi-
nus. WhereupOn the people. maddened by
this second tragedy. slew their king for his
share in the nights horrors. A veritabIe
tragedy of tragedies.
Probably the best known of all real stage
tragedies is that of John Palmer, the Eng
fish actor, and original Joseph Surface in
The School for Scandal" He was acting
the part of the Stranger at Liverpool in
1,9S, so the usual story runs when, on
utterng the words, There is another, and a
better world he fell dead on the boards.
But this story is not quite true. A short
while before he had lost bis wife and favor
ite son. This preyed on his mind, and he is
reported as having said to some friends
that he felt convinced his troubles would
soon bring him to the grave For some
days. however, he bore up against his mis-
fortunes with great fortitude, but on the
morning of the day of his death he appeared
much detected. and all the efforts of his
friends could not rouse him from the melan-
choly in which he was sunk In the evening
he appeared in the character of the
Stranger, and in the first two acts exerted
himself with great effect In the third act
he displayed perceptible marks of detection,
and as he was about to reply to the remarks
Of Baron Steinfort. relative to his children,
ne became deeply affected. He made a
heroic effort to proceed, but broke down,
overcome by his own emotions. Then he
fell upon his back sighed audibly, and ex-
pred without a groan. The audience sup
posed for a moment that his fall was moth
Ing more than a studied addition to the
part, but when they saw him carried off
reigned
A FALSE INSCRIPTION.
In a sketch of Palmers theatrical ca
reer, published shortly after this tragedy.
the writer. after recording these details,
stated that "a stone is to be placed at the
head of the grave with the following lines
inscribed, which were the last words he
spoke in the character of the Stranger:
There is another and better world"
But glancing at the play ITSELF it is seen
that this is a mistake. 1t is in the first
scene of the third act that the Stranger
uses these words, and he speaks them to
francis, where his interview with Baron
Stelnfort does not take place till the fourth
act The actor. Whitfield, who played this
latter character, insisted that ii was at the
inquiry relative to the children that Pal
mer's face and voice altered and he fell
sellseleSS. Still the more romantic story
was too good in its improved form not to
receive general acceptance and this was,
TO doubt, helped by the inscription the
tombstone. Thus it has become one of the
stock anecdotes of the stage, and. like many
similar myths nOuriShed by sentiment, bears
a charmed life. 1t has been repeatedly used
- emphasize the moral of homilies on
death.
stage from natural causes. or sensational
manifestations of symptoms which soon re-
suited in death, is that of MoIiere, who was
netting in his own play OF LIE Malade I'M
Rginaire,' in 1913 AT the fourth representa-
ton. in which he performing the prin-
cipaI character. while engsg ed in the bur-
leSdue ceremony of receiving his doctorate,
he held up his hand to pronounce the word
'Juro'-"I swear"-and he fell down in II
OF apopleXy. He was carried off the boards
senseless to die within a few days without
recovering consciousness.
Betterton. who the idol of the play
gOers of his era, when old and suffering
from govt, appeared at a benefit perform
ance given him at the Opera House in the
Iiaymarket, London in April, no Beau
was the piece: and Betterton played the
principal part. But such were his suffer-
ings that in order TO enable himself to APP
pear he used drastic medicines to reduce the
swelling in his feet. This heroic treatment
drove the govt from his feet to his head
affecting him so terribly that he fell on the
boards and was carried off to die.
William Bond, in 1885, also appeared at
benefit night in Aaron Hills adaptation OF
lara" on the English stages at the great
hall Of the York buildings. He took the part
of LJsignan and as he was in the act of
blessing his dren-dramatically-he sank
down and was taken home in his chair He
died next morning.
Charles Hulett. one of the best FalstaHs
OF his day, was member OF the company
OF LiHcoln's Inns Fields In 1886 He was too
corpuient for heroes or lovers but he was
an actor of great ability, with a strong,
clear. meOdious Voice of which he was very
proud. At the theater one day he stole. I'M
perceived, behind a fellOw-player, and, to
show the strength and firmness of his lungs.
gave a loud ''Hemi" He put so much vigor
into his Jest. however, that he broke
biOod vessel. Physicians were hastily sum-
looned. but their services proved to be use
less. and the manager of the theater buried
the unfortunate actor at his own expense.
PEG WOFFINGTON STRICKEN.
I'm 1741. on Jan. q, "Alrs Well that Ends
Wen" was being enacted at Drury Lane,
London. The beautiful and notorious Peg
Wellington took the part of Helena. AS she
stood at the side scenes ready TO come on
In the first act she suddenly tainted. and
her part had to be read. Curiously enough.
at the same time Aulward. who took the
Kings part became i'll. but was Obliged 20
struggle through. after which he returned
10 his bed. and the play was not put on the
boards again until Feb. 10, when Peg
Wellington was recovered and Milward was
conHalescent. Unfortunately. he was put
iHtq a suit which proved too tight for him
ana had not been properly aired. lie was
seized with a shvering lt and. remarklng
ms evident illness, some one aSkea what
alled him. to which he answered, peasant
". How is il possible TO be sick when
nave such a physician as Mrs. Voting ION
nevertheless, the attack proved fatat.
Later. when on the stage, in 1881, reg
oihngton was stricken with paralysis ana
WIS obliged to retire forever from the stage.
e4ei died three years later.