The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-25

edge of French and German might enable
him to find a business position, but there
was nothing to be had. He finally deter
mined to go to sea, and signed articles for
a four years cruise in the Pacific in a New
Bedford whaler. A few hours association
with the men who were to be his companions
convinced him of his mistake, and he de-
serted. leaving his ~portmanteau behind. and
walking all the way from New Bedford to
Boston. He arrived, wearing his sailor
clothes. having no others, and after long
search and bitter privation found work as a
laborer in an iron foundry. His health gave
way under prolonged vicissitude, and his
parents, learning his whereabouts. endeav-
ored to persuade him to return to England.
He declined. and, after another probation In
a drug store. went back to Albany and the
theater. A friend was now manager and
Mr.. Morris was offered the position of head
supe-"he had the shouts" and made HIM
self generally useful. The salary was S. a
week 1t was a humble beginning, but he
was at rest In the midst Of affairs. and his
enthusiasm from that moment never fall
tered. His next promotion was the role Of
stage policeman, in which he at last sue
ceeded. From this he made a small success
as a pettifogging lawyer, and then. in an
unlucky hour, he went back to tragedy.
Upon this it is not necessary to dwell; but he
learned that tragedy was not his forte.
However. he was now Gin the line of pro-
notion and, with the intermittent usual
backsets. he advanced steadily.
Joseph Jefferson was the first to speak the
word of encouragement. He sat in the box
watching the representation of a melo-
drama in which Mr.. Morris had been cast as
the Governor of Australia. Mr.. Jefferson
watched him critically, then sent word hat
he was much pleased with his work, adding:
Tell him to persevere: he is certain to be
heard hereafter"
The two most important events of Mr..
Morris's career have been. perhaps. two sea-
sons-one in the East Indies and the other.
some years later. in London.
The East India experience is a whole ro-
nance in itself-a record Of pronounced
artistic success, of winnings and dinings
with the officers of the various British gar
risons between times and a return to Amer
lea in a sailing vessel. when all manner of
untoward accidents occurred, and when, to
save the vessel from wreck. he had to take
his turn at the wheel. The London triumph
was a case of waking to find himself ia
NOUS" He had been in London with his
wife. their passage engaged and they were
to sail the following day. He had agreed to
play the part of the Scotch professor In
On Change" for a temperance at a matt
nee. The quaint, delightful representation
was the talk of all London the next morn
ing. The passage in the steamer was for
feited and Mr.. Norris played the Scotch
professor a whole year. He had a delightful
home in St. Johns wood-that inestimable
privilege of the London artist-and he soon
gathered about him a charming circle of
people as clever and delightful as himself.
Then followed the long engagement with
Miss Vokes; and it is impossible to recall
the one without the other. Those were the
halcyon days of a~cting-days when the
artist was not a commercial commodity
valued for his drawing qualities regardless
OF whether those Qualities were mere freak
ishness or vulgar buffoonery which can
make a laugh, or eccentricity that COM
mands attention by its very lack of all that
is intelligent and human. Unless dramatic
methods are totally and radically reformed
and the theaters are taken out of the hands
or the few that know no more Of art than
so many black beetles we shall never see
such a company again. The days Of art for
arts sake are numbered. Four years ago
Mr.. Morris returned to London and the
initial success Of the Scotch professor was
49, NAS S8ALO ~
praise, the instant recognition of genius on
the part of critics who are the product of
the English universities and are trained to
their profession. Unfortunately no theater
could be secured for any length of time,
and after three or four months the play
was withdrawn in favor of one that had
been announced some months before-an
obstacle which has shut out from an ex-
tended London appearance such artists as
the Kendals and Miss Nethersole.
HIS PRIVATE LIFE.
Upon his return to New York Mr.. Morris
became a member Of the Lyceum Theater,
and has been a member Of the Frohman
companies ever since. But of the man the
world knows comparatively little, for he is
one of the shyest and most retiring of
human beings. He has been most fortunate
ly and happily married, Mrs. Morris, who
was Miss Mollie Shoot, of Missouri, having
been a protege of Mark Twain and at one
time a member of Augustin Days fine
company. She usually accompanies her
husband on his tours, and, with her pro-
nounced faculty for business, her energy
and great executive ability, has been a help
meet in the highest sense of the term. They
live very quietly in a pleasant fiat on Twen-
ty-third street, and almost all his leisure
TAAS ~ oii uCNottS 10 LIS Two clever
young daughters, Mildred and Felice.
Felice, who is seventeen, is in the senior
year in the New York Normal, where she
stood fourth in a class of sixty. She is fit
ting herself nominally for a teacher, but
her inclinations are for the career in which
her rather has so distinguished himself.
Mildred is also an indefatigable student-a
pupil In the Friends Academy in Gram
mercy Park, where she also stands at the
head of her class. Mr.. and Mrs. Morris
have gathered about them in New York, as
in London, a most delightful circle, which
comprises men and women of the dramatic
profession, writer's, critics and painters, and
whoever drops in on a Sunday evening will
be delighted with the best of good company
and talk well worth listening to.
Actor, writer, linguist, Mr.. Morris is also
very clever with his brush, and had he
persevered he might have rivaled jefferson
as an actor-painter. But he believes firmly
in concentration-in devoting the best of
ones intelligence and energy to one chosen
pursuit. And in this, as in all things else.
he is that rare individual who practices
what he breaches. MARY II. KROUT.
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