The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-01
Frederick Warde


Probably no other actor in this country
has had such an interesting and varied
career as the distinguished comedian,
Frederick Warde He was born in the lit
tie town of Wadington, Oxfordshire, Eng
Land. February 49, 1851. and was educated
at several of the colleges in the country.
His parents had designed him for the study
OF law, and at an early age apprenticed
him, as is the custom in England, to
firm of London attorneys. The young man,
however, had ideas of his own as to his
future and was imbued with an fnordinate
ambition to astonish the world as an actor.
Accordingly, one day, without seeking per-
mission of his parents or saying by your
leave to his master, he ran away to
small provincial town, where celebrated
dramatic company was holding forth. lie
told his story and ambition to the manager
and was engaged and made his debut
the second murderer in Macbeth" Ac-
cording to himself, he was not pro-
nounced success. The leading lady, prom
inent actress of the day, who mad learned
all about him, called him to her dressing
room after the performance and said:
Young man, l have heard your story, and
advise you to give up your ambition and
go back to your home. l have seen great
many bad second murderers, but you are
the worst l ever saw"
The next day the young actor was re-
mayed by the lack of enlargement, per-
sisted in his work and soon became known
as one of the most prominent actors of the
day.
At the youthful age of 10 he was playing
such parts as Romeo to the Juliet of
Adelaide Nelson, and the greatest actress
of the time. For years he was leading man
of Calvert's celebrated stock company at
Manchester England, and among his asso-
ciates was Miss Rose Coghlan, prominently
known in this country now. In 1874 he
was brought to this country as leading man
of Booths theater and made his debut as
Captain Marston Pike in Belle Lamar" a
war play, in which John Mccullough and
Mrs. Catherine Rogers were the stars. He
scored pronounced hit. The entire New
York press were lavish in praise of the
young actor He afterwards figured prom
inently as leading man with the great
Charlotte Cushman during her farewell per-
formance in New York, and was subse
quently identified with such actors as
Booth, Lawrence Barrett, e. l.. Davenport,
and for many years with John Mccullough.
About fourteen years ago he started out to
starring for himself, and has steadily risen
in his ..rofession until today he is recog-
nized as one of the creates artists left
TO the American stage.
Tomorrow night Mr.. Warde will be seen
at O'Brien's opera house. On this occa-
sion 1.-The Lions Mouth will be the bill.
"MHe FTP
mile. Fiji fresh from its long and bril-
liant run of nearly two hundred nights in
New York will be seen at O'Brien's opera
house on Tuesday night.
When first produced Eff was sur
prise and then a success because of it's
novel theme and farcical complications
throughout which run vein of tender
tment. There is a suggestion of Because
She Loved Him So in the plays which
treats of pretty Florence Stafford, a young
American girl and the Vicomte de Puissac.
They love each other devotedly, but Flor
ence's mother, a breezy, busting Boston
widow has tied up the dowery so that they
can only spend the interest. Mendoza, a
money lender, advises them to secure a di-
vorce SO that Florence may receive all her
fortune and they can Immediately remarry
and spend the money. This is agreed and
the Vicomte writes letter that is to COM
promise him and make the divorce certain,
and to clinch matters there is a bogus
quarrel designed to battle the young brides