The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-12
WAS BORN AN ACTOR
Former Wichita Boy Played
"lago" at Age of 10.
HOW HE BECAME AN ACTOR
Played in Wichita in Holidays
With Morey Stock Company

During the holidays just past the peo-
! pie of Wichita, at least that portion who
pleased and surprised with the shows
1 given by the Mercy Stock company,
that played here during that week. In
the company there was a young man by
the name Of Willard Foster, whose sing
! ing and acting brought him some atten-
ton, there being many complimentary
| remarks passed upon him by those whose
information makes them capable dra-
matte critics When he won such ap-
plause as the old man in Monte Cristo''
it was not generally known that Mr.. Eos
ter is less than 10 years of age, nor that
he once lived in Wichita. When his age
became known people hardly believed it
and many predict that he will in a few
years attain fame among the great act
ors of America
He is a son of Mr. Warren Foster. now
of Salt Lake City, Utah, who for the
past week has been stopping at the Man
haitian hotel Mr. Foster is naturally
very proud of his son, and when seen by
a reporter for the Eagle at the hotel
yesterday. expressed great hopes for the
boys future as an actor, and relates the
following history of the boys life, which
will be read with interest by all who saw
and heard him, to say nothing of the sci
entific features connected with 1t.
willard was born an actor, and to my
mind his case gave the scientific world a
most extraordinary proof of the truthful
ness of the doctrine of prenatal infu-
ence upon the life of the child. There
are no actors in the family on either his
mothers or his fathers side. and l shall
always believe that this peculiar bent Of
his mind is the direct result of a train Of
events that occurred nearly a year be-
fore he was born.
''You see," said Mr.. Foster, 81 was
brought up in the Baptist church by a
father who was the strictest of the strict.
In fact, it was generally supposed when
I was young man that I would choose
the gospel ministry as my profession.
NV father was never in theater in his
life, and considered it to be the very
quinteseence Of all that is bad. and so
taught his children. I had scrupulously
refrained from going TO theater. believ-
ing with my father that 1t would be des-
perately wicked for me to do so. But
during the month Of April, 1890. having
business at Cincinnati, went there in
company with an "ungodly'' associate by
the name of Thompson Calvert. who
then, and who now, I believe. lives in
Monterey, Owen county. Kentucky. Be
fore 1 knew where I was going I found
myself in the old Coliseum opera house
There was a company there playing THE
Two Orphans" I was much disguised -
find that was in theater, but I smoth-
cred my religious emotions sufficiently TO
stay and see it out. To me ii was a rev.
citation. Where was the bad in Il? Then
saw human nature and noble sentiment
pictured to me as I had never seen IL
before. Could it be possible that this was
the theater against which / had heard
so much? Such were the thoughts that
passed through my mind 1 went TO see
other plays, with the result that I was
converted. A complete revolution took
possession of my mind. I almost became
ter going. 1t was on the 18th day of jan
uary. 1881, that Willard Foster was born.
He was born an actor. Up to the time
of his birth his mother had never seen a
play, and had heard but little Of them,
save what she had heard from me. In
1882 I moved from Kentucky to Wichita.
From Wichita 1 moved to Goddard: from
Goddard to Cheney; from Cheney to Ha-
ven; from Haven to Hutchinson. and in
1894 moved with the boy to his present
home In Salt Lake City. The boy has
playmates in all these towns
willard Foster was always peculiar in
his habits. was a great reader Of books,
and always up with his class at school
I was unfortunate in a financial way and
when I moved TO Salt Lake City 1 went
without q dollar. The only show for
living was the little weekly paper. The
Living Issue, of which / was editor and
sole owner. 1 became so poor that
could not quit the business. but was too
poor to hire help Willard seeing my con
dition. though less than "A years OF age.
quit school and went to the case and set
the type for the entire issue. He Is one
of the best printers in the west BY &C
cident he saw Thomas Keene play Rich
ard III in the Salt Lake theater think
II was during the season Of 1885. This
seemed to fan to a blaze the smouldering
embers Of his soul. and like the Gagged
hyena that Is set free. his innermost ma
ture seemed to assert itself. He pr5cur-
ed a copy Of Shakespeare. He took 81 70
the type case He would work for half
hour. then read Shakespeare fifteen min
utes. Every day. on his way 20 and from
the Office. ShakeSreare's works was his
companion For over two years
he kept this up. In the mean time my
finances had improved so that I could
spare him from the Office and he eogsg-
"a with the John S. Lindsey company 70 /
PLAY shakespeare's plays. At the age % /
ls years he was playing Taso in "othsl- /
To-" the youngest Iago on the stage in a !
regular company.
Everybody likes Willard, sn5 his "a
Their ard mother are Justly proud % the,r /
boy. He Is said 20 be great fayarite 4
with every member q the excellent com !
pany with which he f. no9 playing.
ntCTfNHT QUIZ CnD nfllN I