The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-11
ACTORS and THE PUBLIC
The Touch Of the Thespian Closer
Than the Writer.
Charles Lambs Regard for the Sock
and Buxkin-Dramn Ms Depicted on
Dickens and Thnckcray-The Eng
lish NOvelists' Appearance Here.

Notwithstanding all the transitory
character of an actors fame, how many
literary men (great literary men, tooJ
have envied that close touch with an au-
dience which was denied to them. Thera
is stimulus in this immediate appeal
which the writer. toiling away in his den
cannot feel. Let him be as imaginative
and as much imbued with his subject or
creations as possible, how can he tell,
though he may have satisfied himself.
that he has pleased the public? And let
satirical authors sheer at the public. In
the shape of human nature in gensral as
much as they will, do we not know how
anxiously they await the applause of This
same dcspised, many headed public? Did
Dean Swift, in his bitterest moments.
ever cease to struggle for popularity and
appreciation? Granted, then, that ap-
plause is the great incentive of auth, rs
as well AS actors, it will readily be seen
that the latter possesses the advantage
in having his stimulant bottled up, at 1t
were, close beside him. He looks around
(this is reference to artists. and great
ones only upon a vast assembly OF hui
man beings which he is to appeal to as
one through the medium of those
touches of nature that make the whole
world akin The very air palpitates
with life. The actors nerves are tense
and highly strung. He enters into his
mimic character with splendid con-
seriousness Of mastery. His mind, clari-
fled, lives in an atmosphere which it
never perhaps attains elsewhere than on
the stage. The portals of the human soul
are opened and the mysteries of the
strongest and most sublime emoti. rs re-
yealed. Such must have been The feel.n :,
of Edmund Kean when his Othello oaus-
ed an entire audience to utter cri S of
terror, compassion, and dismay, and of
David Garrick when his Lear dissolved
the immense multitude in tears. TIL re
is little doubht, by the way, tina. Samu,l
Johnsons expressed contempt Of "Littl,
Davy'' arose from the bitterness toward
all things theatrical inspired in the
Great photographer" by his failure at
writing successful play
Charles Lamb the inimitable ossayist,
tells US that, but fer a defect in his ut
terance, he would have sought Thespian
honors. Charles Dickens was the first
author to conceive the bright idea Of Civ
ing public readings from his own works
Dickens, wlen young man, and before
attaining literary fame, had made appl.-
cation to at least one London theatrical
manager for an engagement, and it was
only the immense success attained by
the first illusions of his pen that led him
to give up his original ambition CT going
on the stage. In his later years ANA
teur theatricals formed his chief amuse-
ment. and he had an deliberately con-
structed theatre in his fine residence at
Gadshiil tthe scene, by the way, of Fall
stafs notable escapade). Dickens was
the most dramatic, if not theatrical, of
readers He not only unprecedented his
characters in tone and gesture, but was
very particular regarding the arrang,-
ment of the light. placing ii in such a p;-
sition as to display his facial expression
to the best advantage. a gentleman who
heard the great novelist in this city at
old Carroll Hall, on Street remembers.
too, the great precautions taken in stop
ping every hole and Granny in the build
ing which might possibly allow any lLnl
to escape.
Thackeray followed the example of
Dickens in reading from his own books,
though he did noe affect the spectacular
methods of the latter. The nlms CT the
authors Of greater or less note who have
pursued this means of enjoying imme.
diate applause. to say nothing of reldy
money, are legion.
The close relation between literature
and the drama is likewise shown In thes,
latter days by the number Of auto
biographies now appearing in j)ural's''c
or book form, dealing, generally, witt
tho writer's "rccollections Of The stTg',"
and covering, in this wise. a more or less
extensive period. But. alas do mt th,s,
literary efforts OF fsomctimes) played
out Thespians appeal to us as a melan-
choly echo an impalpable shade, of that
little hour" that was strutted So boldly
before the footlights?