The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-20
Nineteenth Century Achievements--Drara.

What is the notable dramatic achievement of the
century? The question poser may heresy to say
but believe it be that there been no great
play written in English since Sherdans Scan
da" and that belongs last century NIay 177O
useful plays for the theade mostly by actors who
understand the stage but look in vain for nohla spec
men OF dramatic literature look workshops
of the dramatsts who have made name let US see what
plays have held the fort and conquered Time.
From Sheridan Knowles actor we get THE Hunch-
back beloved still by amateurs actresses and
Vrgnius the actors friend. From Bulwer Lytton the
age has ever welcomed The Lady Lyons" the best
ABUSED ana st the most popular play Of the century He
also gave 'Richeieu," noble play which very few
people know mainly taken from French drama lie
jour des Dupes. Inc same authors Money draws that
commodity to this hour, and over with brilliant
character parts Dion Bouccau the actor lives yet with
LONDON Assurance more than half century Old but his
best Irish dramas put the shelf when Dion left
them Tom" Robertson feel sure viii live into
oIher century with Caste and Ours will James AL
berry with the Two Roses, and with OLIVIA" and
Charles t. and Herman Mervae with "AI for Her" and
The White Pilgrim brilliant page of real poetic Iftera-
ture So viii, think Lord Tennyson with 'Becket" IT
cannot die while Henry Irving to pay Sir Thomas
in exquisite fashion Coming to modern authors Pinero
the actor, VIII be represented again again by Sweet
lavender 1t will be remembered when "he Second Mrs
Tanqueray" Lord ouex" Mrs Ebbsroit," and thai
curious companions buried in the dust of time An
actress of temperament revive them they lack
the true chord of human nature Merely clever plays
never live; human plays always Cartons Liberty
Hair viii be stage classic when wheels Within Wheels
have rolled away into Now these are in any
sense great plays If asked greatest
OF them think it would be Buwer Lyttons "Rcheeu"
in drama, and the "Ovia" Wills in pure domestic
comedy; the one IS fu OF thrills, the other fun
Yes, there have been great achievements also
The of those who the greatest service
to the drama deserve be scroll of fame
First the glorious Kemble family: John Philip should
like TO have seen his Penruddock; the mighty Sddons
should have like to have witnessed Queen Katherine
Charles hemble and his daughter Fanny. Next William
Chares Macady and Helen Faucit splendid enthusiasts
bright ornaments of the stage So to Charles Kean
sneered at as an uphosterer but who Of
hearts tried to Slid Shakespeare with refined But OF
all. think Of tine best a sturdy rough English
eohnlzer of art sood old Samuel Phelps who brought
Shakespeare to the homes the people and
was never weary of well doing Last Henry Irving the
greatest actormanager of the century favored by
time than the rest in that modern science helped him
yond his fellows but yielding to in his and devo
ton to his art But perhaps the greatest achievement of
the eenturyat least think soand Henry Irving the
pioneer OF It, has been the firm and fixed establishment of
brotherhood IN art between the great countries Eng
land and America We began with dscord. end with
friendship We started with jealousy, end with
The century disfgured with the Macready faults
on both sides ends thank God in that perfect peace that
passes understandings