The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-31
Part VI.

every season with the regularity and GER
tainty Of the equnoctial storm, and when
they arrived together, as they frequently
did. we all felt the conjunction to be pc
culiarly appropriate. He was neither
young nor good looking, yet no one could
truthfully assert that his engagements
were lacking in interest-indeed some act
ors found them lively in the extreme.
Charles w. Couldock was an Eng!ishman
by birth, and had come to this country
with the great Cushman. He was man
of unquestionable integrity-honorable
truthful, warm hearted; but being of a
naturally quick and irritable temper, in
stead OF trying to control It, he yielded
himself up to every impulse of vexation
or annoyance, while with ever-growing
violence he made mountains out of mole
hills, and when he had just cause for
anger he burst into proxysms of rage
even of ferocity, that had they not been
half unconscious acting, must have land
ed him in a mad-house, out of considera-
ton for the safety of others-while worst
of all like too many of his great nation,
he was profane almost beyond belief; and,
profanity, always painfully repellant and
ahoclIng, is doubly so, when it comes
from the lips of one whose silvering hair
shows his days have already been long
In the land of the God whom he is defy
ing. And yet when Mr.. Cookbook ceased
to use plain, everyday oaths. and brought
forth some homemade ones, they were
oaths of such intricate construction, that
they wrung a startled laugh from the
mist unwilling lip.
In personal appearance he was the beau
ideal. wealthy farmer. He was squarely,
solidly built, of medium hight-never fat.
His square, deeply lined, even furrowed
face, was clean shaver. His head,
little bald on top, had a thin covering OF
curly gray hair, which he wore a tribe
long: while his suit of black cloth-al-
ways size or two 100 large for him
and his never changing big hat OF black
felt. was excuse enough for any mans
asking him about the state OF the crops
which they often did. and were generally
urgently invited to go TO hottest Hades
for their pains.
On his brow there was a deep and per-
manent scoW1 that seemed cut there 10
the very bone. Two deep, heavy lines
ran from the sides of his nose TO the cor
ners of his dips, where they suddenly be-
came deeper before continuing down to-
ward his chin-while a strong cast in one
OF his steely blue eyes gave a touch OF
maievolence to the severity CT his face.
The strong point of his acting was
IN the expression of intense emotion
particularly grief or frenzied rage. He
was utterly lacking in dignity, courtli-
ness or subtlety. He was best as a rus
tic and he was the only creature ever
saw who could shuttle without being
absurd or offensive.
Generally. II anything went wrong, Mr..
Couldocks rage broke forth on the in
slant, but he had been known to keep
a rod in pickle for a day or more. as
in the case of a friend of mine-at least
II was the husband of my friend, Mollie.
He had played Satanic in THE Mer'
chant of Venice" and in some way had
offended the star-who cursed him soto
voce at the moment of the offense, and
then seemed to forget all about the mat
ter. Next morning at rehearsal nothing
was said till its close, when Mr.. Couidock
quite quietly asked my friend to look
in at his dressing room that evening be-
fore the play began.
Poor John was uneasy all the afternoon
still he drew some comfort from the
calmness of Mr.. Couldocks manner.
Evening came-John was before the bar.
The star seemed particularly gentle-he
removed his coat leisurely and said:
you played Satanic last night?"
Eyes, SIR
And your name is-er?''
Ogden, sir" replied John.
All yes-Ogden. Well, how long have
you been at 1t, Ogden?"
About three years." answered the now
confident and composed prisoner at the
bar.
Three years? Hum! Well, will you
let me give you a bit of advice, Ogden?'
''Why, yes, sir-I shall be glad to listen
to any advice from you" earnestly pro-
tested the infatuated one.
''Wellr' snapped the star. rather sharp
ly. 81 want you to follow 1t, as we'll as
TO listen to It. Now. you take some
money-you have some money saved, ]
SUPPOSED"
''Oh, yes, SIR" answered John.
well, then" he turned his queer eye
on him-he took full breath, well then
you just get some of that money and
you go to a hardware store" his rage
was rising visibly, land you buy a good
sharp Ratchet and then l want you tC
take It home and shop your id fool head
orr and. ripping off his vest he made
a furious charge upon the almost paral
yzed Ogden, clouting him from the room
while roaring like bull
He had played one set OF plays so Ions
he had lost the power to study quickly
and he was so ill-advised once as to at
tempt a new part on rather short notice
The play was a miserable tumble OF i'm
possible situations and strained, high
flown language--and of all absurd things
Mr.. Couldock attempted to play youni
Irish hero, with love scene-in fact. h
was supposed to represent the young EN-
met Dear%heaven! what a sight he was
I'm those buckskin riding breeches. Hi
legs were not beyond suspicion as TO thei
straiRhtness-that cutaway green coat
and the dinky little comical hat, LOOKING
so mallciously 'larky,' perched over hi
fercest eye. He forgot all his lines-bu
he never forgot his profanity, and tina
night IL took on a wild originality tina
was simply CONFUSING. In one scene h
had to promise to save his beloved Ire
land. He quite forgot the speech, ont
being reminded Of It by the prompter, h
roared at the top of his voice: Il don
care, What the DEVILS Ireland to me
DIN Irelandi wish It and the man tina
wrote this play were both at the bottom
OF the sea, with cock-eyed sharks eatin
emp
We were always pleased when Mr.
Couldock was accompanied by his daugh
ter. Eliza Couldock. bearing an absurd
ly marked resemblance TO her father, o
course could not be pretty. The thin, cur
" hair-the fixed frown-the deep line
OF nose and mouth-the square, nat fig
ure, all made Of her a slightly softene
replica OF the old gentleman. Her teet
were pretty. though. and her hazel eye
were very brilliant. She was well read
clever and witty. and her afectionate de
A. go