The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-11-10
ACTORS OFTEN misunderstood
BAN OF osTRAcIsm UPON ACT
OPS is GRADUALLY BE-
ING REMOVED.
Actors Of Today Are Entering Upon a
Wave Of Prosperity-At the Same
Time an Adherence to conscien-
tious Duty is Still Requisite

II James Neil. who has won for HIM
self fame in the histrionic profession
throughout the United States, and who
is to delight Honolulu audiences for
the coming season of three weeks. at
the request of The Republican, pre-
pared the following interesting article
in the defense and eulogy of the stage
and its people:
In response to the request for an
| opinion of the modern stage. | can
conscientiously reply that | know of
no vocation in life that has made such
gigantic strides along the highway OF
advancement particularly in the last
/ three hundred years. as the stage and
/ the methods of its people Even when
! Shakespeare had revolutionized dra-
matte literature, when he had placed
/ his name highest upon the scroll of
dramatic authors. actors were looked
upon little better than vagabonds.
Women never appeared upon the
boards, and companies were not per
mitted to act unless under the patron
age of some artistocratic lord.
There are individuals even now
who class all members of the theatri-
cal profession as show people I
regret to say that there are some
members of our profession who merit
that undesirable title. yet to a not very
greater extent than other professions
There are 'quacks' among physicians
and 'skinflints' among lawyers If an
actor or actress commits any offense
against society. the unfortunate Incl
dent is given the widest possible pub
hclty. II 1t is a member of some
other profession. the affair is passed
over lightly or winked at. The actor
or actress is under a more powerful
magnifying glass than those of other
professions. Why the conscientious
followers of an art that has been
placed on a parallel with painting
sculpture. poetry and music should he
subjected to harsher criticisms. do
not know.
THE Puritans were avowed ODD
ponents of the stage. They always
had a list of charges against the actor
as long as Leporell's list of Don Clio
vanni's sweethearts. They accorded
the actor a reputation that extended
even into the next world. But Won
viii also remember that the Puritans
amused themselves sadly, and made
toll Of their pleasure They believed
like some politicians I have heard
about. that total depravity was lust ac
good as any other. If men only lived
up to 1t They suppressed bear-baiting
IN England. not because it gave pain
to the bear. but because it gave
pleasure to the audience. When thew
frst came to this country. according
to Holmes. they fell on their knees.
and then fell upon the aborigines.
The only true conquests. those
which have awakened no regret. are
those obtained over ignorance The
conquests gained bv nv profession
over the prejudice. the ignorance the
presumptiousness. the superstition
have been marked. unqualified. tri-
umphant.
Our world is crowded with sorrow
no less than it is crowded with beauty.
The fine. high faculty that finds the
JOY OF existence in the representation
OF the best stage characters. or anv.
form OF the creation of the beautiful
IS not that which fights with consum-
ing ardor for the fractions of a dollar
and grasps them the harder as thev
accumulate, The admirable combi.
nation of the artistic and thrifty is
rare. The material rewards in the
histrionic profession though often
large. are. as a rule, transient and |
precarious. and there is increase Of |
uncertainty in the ever-recurring rail- |
road requirement of change of scene |
Now and then when some dramatic |
artist refuses some especially tempt |
ing offer to appear in some play not |
IN accord with his artistic tempera- |
ment. the actor is told that he is a |
child: that all artists are so: that |
thev cannot be trusted with their ma
terial interests II we are to be con-
stantly blamed for remaining in This /
stage Of childish tutelage. we NAV at /
least learn. sooner ~ later. to choose /
our wet nurses. and these may not be
chosen from the ranks of the MERGE
nary horde having no sympathy with
often having a spoken con
tempt for us.
we have entered uTon an era ~
the drama when orr danger IS 40.
what IL was TO our fathers, the rock
OF adversitv and the ban OF ostra-
cism: but upon a wave Of prosperity
and of high recognition. which nav
equally dash US upon the rocks should !
we permit ourselves to be tempted
from the path OF conscientious
artistic duty. People have said:
The actor follows his profession for
money. does he not Yes. but the
true artist follows ii for more than
that: for more than money can buy
Il may be an impractical policy. but
il is the true one for he who might
aim 10 reach that most cherished
goal so dear to the best artistic tenn
permanent
The example Of Moliere may in
spire some OF us. for instance: NAV
encourage some OF US 10 continue on
as best we know how. notwfthstand-
ing many temptations that for the
line being might sem best for our
material welfare. When. as dra