Evening star., 1901-04-20
HARRY MORE'S WIT.
Always Quick with Bright RetOrt
He Avoided Jnkind Personalities.

From the New York World.
Maurice Barrymore, whose n1fsfOrtunes
have been a source of deep regret to his
host IF friends. was one of the wittiest OF
r.-u. and many of his bright sayings have
Leen widely quoted. He possessed an I'M
usual degree IF personal magnetism. His
humor was always genial He laughed
with friends and not at them. His stories
and comments lacked the personal sting
which makes most wits hated and feared
10y their victims.
one of the best stories related recently
was his reply 10 Steele Mackaye. the
Gramjtist. who told him he lacked great
sorrow and thrilling experience to make
HIM a finished actor.
Write a play for me. Steele" replied
Barrymore, and | shall get both"
In the Players Club there is painting
caller Summer which has been harshly
criticised. one night Barrymore and his
Chums of the club We're discussing the
prOtIsality Of actors and the nearnesS or
the summer season. when the theaters are
closed. Barrymore, who spent his earn
il IS lavisly. listened in silence for several
minutes. and then said:
Why don't you save your money, like
me? But, cheer UP. boys; summer is not
half bad as IL is painted
one of his last fights was against the
vaudeville trust as a White Rat. Even
then his misfortune weighed heavily upon
him.
In one of his letters to friend he wrote
a. follows of George Fuller Golden:
Il saw a man standing at the foot of a
mountain with & penknife in his hand.
asked him what he was going to do, and
h. smilingly told me that he was going to
hfw away the mountain. l smiled, shook
my head and passed on. Returning later
again | found the man. The penknife was
broken and worn, his hands We're covered
with blood, and he looked worn and
weary, but when l looked for the noun
tain. behold you, it was gone
barrymore and Gus Thomas, the play
wright. have always been fast friends
After the production of one of Barry
more's plays. Gus Thomas criticised it
without stint
Don't be so hard on It," said Barry
more. It's not an Alabama. Remember,
j wrote il in a week.
Did you. Barry replied Thomas. Then
you must have loafed."
At a supper given to Barrymore at the
Lambs Club just before he sailed for Lon
don. the actor was called on for a speech.
Being a formal guest he replied, with
his peculiar drawl is all right in that it
gives ons the center of the stage. but in
that he cannot speak until called on it Is
eNCruciating."
once young woman called on Barry
more to take Part in a performance for
charity. The play to be produced was
written by a friend of the caller. She
Sold the actor would be paid, but in view
OF the benevolent object of the perform
2rce she trusted h would be generous.
Barrymore replied that if the benefit
Ccmmiltee had selected a play with which
H. was familiar he would have been only
too happy to give his services to the noble
cause for nothing. But they had selected
a drama. However, ne would ask
pay only for his actual work. As he was
a u0torIously bed study, he admitted, he
could not learn his lines in less than six
weeks. He therefore asked for six weeks
salary The young lady never answered
his letter
The first attack. which resulted in Barry
n0re'S removal 10 Bellevue and his sub
hs4urnt transfer 10 the sanitarium in
Amityville. /. l.. overlook the actor about
two years ago. Ee was then placed III the
care of DR.. Newton, and after considerable
treatment recovered his Old-time enthusi-
asm and interest in his work. Shortly after
this time he undertook the study of the
Fart of Rawdon Crawley in Becky Sharp"
he first night performance at the Fifth
Avenue Theater was attended by many
members Of the Players and Lambs Clubs.
Maurice barrymore was q member Of both.