New-York tribune., 1901-05-11

as % All brr n4rsoual events and Impressions
corio,IsIv reopled with memorable figures and
animated with the action and pomp Of great
artistic movements. As a girl this veteran OF
the stage might have had al least glimpse OF
III. wonderful Edmund Kean. the imperial Sarah
Siddous. and the gorgeous Euiston- As a woman
she must have known the American career OF
the superb Mary Duff and Of the Incompatible
Junius Brutus Booth: she was contemporary. on
the English stage with magnates of the Mac
ready ard Helen Faucit group. and she lived TO
act with burton. owens. couldock. J. w Wal
lack. jr. Davenport. Edwin Forrest and Edwin
Booth IN the West she acted Wlth John Col
iins.-the rnelodious Paul clifford. the successor
70 Irish Johustoue and stiI more Irish Tyrone
pCWer-anG in the East she associated with
some OF the most brilliant successes Of William
James Florence and Barney Williams She
played ReEan with the younger J. ". Wallack
the Widow Cade with Forrest. Lady Creamy
with Burton and Lady Macbeth with Edwin
Booth: and her range wide that she could
act with equally excellent effect in Osric and
Mrs. Malaprop. IN Mrs. Camp and Meg Merri-
lies in the Widow Warren and Hester Deth-
ridge In Mrs Wilfer and the Marquise de St
Naur. In her young days the genuine melo-
drama Of Dimond's and Terry's time was de-
clining the tragedies Of Shiel We're popular. anc
the comedies of Sheridan Knowles were rising
into fame In her prime Of womanhood the
dramatic sceptre held by such players as
Forrest. G. Y. Brooke. and Charlotte Cushman-
She has seen the methods of physical exuberance
give place 10 those Of the refined intellect; she
has seen the old comedies pass from the stage,
that knows them no more; she has the de-
veIoprnent % a teening and feverish civilization
that Graves constant novelty rather than the
serene beauties Of art and demands sensation
above everything else; she has seen the downfall
OF Wallack's Theatre and OF Days Theatre. and
the nearly total extinction Of the Of genuine
managers typifed by such men Barry, Hen
derson, Burton. Wheatley. Ford. Wallack and
DAILY; and, having borne q worthy part in
some Of the greatest triumphs. Shakespearian
and otherwise Of her long, busy memorable
time. she survives 10 view with sunny smile
The present period OF luxury and frippery.
cynical levity and tainted farce. problem plays
ard theatricaIly epitomized novels, tailor-made
characters and puff-made stars. and all the
numerous vagaries Of experiment and excres-
cences Of enterprise that result from treating
the drama exclusively as a business and not at
all as an art.
Here and there the remarks OF Mrs. Gilbert are
illurninative. as 10 her professional success.
.sThe fact that I always had my eyes OPEN,
she says made things easier for me. got into
the way Of watching every part going on
around me- To this day 1 find myself still
watching and often say 10 myself. I wonder
IL I should do that in Just that way IL l were
acting that part?'" Still more significant is her
remark: Il really don't know just Thdt do.
suppose the constant thinking myself into part
ends In giving me expression that belongs
only 10 the character / am just then perform
ing" This too is wise. well as explanatory oe
the actress: "My feeling has always been that
an actor ought 20 come somewhere near his own
IDEAL satisfy his manager. and please his au-
dience before he gets eager 10 read what is
printed about him" II all actors would take
the same view of that subject the profession Of
the stage would be worthier. and the devotees
OF IL would be happier; for much that is printed
about the stage is mere tattie and trash, and
by far the larger part of IL is unworthy of being
read by anybody.
The illustrations include portraits Of Mr.. and
Mrs Gilbert. John Ellsler. j. ". Wallack, jr-.
Mrs John Wood. James Lewis. Nine Ponist.
William Davt6ge Agnes Ethel. Clara Norris
and Fanny Davenport A touching picture. more
significant than all the rest. is that Of Ausustn
DAILY with his dog and his two boys-the little
lads that died, suddenly. on one and the same
Day and.lafr hics dssolatA W. w.