The Washington times., 1902-12-21

/ caviare TO the general;
but it was an excellent
play. well GiEested in the scenes, set
iovu with as much modesty as cunning
These are Hdmlet's words. and they
viii be spoken at the National Theater
this week with singuIarly graceful and
appropriate emphasis. But they must
sound 70 dozens Of capable players like
a chiding from their consciunCes as ia
miliar as The Do1clogy. and tell story
for nearly every actor now alive-a
story Of success FOR few. Of the hard
est kind OF failure for the others. For
The profession is a hard master. About
che man in ten enacts the roles 20
which his heart irclines. The nine find
themselves showed into uninviting. often
distastefal. parts. The ingeuue aims al
Camille the adventures would be Celia,
the Iow comedian looks wistfully after
Hamlet the juvenile reads Ibsen and
Maeterlinck Nearly every company pre-
seuts the same condition to the eye-it
is combination OF potential geniuses
diverted into uncongenial channels.
In all likelihood this force OF circum-
stincos Is merely n fair appralsement Of
nc actors real talents. How much the
rorld must have lost-to cite en- example
from another field of art-had Hogartb
been permitted to paint poor portraits in
stead Of drawing the most marvellous
cartoons the world has ever known. II
stockton's latest writings we're a true ex-
preston Of his serious nature, how much
wiser was il that his more active years
were devoted to such works as The
Casting Away Of Mrs. LecBs and Mrs.
Aleshine!' Would any essay Mark
Twain could ever write convince minds
and sway hearts as do Tom Sawyer"
and "Huckleberry FinD?" II is a fair
assumption that in acting these instances
all have counterparts.
Yet many and many an artist Of the
stage has spoken his speech as wen as
the lusty First Player in Hamlet but
his play has pleased not the million
however excellent. well digested its
scenes. modest and cunning. There are
actsrs now prominent in comedy. such as
Nat Goodwin, Thomas @. Seabrook, and
Francis Wilson. who would almost sell
their souls to appear in seriods drama.
Even Joe jefferson. who holds the anec-
tions Of American playgoers in a grasp
OF iron. has fought for years against the
tide. and now withdraws from the fight.
beaten.
This last experience is perhaps the best
instance which could be cited. Jefferson
has played a hundred roles. Before
fame recognized him he acted with
great skill in pantomime. farce. bur
Iesquc. comedy. and tragedy. with equal
success in modern and classic plays.
His field was limitless and he gave his
heart TO every role. whether comic or
serious. This was true for many years.
His ability grew with his experiences.
Thus, when reputation took TO him the
Eonors which now he carries with the
concurrence OF every playpatron alive.
ie had at his command every resource
Of his art-careful training, long ex-
perience. varied talents. and recognized
earnestness. But he had also the mis-
fortune 10 stand in the public view as
rip Van Winkle," +" and so all his other
today he we're to present a repertoire
which included only Or. Pangloss, Sir
Peter Teazel. old Mr. Hardcastle, and
Caleb Plummer the whole English
speaking world would cry out in pro-
test He attempted TO circumvent "Old
Rip" not long ago with a fine pro-
auction Of ..The Rivals" but his tour
was almost a disaster. In Chicago and
elsewhere Fighting Bob" held the sup
port Of half-empty houses until Friday
Of each week and "Old Rip" assembled
tor the three succeeding performances
audiences which .OverfoWed into the
streets. Unless he woul commit hnsn-
cial suicide. therefore. Jefferson must
bring TO a close a long and earnest life
q life devoted TO art in its broadcst
scnse-as a One-part actor
Those who attend the theater with
their eyes open will not ask what ths
cause may be. Il lies manlfestly IN the
grim determination Of each city TO view
Mr. jefferson as rip Van Wrinkle" OF
not 10 view him al ali. But rip" Is al
best only a sccond-rate role. The play
is not even a fair synopsis Of Irving 9
story jefferson is seen 20 fuller ad-
vantage. his personality shines with
more luster. and his impersonatiOn
touches the heart-strings with deeper
sympathy when be enacts old Caleb
Piummer in "The Cricket on the
Hearth" Few who have seen him in
both plays viii cOntrovert this But
the masses still shout for rip Van Win
kle." and the actor perforce contents
himself with the withered gariands OF
the box Office IN lieu OF the laurels Of
ErL
Possibly half a score Of actors now
prominent on the English and American
stage have overcome this tyranny by
sheer force Of viii. Richard Mansfield.
who adorns the modern theater with the
most magnificent productions OF Henry
v." Richard H." and Julius Caesar
eng stage has ever known. would stil
appear as Prince Kari and Beau Brum-
nell 70 he listeEcd 70 the warnings Of his
business manager OF controlled his am
bitions according 10 the applause OF his
audiences. Mr.. Irving. whose Beckett. %
"Robespierre, and shakespercan reyiv-
ais are foremost stage events for the