Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-08
1T HAD TO DO WITH SOL SMITH
RuSsEII,s BREAKDOWN.
ASSOCIATE TELLS OF 1T
The Story of the Kindly Actors First
Collapse Full of Pathos-Actors
Always Had Kindly Word for
Their Great Chief-His Place on
Stage Can Never be Filled.

a member of Sol Smith Russell's COM
pany at the time of the famous actors
collapse at Chicago. He had been
to that happening, and has nothing
| but the kindliest recollections of the
creator of Noah Vale, Mr.. Lackaye,
in speaking of his dead chief, said;
Mr.. Russells final appearance on
the stage was at the Grand opera
house, Chicago, in January of 1901,
We were in st. Louis the first week OF
the preceding December, and it was
in that city that his condition first be-
gan to excite alarm. We were to play
there two weeks. but the engagement
was cut short. During that first
week Mr. Russell kept worrying about
his brother, Judge r. ID. Russell, who
| lived in Minneapolis, but who was
then in Biloxi, Miss. where he had
gone in the hope that the climate
might benefit his health. The Judge
was seriously ill, and his brother re-
allied that fact. The two men were
devoted to each other and Sol Smith
used to send delicacies south every
day. Constant worry, however, agra
waited his own disorders; and by the
close of the week he had become so
| i'll that the remainder of the engage
ment was cancelled and Mr. Russell
left st. Louis for his home in Mime
apolis. where he spent full week I'M
der the care of his family physician.
| ON the night of Dec. Is we re-
opened at the Grand opera house, Chi
cago. Before the performance began,
Fred Berger, Mr.. Russell's brother-in-
law and manager. called the company
together on the stage and cautioned
us about picking up cues promptly.
Mr.. Russell he said, was suffering
great pain from an attack of nervous
indigestion, and he warned us all to
help him out as best we could The
play was The Hon. John Griggsby.
Early in the first act MI Russell had
an exit just before my entrance. Al
Hudson, who played Coke, the law
yer's clerk, was ON the stage with him
at the time, and | stood in the wings
awaiting my cue. Near the end of
the scene Mr. Russell suddenly sat
down at table and leaned his head
on his hand. Hudson waited a mo-
ment for the expected speech and, as
it did not come walked down the
stage and said. Whats that you said
about soand-so?" giving Mr. Russell
his cue.
Mr.. Russell replied 4 didn't say
anything about that Then he seemed
to catch himself. It's no use, AL he
said. 4 can't remember He turned
to the wings where the stage manager
stood and whispered Ring down, Nor
ton. ] cant go on No Morton re-
piled. you're all right. Go ahead
Mr.. Russell rose to his feet un.
steadily and took the stage. Ladies
and gentelmen,' he said L am very
sorry to say | can't continue the per-
| Torrance. ! have been i'll in bed for
the past week under the care of my
| physician, and it is against the wishes
of both him and my wife that | am
here tonight However, as | have
never before disappointed an audience
I determined to make an effort to
play this evening, thinking the excite
ment of the work would buoy me up.
But | find that | am unequal to the
| task Ny limbs are tottering under
me. | must return to my home and
again place myself in the care of my
| physician. If am well enough to CON
| tinue the engagement later, due no
| tice viii be given in the papers.
want you to understand that it is
through no fault of mine that am
unable to continue before you tonight
The curtain was then rung down
and as it fell Mr.. Russell sank back,
unconscious. However, he rallied.
and we again opened Christmas week
in Poor Relation. which we played
| for two weeks. Then Mr.. Russell was
compelled by his wife to give up his
work. although he seemed stronger
| than he had been for some months.
| However he had promised to follow
her wishes in the matter and she in
sisted. The company continued with
Frank Keenan, in Mr.. Russell's parts,
and he went to Washington. He
never returned to the stage. The last
| time | saw Mr.. Russell was a year
| ago last summer in New York. He
/ told me he had secured new play
, viii good parts for the two big feI
lows. as he called Mr.. Hudson and
myself However. he never recovered
sufficiently to produce the piece.
Il never saw an actor who was sc
universally loved by his audiences al
was DIR. Russell. You could see it in
their faces the minute he came upor
the stage He was the most lovable
man ! ever knew; and great home
body. He used to read US letters from
his family and tell us of the plans he
had made for his son, Young Bob. and
for his daughter. He never passed q
member Of the company. on the stage
or of, without a pleasant word; and
we all loved him.
When I was IN Minneapolis last
week Bob Russell telephoned me a.
my hotel and came down and had !
long chat with me. He had Just heart
from Washington and said that hi;