The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-19

~ HAT well-beloved young actor,
Louis James. celebrated his
sixtieth birthday in Tacoma a
couple of weeks ago. That is,
the company celebrated IL, but in a
quiet, dignifed and beautiful manner.
They transformed his dressing room
into a literal garden Of flowers, and at
ter the performance presented him with
4 beautiful loving cup. Along with this
was a scroll. magnificiently illumined
by the engraver's art, the contents Of
which had been written by Mr.. Warde.
In his clever way. Mr.. Warde had para
phrased the famous Seven Ages speech
from AS You Like II" substituting the
chief events of Mr.. James career in
place of Shal1espeare's images. II was
an admirably conceived idea and a
beautiful expression Of the friendship
that has existed between the distin-
guished actors and comrades for many
years.
Mr.. Warde's poem, not his maiden eff
fort, but one of a rare few, is as fol-
lows:
Are told that life divides itself in seven
ages.
From cradle unto grave. his mighty gen.
The changing scenes that mOrtals must
And on the sixth decade that you COM
plete today,
This tribute of affectsonate regard we
A paraphrase of the great poets mind
In which Though poorly done) We hope
vOu'n find
A spirit of respect of honor and esteem.
From those whose genial friend you've
We know the man. of sound and sterling
worth.
Respect the gentleman. OF culture. mind
and birth.
To the actors genius. we in admiration
But love our genial gov'nor. our comrade
and our friend
AT first the youth with martial ardor
glowing in his breast.
And then the soldier filled with patriotic
fire.
HIS heart. his blood his life laid at his
countrv's shrine.
Till peace rewards his duty oraVely done.
Then on the mimic stage he seeks for
Wooing the art divine to carve a line
Where giants have Inscribed their gIOri-
And then in manhood and in mental
Behold him master of his chosen art.
With modest worth. unconscious or the
power he Yields:
Leading the van where once he followed
in the race.
And then. allied with vet greater one,
SUPPORT to his maturer art. sharing the
OF that other one. TN Pepe's flashing
bauble dlms
The sixth age finds thee in the fun sum-
mer time OF life.
A fixed star in the bright armament of
Thy name with honor crowned. from
From east to west, throughout thy native
land.
The seventh. vet in an unlettered page.
but NAV 70 be
The brightest that you've seen The rec
Long iifei The love OF frisndsl The
worlds esteemi
Deserved leisure with substantial ease,
riu fate shah ring the final curtain down
Upon a life well spent. upon this earth
below
And an eternity or happiness ntNehu
There's no doubt about It. Thi:
ieason is Witnessing q great re-
rivaI Of interest in the classic
Irama. Apparently. the American pub
Sc has sickened of the musical comedy
md other forms OF slap-stick rot and
8 preparing now to feast upon the OLD
,elahle, Shakespeare and the others
which win be but a return TO its nor
nal state.
In Salt Lake this week we have tive
IF the ablest opponents OF the classics
Frederick Warde and Louis James. II
sne Of Shakespeare's plays for the i'm
lrination. "The Tempest" WagenhaE
Z Kemper have expended thousand;
II dollars 10 give II dress. Thes'
Shrewd managers have been doing Thu
sort OF thing season in and season out
They would have quit It long ago ha'
I been a losing proposition.
And now. taking the cue from IN
Foung men who have so earnestly stoos
81 Shapespeare, other shrewd manager
n this country. convinced Of the com
nercial value Of the classic. are goini
IN for Il on no Insignificant scale.
Mansfield is doing Julius Caesar.
gothern has decided to use Hamlet
llong with IF ] Were King" Maud'
Adams is announced for AS You Lik'
L." julia Mszlowe IS contemplating