The Washington times., 1902-09-28

TN HERE is no reason why a gen
tleman should not be an actor.
i A we'll bred actor does not have
to act the gentleman. for it re-
onires no effort to be what he is. The
stage is not only an intellectual call
ing. but a polite one as well, with It's
rewards as high as those in the spheres
Of art and music. And, despite cavil
and criticism, it is steadily going on
ward and upward. Succinctly put, this
is the way James Erskine, alias the Earl
of RosssSn. regards the stage. 81 went
into the profession to make a name for
myself, and propose to keep at it until
/ have done so. While am here and
on the stage prefer to be known as
regarded as my professional standing
warrants-not as the Earl of Rosslyn,
peer of the British realm. would be-
No man in the world had a higher
social standing than he. His sisters are
two of the proudest aHd most beautiful
duchesses in England. They are nearly
as powerful socially as ever was King
Edward when Prince of Wales.
Was Immensely Popular.
They are noted for their entertain
ments in London and at their magnif-
cent country houses. Naturally the
brother of two such women lacked moth
ing in the way of social preferment.
He was immensely popular from his
own personality also, and this contin-
ued after he had lost his fortune owing
to the pace at which he had lived
The establishment which the announce
ment that he was gdkpg to adopt the
stage as profession ereated therefore
can be readily imagl4ed. No peer of
the British realm had ever done such a
thing.
Some OF them had been mixed up in
unsavory scandals with actresses to be
sure. Some had made proteges and in
innate friends of prizefighters and
Jockeys, but the polite world smiled
and looked the other way.
But for one of its own to become a
professional actor and appear for all
who chose to pay the price to gaze at
was another thing. 1t was daring
step, but Lord Rosslyn has spent his
whole life in doing daring and uncon-
yentional things. A recapitulation of
his career reads like a list of all pos
sible and some seemingly impossible
occupations for men.
Jack of All Trades.
After losing over a million dollars on
the turf in less than five years, some
of it as racing partner of Mrs. Lang
try de Bathc. and being repeatedly
bankrupted, he in turn tried his hand
as salesman in a shop, as newspaper
reporter editor and war corre-
spondent, as the manager of az per-
fumery store. as cavalry officer dur
ing the campaign in South Africa, as
the principal agent of syndicate bent
on breaking the bank at Monte Carlo
by means Of a system, and as an
actor.
Yet he still retains the most amazing
cheeriness of temper high spirits, and
personal charm.
He has been a prisoner of war, has
been engaged in bitter newspaper
conflict with Richard Harding Davis.
has written book about the South
African war, has been divorced, and
In ssite Of all sorts of episodes tina.
would have wrecked the career of
anyone with less elastic temperament;
retains many warm friends and support
ers in the best English society. his sis
Ter the Duchess of Sutherland and the
Countess of Warwick, remaining devot-
ed 10 him.
Preferred to Work.
In fact, he is young peer who at
a time when he might have been liv-
ing In luxury at the expense of his
brother-in-law, the Duke of Suther-
land and of his other titled relatives.
preferred to work for his living at
every trade that came his way, occa-
sfonalIy finding himself penniless and
hungry IN the street
Now he has come to America to take
the leading masculine role in Charles
Frchman's production Of There's Many