The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-02
LOVE OF A BROTHER
1t Had to Do With Sol Smith Rus
SELLS Breakdown.
a STAGE ASSOCIATE TELLS OF I
The Story of the Kindly Actors
First Collapse Full of
4. ..s. Pathos. .:,..

James Lackaye, who plays Simon Peter
Martin in York State Folks was a
member of Sol Smith Russell's company
at the time of the famous actors col
lapse at Chicago. He had been with Mr..
Russell for some time prior to that hap
pening, and has nothing but the kind
Hest recollections of the creator of Noah
Vale" Mr.. Lackaye, in speaking Of his
dead chief, last night, said:
Mr.. Russell's 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. D.
Russell, who lived here, 1 believe. but who
was then in Biloxi, Miss, where he had gone
In the hope that the climate might benefit his
health. The judge seriously ILL., and his
brother realized that fact The two men
were devoted to each other, and Sol Smith
used to send delicacles south every day Con-
slant Worry, however, aggravated his own
disorders; and by the close of the week he
had become 50 ill that the remainder of the
engagement was Cancelled and Mr. Russell
where he spent a full week under the care
of his family physician. IL
On the night OF Dec. Is we reopened at the
Grand Opera house Chicago. Before the per
Torrance began, Fred Berger, Mr. Russelps
brother-in-law and manager, called the com
pany together on the stage and cautioned us
about picking up cues promptly. Mr.. Rus
sell, 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 Mr.. Russell had an exit
just before my entrance. AL Hudson. who
played Coke, the lawyers 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 a
table and leaned his head on his hand Hud-
son waited a moment for the expected speech
and, as 1t did not come. walked down stage
and said, What's that you said about so-and-
SC? % giving Mr.. Russell his cue. 2 II
MIR. Russell replied,F'sI didn't say anything
about that. Then he seemed to catch him
self cts no use Al he said, II can't
remember. I" He turned to the wings where
the stage manager stood and whispered Ring
down, Morton l can't e, on No re-
piled Mr.: Norton. you're all right. Go
ahead
Mr.. Russell rose to his feet unsteadily and
III,
said, Il am very sorry to say can't con-
tinue the performance. I 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 I am here to-
night However, rs i have never before dis
appointed an audience determined to mako
an effort to play this evening, thinking the
excitement Of the work would buoy me up
But find that I am unequal to the task NV
limbs are lettering under. me. I must re.
turn to my home and again place myself in
the care of my physician. If I am we'll
enough to continue the engagement later.
due notice. will be given IL the papers. I
want you to understand that It is through
no fault Of mine that I I'M unable to CON
tinue before you tonight.
The curtain was then r1lng down and as it
fell Mr.. Russell sank back, unconscious.
However, he rallied and we again opened
Christmas week in "a Poor Relation, which
we played for two weeks. Then Mr. Russell
was compelled by his wife to give I'm his
work, although he Seemed stronger than he
had been for some months. However he had
promised to follow Ter wishes in the mat
ter end she insisted The company continued
with Frank Keenan, in Mr. Russclls parts.
and he went to Washington. He never re-
| turned to the stage
/ The last time I saw Mr. Russell was q wear
ago last summer in New York. He told me
| he had secured "a new play with good parts
|
for the two big fellows as he called Mr..
Hudson and myself. However, he never re-
covered sufficiently to produce the piece.
Z 1.neyer saw an actor who was so Universally
loved By his audiences as was Mr. Russell.
You could see it in their faces the minute
he came upon the stage He was the most
lovable man ever knew; and a great home
| body. He used 10 read us letters from his
family and tell us Of the plans he had made
for his son, Young Bob and for his daugh-
ter. He never passed a member of the com
pany, on the stage or off,, without a pleasant
word; and we all loved him.
When ] was in Minneapolis last week Bob
Russell telephoned me at my hotel and caine
down and had q long chat with me. He had
Just heard from Washington and said that his
! father was somewhat better than he had been.
and that his mother felt much encouraged.
\ "a few days; later Sol Smith Russell died His
place On the American stage can never be
! filed