The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-09
Mr.. Atkins and the Stage.
Sir Henry Irving's Ingenious Comment
on That Happy Relationship.

on That Happy Relationship.
In the pages Of the Kings birthday
| number OF the Household Brigade Mag
azine" Sir Henry Irving discourses on
Mr.. Atkins and the stage"
The British soldier" says Sir Henry
lis ore OF the pillars of the drama
without him the mimic warfare OF the
stage wOulc often lack Illusion. For
this reason theatrical managers have al
ways been eager to engage him. and sc
II happens that when he comes homo
from foreign service he is able to fight
his battles Ger again for a recompense
not less bountiful. perhaps, than he has
received from the state.
The first time l remember soldiers
being employed as auxiIiaries on the
stage was at Glasgow IN the year fS5o
Tho play was BoucicauIt's Jessie Brown
or the Relief OF Lucknow produced bv
Edmund Glover. son OF the famous Ma
Glover, who was the great-grand-
daughter OF the famous Betterton. This
was almost the first time that, through
the courtesy of the colonel OF the reyl-
ment, soldiers we're permitted to qppear
from the theater under a corporaI.s
charge, we're pattern OF good behavior
and the payment of Is a night Ot would
be Is now was not thought 10 re an
unweloome addition to their ordinary
paw
Dye Hear? Dye Hear?"
Jessie Brown was founded upon an
incident ia tho mutiny. when a Scotch
girl III the kard-pressed garrison was
the first to hear the bagpipes Of SIR
Colin Campbelrs Highlanders. Y, ear
but Jessies could catch the slogan cfi
the Macgregcrs. and she was supposed
10 be Gisiraught. Presently she crie6
VIII y" 70 believe IT now? The cloga 4,
has ceased but the CampbeIIs are com
IN Dye hear? Dye hear?'
This scene was reproduced 4, .,a
play Inc weary defenders could hear
nothing but cannon and musketrv. the
roar of the Sepoy attack, the last des-
perate defiance of the besieged Then
there was lulu. and ever so faintIy
could be heard the approaching bag
pipes playing The CampbeIIs Are Com
in Our Highland 'supers' were peace-
fully paraded In the street behind tho
thtater and marched slowly in. taking
the detested foe in the rear Then the
bagpipes shrieked with triumph. the
Highlanders rushed upon the stage. and
the audience sprang to their feet with n
de lirious enthusiasm seldom equaled In
q theater.
1t was Scottish audience. and the
Mutiny was fresh in every memory. II |
is my particular remembrance that I was |
not permitted TO impersonate a doughty
Scot, but had 10 appear as a native CJung |
Babadoor. l think. friendly to the Rrit- |
ish. | hope he was friendly. and that |
my patriotic memory is not deceivine |
me.
The Merit of Impassiveness.
Since then l have met Mr.. Atkins IN |
many scenes of theatrical bIoodsbed He /
was very strong at Bosworth Field and
In the famous march from Birnan Wood |
to Dunsinane. At Bosworth on ona or
casion there was mishap which soreIv
tried his discipline Richmond invited /
his followers TO engage In prayer. I'm
luckily, the knee joints OF their armor
were unused to genufection. and when
the soldiers tried to kneel they stuck
half way. and could not stand stright
again. This deprived Richmond's invl-
tation of its merited impressiveness. I !
must say that his troops bore themselves
with singular calm. The calm OF the /
British soldier on the stage may be an
advantage or a defect. At Bosworth il
was fortunate that the perplexity OF his
armor did not upset his gravity He took
It IS all in the nights work.
But there are occasions when an air
OF surprise is of dramatic value. a
close observer of our military 'supers'
once said TO me: They have only one
fault: they can never look surprised
When the principal actors are in scene
of great emotion it is a little disconcert-
ing TO be surrounded by impassive faces.
which seem TO say TO the audience:
Don't mind EN-, they often take on like
this: but we're used to it
This is the only point on which mill
tary discipline conflicts with the condi-
lions of the drama. II commanding off,