The Washington times., 1903-02-15
Nat Goodwin -The Artist.
A Study of a Foremost American
Comedian.

Comedian.
There was Shutter. whom. It was said.
Mr. Garrick pronounced the greatest
comic genius he had ever seen T.
struck one who had seen him IN bis
leading parts that his simplicity and
luxurious humor were his characteristics.
Yet IL must have been disfgured- by what
is known 10 stage slang as 'gagging- -
Fitzgerald
Not the least reward Of patient delving
into the dusty annals OF the stage is the
frequent discovery that all .actor-folk
are cut from the same piece. Somehow
the requirement. Of their calling and thei-
temDcramentaI endowments give them
a family likeness which varies only IN
degree in each generation.
There is much in the career and the
character Of Mr.. Mansfield that suggests
David Carrick. Many OF Miss Marlowe's
views of her profession and its environ
ments seem like "reminiscences OF Mrs.
Siddons. II one were searching for the
prototype OF EDWIN Booth. the name OF
Thomas Betterton. who fourished more
than two centuries before him. would
furnish striking artistic parallels.
So. too. does Ned Shutter. the comic
genius of the eighteenth century. seem
the artistic -'forbearr OF him who has
given more innocent amusement to more
people than any other player Of our age
From his boyhoOd the lie Of Mr. Good
win has been a long gale OF laughter.
I Grievous trials have often overtaken
/ him Money has slipped through his
/ fingers like the uncOunted sands with
which a child PLAYS on the shore. His
/ undisci plined love of fun has eXacted
many penalties. some OF them very Bit
/ ter ones. Loyal friends. grieved by his
mad-cap pranks. have fallen away nom
him. He had but to whistle one note OF
I a happy song and they came trooping
f, back. Sorrow and he cannot hit it on
/ together for long He mods his wagEish
head. looks sideways from his whimsical
eyes. chuckIes quietly ar the strange
mystery Of life and retribution and re-
peutance. And sorrow gives him up as
a hopeless quest. puzzle past finding
out. and swiftly takes 90 flight
But aII-and much more-that pro-
found Intellectual powers. thorough edu-
cation and wide reading do for most
men. his sense OF humor has done for
him: has, i'm a word. set him in the front
rank soT a diHlcult profession. And IN
/ speaking of his sense of humor IS not
meant merely a sense Of FUN. but rather
a much deeper and more precious gift
La gift which enables it's posscssor TO OBJ
tain a perfectly joyous and emincnuy
sane and an altogether catholic insigh.
into human nature. dehshting In al its
manifestations. loving all its whimsical
tiles. discovering instantly all Hs
contrasts and contradictions, and. per-
haps che essential. despising no trait
ana scorning no quality in a feiIowman
which does tend IN the slightest degree
To shed a ray OF light upon that co'a-
pick. mysterious things. the heart oi a
man.
Add to this inJuitive faculty. whi h
enables an artist TO look deep into the
heart OF his brethren in the everyday
walks OF life. JOY in setting forth
what ne discovers there. and you have a
comic genius. when this intuitive faculty
is Of another kind. and enables the artist
TO discern and Go delineate the heart
secrets OF his brethren in the lofty
isolated walks OF life then YOU have a
+ tragic genius like GCrrick and Booth
j prime attribute of the comic genius