The Washington times., 1903-12-06
Marfield's Rapid Rise.
Educated in a Gallery and Graduated by
a Music Hall.

Henry Watterson, distinguished as a
journalist and statesman. as well as a
shrewd, but kindly observer of the
drama and the stage, recently went on
record as deploring the fact that the
ranks of American actors no longer con-
tain men eminent as creators of comedy
character. According to him, Joseph
Jefferson is the only one remaining 20
suggest the days when Dion Bouci-
cault. John z. Owens, z. H. Sothern,
John T. Raymond, w. ]. Florence. and
other less celebrated. but worthy. con-
temporaries hourished in the land.
Perhaps there has been, owing to
changes in the public taste in the mat
ter of amusements, a decadence in the
race Of great individual performers. but
still there is scarcely ground for an en-
tirely pessimistic view. 1t can hardly
yet be said that all is lost save honor.
More hopeful students prefer to see in
the career of some of the younger CO.
medians of America an augury of grea.
promise.
Among the laborers II the field of
histrionic endeavor whose names are
daily growing in esteem is David War
field. From a careful inspection Of
what he has already accomplished, the
conclusion Is strong that he possesses
dramatic gifts of unquestioned excel
lence. that his intelligence is keen. his
ambition strong and highly directed,
his industry unfaltering and his couf-
age unmistakeable.
Gallery God and Usher.
It is scarcely a dozen years since David
Warfield, then a boy, first appeared on
the professional stage, and only a little
more than two years $50 since he made
his debut as star. The fact that mis-
name is now almost as familiar to the
public as those of Mansfield, Sothern,
and others in the front ranks who have
been touring the country for a period
of ten to twenty years, is evidence Of
his rapid and substantial rise.
Warfield has shown from his earliest
youth a strong prediction for the the
alter. When he was a boy. in San Fran
cisco, in which city he was born and
brought up, he haunted the galleries OF
the playhouses, spending his pennies for
tickets, and early learned to initiate
many of the famous actors OF that time.
Stage favOrites were his deities, and
whether they were dramatic stars. opera
Fingers, or minstrels, he admired and
reverenced them all
When he was about sixteen years old
he obtained the position OF usher in the
old Bush Street Theater. and thus moved
one step further toward the closer asso-
CATION Srith people of the stage. He
nursed his talents as a mimic and
story teller and amused his boyhood
friends by his frequent exhibitions. At
ter few years he persuaded a local
manager TO let him go on in one of the
more obscure music halls 10 do a turn
His effort proved q dire failure. and he
was literally Missed off the stage.
Discouraged and disheartened, the
young man had about concluded acting
was not his vocation. when IL occurred
to him. in substance If not in form, that
a prophet is not without honor save IL
his own country, and he determined to
go East and try anew in New York city,
He arrived in New York alone. friend
less. and with only money enough 10
last a few days. He began that weari-
some, almost hopeless task of gOtug
the round" seeking for employment.
Finally Warfield obtained a weeks en-
gagement at a concert hall on Eighth
Avenue. where no admission was
charged, the profits accruing from the
divers refreshments dispensed.
A Music Hall Beginning.
On the night of December s. 1890. he
made his first appearance there. and his
speciality so pleased the manager that
he was engaged for a second week A
few days later he encountered a man
ager who offered him an engagement in
a company that was TO play The In