The St. Louis Republic., 1903-01-25
ACTOR JOSEPH MURPHY BELIEVES
HIMSELF YOUNG AT SIXTY-TWO.
Hero Irish Romance Thai He Keeps Old Age Away
ing Real the Merry One Has Created
Upon the Sage-Takes hngs Easy Does No
Aspire Beyond His Known Field of Work
Will Bring Ont New Play.

JOSEPH Murphy. who fnr thirty years hi
acted the role of an Irishman with cheeks
aglow with tho fire of youth. points to him
SELF as a living demonstration of the Old
proverb that a man is young as he feels.
To interpret such parts he must appea r
young and blithe and happy: and To appear
young. he must feel young: therefore. he
AYERS that in fact lie is thirty years the
Junior of the average man Of G..
1T is unfortunately true. also. says Mr.,
Murphy. that a woman is as old as she
looks But l maintain that even with the
gentler sex a change In the point OF view
will ameliorate the ravages OF age. She
can look almost young as she wants
TO II she does not persist in regarding her
self as aged into faded flower.
This thing OF feeling young is reduced
10 quite science with me. since i am
completely Identified with particular kind
Of characterization, and on the stage must
always seem young man. II 1 could not
look my part | could not delude my audi
ence and my acting days would he over.
Consequently, I set my whole will and
force to feel young. relying upon the be-
lief that young spirit will look out OF
young face.
OFTEN A BOY AGAIN.
"If I walk along the street and see boys
plaving marbles l am ju7t as nuch inter
ested as If ! were = boy myself- may
even get int tho game myself.
This Is MIR. Murphy explanation OF the
fact that in his hair IS no thread OF gray
hsalth. T:ut other things contribute I" this
result. dnuhtlose. when his entire regime
Of life is taken into account.
Few actor, arc content Ia 90 what they
arc g,I~. that they can do and TO more-to
aim at perfcctinS one charac,eT to WORK
rv.uf,. weeks of the year and take Z Vaca-
,jt, he remainder. RMS Is Mir.
Mnrphv's plan. aud he has stuck 10 II with
Iittla deviation for many yeatE. Mean
tin. he has accumulated = fortune. "St1-
mated as large as that of any other actor:
has gained his reputation and so!id fo'-
lowing. ,,. ,
rered from but one physical discomfort an
affection of the throat. For the last TOUR
he Sri res he of @ hs1 tho n'ner s
blessing his priest bestowed upon ms
throat.
MIRACLE IN HIS LIFE.
For years" said he Il was seriously
smoky cities, and was unable several times
To keep my dates. | carried around with
me a medicine case full Of oils. sprays am.
preparations calculated to ease my vocal
chords. Well. they did little good and one
day went to my priest and sought a bless
ing with relief from this affection in view"
Mr. Murphy asserts that this is no press
agent story. no interesting fiction. 1T t. .ny
sincere belief he said. that this religious
treatment. anu llplIlllS S4-'. IL Ntdl
freed me from the torment"
As AN actor MIR. Murphy IS known for his
lranatization Of two PLAYS" Kerry Cow
and shaun Rhue.'' the former especially.
kerry Cow" was brought out first some
twenty-seven years Ego. The plot was the
result e Ave years thought on the part OF
Mr.. Murphy. who was in search Of Il play
that would ct him. could claim originality
and that would last. The dialogue WAS filled
in by a playwright and from the beginning
the finished production was a success.
From season to season the play underwent
alterations. and now differs materially in
the lines and construction from the initial
production. The first copyright expires with
In year. ard Mr.. Murphy will take out a
second copyright on the revised version.
SECRET OF STAGE SUCCESS.
Il believe this constancy to the one theme
is the only secret Of my success on the
stage. artistically and financially. Every
cent have in the world have made out
of acting. and as my repertory never was
extensive credit everything to the two old
stand-bys, Kerry Cow and Shaun Rhue'
Now, there was Davenport. the father Of
Fanny Davenport-a, fine actor, good in cv
erything he attempted. but he attempted so
many that he Is remembered only by his
stage friends. There are many instances