The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-04

Norman Hapgood in Scribner's Magazine
IN ETIRED though he is from acsiye
\" work. the last time l saw Salvini
was on the stage. in March, 1908
in Naples. The audience fillo1 one Of the
most enormous playhouses in the world
1t whistled and stamped and shouted with
a constancy and energy that made the
warmest northern audiences seem cold
After the play was over the whole null
titude stayed to clamor their approval.
and when after some twenty recalls
went away, the tumult was at its
height, not another soul having thought
of deserving, although it was close to
1 o'clock.
or course Salvini was not alone. He
no longer plays for himself On the rare
occasions when me appears in public it is
almost always for the purpose. as he ex-
presse it himself, with his habitRl frank
ness, of lending more glory to the appear
ances of his son. Salvini today is first
of all father. The son who is best
known in this country, Alexander, is
dead, and the fathers warm nature is
largely centered in Gustavo. Endeavor to
talk to Salvini about himself, his views,
his past, and in a few moments, you will
find yourself landed by paternal pride and
affection at Gustavo. Talk with him about
his experiences in America. and you will
soon find that America, If it desires to see
a truly great actor, should procure a tour
from Gustavo. Talk dramatic art and
you will find judicious praise and criti-
cism of leading contemporaries, but the
basic principle Is that tragedy requires,
first of all, a fine presence and a strong,
sonorous-s voice, like those of Gustayo.
Well, it was to lend glamor to the per-
formances of this apple of his eye that
the father, now number of years past
three score and ten. gave three perform
ances at Naples. of which l saw one, the
"Orestes' of Alfieri. Salvini, instead of
playing the leading role of Orestes, in
which he first appeared more than half a
century ago. merely supported his son,
taking the part which, as he put it, was
more suited to his years-the old friend
and concillor. Pylades. The ancient fire
burned undimmed, and Salvini seemed to
me as great as he was when I saw him
first.
extremely old man. He is heavy and stout,
and moves with slow power, but he has
the bright eyes, the sensitive and sweet
expression, the open and interesting man
ner, the confidence and modesty of other
days. Youth often stays late with men
whose lives have been full and whose in
terests have been keen. He cares about
like 60 than like rs. He talks willingly
about dramatic literature, and, although
his knowledge of it is not extensive, his
opinions have the weight and simplicity of
his personality. He is very serious now,
as he was when, mere child, he used to
ask for permission to go to bed on those
nights when his fathers troupe happened
to give comedy. No such permission
was requested on the nights of tragedy.
His spirit has been single in it's devotion
through life, from before he made his first
appearance. at the age of IA, in 1912, with
Honest Beppo' his father. down to the
present day. Most great actors have spent
their lives from early childhood on the
stage, and Salvinfs intellectual horizon Is
tnat OF one whose long experience has
been focused on the theatre. To have
had boyish love for Ristori. to have had
great success in tragedy at 10. to
play superbly with his son at 20. to have
fought with Mazzini and Garibaldi, to
have been made corporal for bravery.
and now. IN old age. to be so much sought
by little descendants and by admiring
countrymen that the hours of the day
seemed too few. and the beloved freedom