The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-13

Partridge's comments in tom Jones'
on that actors Hamlet.
Which of the players did you like
best?'
THE king, of course replied Part
ridge.
THE king! Why all the world agrees
\ that Hamlet was played by the best ac-
tor ever seen upon the stage"
He the best playerI" cried Partridge
with contemptuous sneer. Why, 1
could act as well myself. 1 am sure if
/ had seen a ghost l should have looked
in the same manner, and done the same
as he did. And, then, to be sure, in
that scene between him and his moth
er, where you say he acted so fine,
why, Lord help me; any man-that is,
any good man-that had such a mother
would have done exac.Iy the same. The
king for my money! He speaks all his
words distinctly and half as loud again
as the other Anybody may see he is
an actor.
This delightful criticism OF Partridge's
recalls that of George II. upon Rich
ard Ill" when Garrick acted in that
play before his majesty. Garrick, who,
inspired by the presence of royalty, had
acted the part with extraordinary
power and passion, hurried to the royal
box at the close of the play to receive
the compliments he had earned so well.
All the old German said, however, was:
Mr.. Garrick, L do love dat lord mayor.
dat, Mr.. Garrick. Where did you get
such a capital lord mayor?"
But to return to Mr.. Coleman's remi-
niscences, which, indeed, are worth re
turning to again and again, his account
of Ben Webster's trance of death is
enough to convert any one to crema-
ton. Ben, by the way, was SO old that
he might, like some moths and spiders,
have feigned death to escape death.
'tOnce or twice." says Mr.. COlemans
Il hazarded a question about his age,
and he always replied in a whisper:
the venerable party with the scythe and
the hour glass. If we let him alone,
perhaps he'll pass by without knocking
at the door,
At last Ben, to all appearance, did
die. II lay" he said to Coleman, lin a
trance for a week, during which,
though was speeehless and motionless,
was perfectly conscious. The dear old
doctor came to see me two or three
times a day, and 1 tried every time he
spoke to answer him, but I could Meth
er speak nor move. At last one night,
having felt my pulse and examined me
more carefully than usual, heard him
gasp, Poor old Benz Then he turned
to say to the housekeeper: It's all
overt You'd better lay him out 1 lis
tened in speeches. horror, for / saw
aliveI 1 was reassured when the old |
girl said, stoutly: Dead He's not |
dead, Do you think he'd die without /!
saying good-by after all these years?' ="
The doctor shook his head and went |
down to break the news of Ben's death |
to his secretary, and the two sat to- /
gether talking of the dear departed, |
and trying to drown their grief in -. |
j." wnisky-hot with sugar. But the |
having also a devout be-
lief in the magical properties of u. j."
was at the same moment administering /
It both externally and internally to the |
patient in doses that were anything but |
with the result that Ben
bounced up at last and, leaping out of
bed. asked. Where's that doctor?"
Tn the drawing room,'' stammered
The amazed ,nousekeeper.
.I'H doctor him. Ben gasped, and
tearing a sheet OFF the bed and wrap
ping it around him, he broke from the