The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-31

French signs IN the downtown quar-
fef.
Many peopie stu look 10 WHnam
Gillette for ~1hea -Anis rican play. The
comedian Is this season appearing in
; Ths Admirable 6tricht0n. By barrie.
and IF a story t0ia of him is true. he
is in no MOOD for play building on MS
own account.
II Is said tha5 nos lCug sgo he dinei
with a talkative, inssstent chap, who,
II. the course of the condolences OF the
hour. leaned toward Mr.. Gillette, and
with sudden. young cirectness, asked:
Mr. Gillette. why dent you write an
other good play instead Of wasting
time over Admirable Crichton@ A
good. live. -eslit-i2 soTt, I mean. one
that 2 New Yorker. foF example, would
enjoy and undeTstan1--an up-to-dater.
Mr.. Gillette reached for the supper
card and scrawled a few lines on the
back % T.. -F0c example, lie Te-
marked harding the card to tie
yoHgster. 'Scene-A dra winE-room.
Married lady seated. young man in
dress suit ut her feet FOLDING doors
at back open. Discovers bus Band with
4 double barrelea revolver He fires
and lzilis married lalv and young man
Husband then advances and content
plates victims. After q pause he ex-
claims; A Thousand par6ons. I'm IN
the wrong fat Slow curtain"
Many amusing anecdotes are told u
Barley Campbell, the author Of The
White Slave" Upon the occasion Of
the first presents ti0a of Ny Partner"
at the Grand opera rouse. in Pittsburg,
Pa. in which cits Campbell was born.
he was surrounded by many OF his old
friends. including Fritz Emmett ard
John A. Ellsler. IN the lobby of that
famous playhouse. Gentlemen, il is
twenty-five years since I was Elected
! from the gallery Of this theatre said
Campbell. AT that time ] contributed
! to the support of numerous family
by wheeling bEiclzs. Even at that early
jage 1 was fascinated by the drama ana
| would steal away from home to see q
play. the enjoyment Of which was some
what modified by the knowledge that
a reprimand, in the shape of a birch
Irod, was awaiting me on my return.
As the performance ir those day be-
gan ar ! D. m. it was impossible 80
taWait supper and be in time for the
first act. so on this occasion the manu-
consisted principally of buckwne2
cakes. I wrapped half a dozen in pc
per 60 eat during the performance.
in the front row in the gallery and all
/ went we'll until the middle Of the first
act, when, becoming enthuSed, Laid
the remains of my meal on the railing
to applaud. II fell into the parquet
About a dozen pe0pl, arose and, 4
tseemed to me, demanded my life.
was igHoniniously put out. /,
NO supper, no performance and the
prospect of the rod ever before me,
have produced all Of my plays in this
city. no doubt some OF my unfrieEdly
critics viii think thai I have had it
James O'Donnen Bennett in the Chi
cago Record Herald s8Xs:
In 1851, when John Blaisdell, now a
rudy, white-haired old gentleman IN
the municipal service, was a young
self-conhdent actor, he learned the
part Of Lord Say in Jack Cade' over
night,
Edwin Forrest was about to present
this fine old historical drama by Judge
| Conrad on the New York stage. The
actor iBtrusted with the part of Say
proved inadequate, and at abe eleventh
| hour Mr.. Blaisdeli was summoned from
/ Philadelphia with instructions TO &c
ready TO play the role with Forrest on
the following night, Every moment OF
the railway Journey 10 New York ne
/ devoted TO Tnem0rizing the lines oi
Say. 4 rehearsal Of Jack Cade' was
held soon after the actors arrival and
in the evening the play was performed
the role of Lord say being acted 70
Forests evident satisfaction. The
usual financial reward for his effort
having been given NJ Blaisdeii, the
stern and irascible Forrest further
manifested his good win in a manner
little COMFORTING with his reputation
for harshness and incivility.
q appreciate your studying that part
/ over night" ne said 10 DIR. Biaisdeil
and I want TO give you little per
sonal reminder Of the occasion. 1t IS
poem about our calling. and perhaps
you'll value it. With that he thrust
into the young mans hand a paper
containing the following verses in For
rests penmanshlp and called
The Actors Fate.
..Ye who love the bright ideal of ths
artist and ehe bard,
> Ye who think the aclOr station one q
profit and reward,
Think it not Mechanic labor always
gives o richer yield;
Better use the ak or Saber. better plON
the harvest field =
Ye who think the stage a palace, yielding
10Y and prinCeiy gains,
. Little know the bitter chaiice oft the
weary actor drains.
King at night in ermine splendid from
the green room 10 the stage.
But too soon the play is ended, then Is
read the fruer page
Seek him in his chamber lonely. porlne
DER tomorrow s part.
Wearing smiles in public Ouiy where nleI
never read the heart;
In the present ever haunted, poverty ts
check his aim;
BY some faVoTtte supplanted ~ MS weary
path TO fame.
Till like thousands gone before him
. death usurps his brilliant prize.
And some friendly hand marks o er MIN
Here q brother actor lies.
Mr.. Forrest did NOS tell me that h'
, wrote these lines" said Mr.. Blaisdeii
"but 1 remember that 7 got the i'm
! preston al the time that they were
/ his own. and / never have had reasoi
TO change that IMPRESSION. do re
mem Der distinctly that he told ne tn
verses had not been published. l have
never seen them in print The cop
originally eiven me was lost, and
made this drdaft from memory.
Air. BlaisdeR, although granting tina
FORESTS reading of verse was nlusiea
to a degree never approached by ac
tors of the present day, declared tina
! he would not be accepted by the con
temporaneOus public. students. n
: said, would delight In his poetic read
2 ing, but the general public would de
nouuce his loud, robust style as rank
and would not be Convinced by hi
e methods.
Greater than Forrest. greatest Of al
{ the old actors with whom j was asso
+. ciated, was Z. L. Davenport, father 0
E Fanny. he never was estimated at M
: true stature by his contemporaries
In m