New-York tribune., 1907-09-29
ABOUT " VIRGINIUS."
FROM MACREADY'S "REMINISCENCES

ton was made TO ME by my old Glasgow fria,
John TAFT. the subject Of a tragedy thar b,,
been produced at Glasgow with applause
The author he described a man of original
genius and whose he and many q,
his feow-citizens took a deep interest 1t so nan.
pened that had undertaken the reading Of two a.
three tragedies when lately at Glasgow and il VA.
with consequent distrUst that o5lige very sool
friend undertook read this. TAFT was 20 .er4
the MS without delay, and | looked forward 10 nv
task with very goodwill It was about O'Clock
one day that was preparing to out. when a
parcel arrived containing a letter from TAFT and
the Ms. of 'virsinius.- After some hesitation
thought it best to get the business over 10 DO az
once what I had engaged 70 do. and 7 sat down
determinedIy my work The freshness and SIM
picity of the dialogue fixed my attention; 1 .eal
and on and was soon absorbed in the interest CT
the story and the passion Of its scenes. till at its
close found myself in such state Of excitenea-
that for time / was-undecided what step to take
Impulse was in the ascendant, and snat.lng u2
my pen I hurriedly wrote my agitlted feelings
prompted a letter to tine author. 10 ne then a
perfect stranger. l closing my letter as the
postman's bell sounded up the street. when rhe
thought occurred to What have written? Il
may seem wild and extravagant; I had better re-
consider it I tore the letter. and saIlyins out
Mastered directly my friend Procter's lodgings.
wishing to consult him. and by his correctness
nv own Judgment He was from home. and 1 left
a card requesting him breakfast with next
day. having something very remarkable 70 show
him. After dinner at a coffee-hoCse I returned
home and in more collected mood again read over
the inpassioned scenes in which knowles has
given heart and life to the characters of the cd
Roman story NV first impressions were confirmed
nv careful reperusaI and sober certainty OF its
fustness l opinion Of the work 20
knowles. pointing out some little oversghts and
assuring him Of my best exertiouS 10 procure rs
acceptance from the managers. and 10 obtain the
biehests payment for it, 1 have not preserved a
COPY of my letter. its general purport may be
guessed from the reply it. which is here YER
batim: -. o
nv, r,ear Sir-For bare sir is out Of the ques-
.i, +bant ,,ou from the bottom OF my heart for
the most knd-I must say fattering-tho most
hatterfng-Ietter that you haye written 10 ne
Really I cannot reply to it IN any manner tnar
will satisfy myself. so that shall only once fo-
all repeat-I thank you: and feel as II should
,.x,ar FORGET the opening of a correspondence with
Mr. Macready. You must have very warm hearr-
Do not think. I entreat you. because express
myself irperfectly-very imperfectly-1here Is any
deficiency where there ought not 10 be-
~ have but a few uIinuteS-I shouid say mo-
rnents-to write All your suggestions nave at
tended TO; I believe and if have not lllIy
proposed attend 10 them. except 50 IdI 39 D4'
word squeak is concerned: that word know not
est possibIe sound Find a term, and make the
alteration yourself: or. II you cannot. and sun
, wish an alteration. do what you Ike con care
about it. | merely submit the matter 70 you On
1 have forgotten the word cheer; what snaI
60 also in the way of finding substitute for that
word?
II cannot stop TO write another line am very
much your debtor. and truly your grateful humble
servant. J. > hNO"4-Ho
Make any alterations you Ike In any part OF
T SFaU he
a letter more truly characteristic Of nan was
never written. Proctor was with me betires the
morning after my call How pleasant IS the recol-
lection of that mornings conference How de-
Hchtful to recall particular instances OF a me- OF
benevoIence, the history OF which would De one
long catalogue of kindly deeds. We read the play
together and word of exception was hearo %
.ar against the praise he spontaneously ard 10
araI1v bestowed on the workout he had ever 4
ready and uuenvving admiration Of contemporary
genius He undertook 10 write the eplosue ana %
enlist Hamilton Reynolds in its cause as tne COR
tributor of the prologue
I'm accepting the tragedy Mr.. Harris consented
TO nv stipulation that its payment (i40 fer twenty
nights should be continued into the next season.
which, making the difference OF 800. 1 had greaI
| satisfaction in communicating 70 Knowles 1l'
characters were allotted and the calls issued
| Fawcett having much his hands. asked me 10
read the pIav 10 the company. and 10 take on my
| self the getting il up 2, the arrangement OF
| the action and grouping of the scenes Not one
sixpence allowed fer its Htlss-si-Scese anu "
| be correct in my cOstu-ae l was Obliged 70 pur-
| chase nv own dresses But my heart was IN the
| work so much so that it would Seem my zeal ra1i
the risk of outstrpping discretion. for IL was maze
| 4 complaint by Egertcn. the Numitorus. that tns
Youngest man in the theatre should take on nm %
order and direct his e-ders-' On Fawcetts report
| of this TO me directly made the GDIeHds % ES7l-
| ton apologizing for any want or Difference hsi'I
| have shown 10 my brother actors
The play was. in the French phrase. Ne4
| mounted with Charles kem0le. Icllius. LerFy'
| Donatus; Abbot Appius Caudius; and the loVsH
| Miss Foote (afterward Countess or HdrrinS'on'
| Virginia: who. thankfully accepting my 'ui'lOi'
produced the most pleasing effect bg GniHg az "0Ht
| Ny every thought was ensrossed by Firginils !
had perfected myself roughly the words OF tns
part before presenting the play. and win the nrst
| of morning and the last of night the images u
| offered were present me- whilst every vacant
/ hour was employed in practice. TO give snootn-
| ness to those pathetic touches and those Wilt
| winds OF passion the part which. n the fuA
| sway Of their fury required actors sef-com-
| uand TO insure the correctness OF every Tone
| gesture and look. The rehearsals. as may De sNs
posed had been most carefully supertntenCfed anu
all appeared In the best train, when on the hlsI.-
| before the plays performance an order rrOa C01t
| ton House desiring the Ms. (Which had passed tns
Lord Chamberain's oflce). 10 be sent there lnlne-
| diately filed US all with alarm OF course II vas
| Immediately sent. and. reported subjected ''
1 the royal scrutiny. The next morning We were as
/ sembled on the stage waiting for IL, when II va"
returned. with only pencil marks drawn over soso
| lines in the part of Appius Caudius. expatauhs
| on tyranny. On May nth Qs2O. Virginius vas
| first acted and its early scenes were not una
tended with danger, Charles Ksrbe being 10
| hoarse that not one word. spoken IN the 4o"e
| whisper could be heard; but the action OF u''
scene told It's story with sufficient distinctness "
| keep alive It's interest This grew as the pay aa-
Il