Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-04-24
HISTORIC DRAMATICS.
Tho Passion For Acting That Asserts
Itself In Man.

The PASSION TOT HSN'bH '"
Itself In Man.
Some psychologist has asserted tnat
.be instinct in many men, great OF
small that leads them to pose In order
TO give dramatic effect to their words
or actions has at times been so strong
as to be unconquerable, even by death.
History records an amusing instance
of this In the case Of Sir Francis Bur
dett. who was condemned to the rover
for high treason. Sir Francis resisted
the order. His house was attacked by
detachments of cavalry and infantry.
An Infatuated mob ragged outside
When the door was broken down, Bur
dett was found calmly seated In his
library. an infant son upon his knee,
whom he was teaching to read Magma
Charta.
William Pitt, perhaps the greatest OF
British orators, was, according to Graf
tan. ian Incompatible actor" Pitt
would seize upon every trlfiing occur
renee with the rap!dity Of lightning
which could add force TO his eloqnence.
II Is related that on one occasion when
attacking Radical motion late al
night the lights of the house went out.
pitt paused. and then In the darkness
, his voice rang out:
"Go. on! If the constitution must be
wounded, let it receive Its mortal stat
now In this dark and midnight hour!
I Action on the motion was postponed
and finally lost. One of Pitts oppo
nents afterward said:
HE made us feel like conspiratorS
doing a bloody deed simply by the lacE
of candles and his marvellous voice"
Pitt was fully aware of the effect o.
this. He once solemnly began speecl
upon colonial reforms by the words
Sugar. Mr.. Speaker when he wa
interrupted by a smothered laugh from
some Of the younger members.
He paused. glared from bench t
bench and ;hen in white heat OF fur,
cried out Sugar! Sugar! Sugar!
three times.
So powerful were the tones OF tn
orator that n frlghtful silence followed
He looked at the awestruck member
and said contemptuously, "Who laugh
Mt me and sugar nowT and went o.
with his speech.
On another occasion, while hurlin
contempt at Lord Efingham, he sue
denly appealed to figure in the tapes
try on the wall as ian immortal ance'
tor of this degenerate lord, indignar
at the disgrace Of his race and cour
try" So fine was fhe action, we or
1 told. that the house thrilled with e.
e element, only remembering. afterwar
5 that the great shade" whose wrat
e he deprecated was worked by need
upon the canvas.
q The passion for acting could so I
). further than In duke of the gre'
Q French house OF Rohan, who. beir
q told that he had only half an hour
{ live caused himself TO be taken u
: dressed In court costume, with all d
+ orders and jewels, and seated IN u
q banouetIng room. where he receive
his friends with grace and dignit
Finding himself growing blind, he ros
8 exclamlng, "Ah. the King is here" S
It luted and fell dead.
IT Napoleon, according to his biogr
4 pliers. possessed dramatic talent OF
J. low grade. Indeed, 1t has even De.
d asserted that he took lessons OF Z
!. celebrated player Talma. At any RAJ
If the Corsican on no occasion lost sig
r. of the dramatic possibilities of wo
" or an action. How the devoted iegio
e. must have thrilled when under I
ID shadow of the pyramids he deliver
to them his Soldiers. from these pyl
mids forty centuries look down up
vouv