New-York tribune., 1907-12-11

overwhelming pathos, came upon the community
with the force of revelation. Spectators. even OF
the most hardened kind. suddenly found themselves
impressed with the power OF goodness and the dig
nifty of vrtuous human nature and moved beyond
control by the spectacle of strife, in good mans
heart. between the of justice and the sacred
passion of paternal love. TIE theme is simplicity
itself The actors treatment of the theme was
that delicate exaggeration which produces the per-
feet effect of nature result SO uncommon gained
with such face and by means so simple,
might well surprise Since that night Mr
Stoddart has been recognized, by multitudes Of con-
temporary playgoers who were almost needless Of
him before. of the leaders in his profession.
Old playgoers. however not astonished by
Mr. Stoddarts performance of Lachlan Campbell.
for to them Mr.. Stoddart had long been leader.
Achievements of this kind and actors of this order
more frequent in earlier times than they are
now. Survivors of the generation that saw Burton
and Blake in their prime and Waacks Theatre in
it's best days recall period when exceptional
models of acting frequently displayed and
when the stage rarely failed to reward attention
by exhibitions of serious worth and memorable i'm
portance Burton Captain Cutie; Blake as the
Last Man: Lysander Thompson Bob TYke: The
elder Walaok Reuben GIenroy: the elder Charles
Wslcot Touehstone: the elder Hackett as Mon
sieur Tonson and Sir Pertinax Macsycophant: John
Niekinson Haversac: z. L. Davenport a. VIII
iam John T. Owens Caleb Plummer and Doctor
PangIoss; James W. Wallsrk. jr.. the King Of
the Commons: Lester WaIiaek Charles Surface.
Harry Dornton and Sir Oswin Mortiand' JohnN
sefton as Crack Jenriy Twitch r, and Silky; VIII
lam Warren as Sir Peter Teazle John Gilbert as
Mr. Dorntoa Lord Ogeby MIR. Oakley. Sir Anthony
Absolute Master Walter; Charles Fisher as
Goldfnch and Nicholas Rue; Henry Flacide as
Grandfather whitehead and Corporal Cartouche;
Charles Wheatleigh as Triplet: Charles W Coul-
dock as Luke Fielding; John Rrougham as paZze'
Barney Williams in The Irish Lion, and w =.
Florence in The Irish Emjgrant-these perform
ances and many more like these. each perfect L,
its way and all admirable, once we're 'HI"s' u
everyday occurrence: and superiority was so COM
mon tba, il often passed unnoted. Those were the
aavs when AIr Stoddsrt came upon the scene ana
such were of the competitors among "hoIp
he made his way and held his place
No thoughtful student of history Will inoulSe IN
ho1essla aepreciation of the present contrasted
with the mast for in some material particulars the
world is more prosperous and coniortabIe TO-DAY
than il ever was before; but certainly IL Is trhe
that in acting as we'll as in literature me ana
suhstantial things-things having in them the gran
dsur Of noble truth and the fire of genial PASSION
were more frequent forty or fifty years ago than
they are now. The actor of the old schoo4 as nc '
commonly called actor thoroughly GROUNDED
In his profession, trained by experience, equipped
a. all ,oints able to do many things well and some
things brilliantly. and. whatever may have been MS
defects solid and stable in chsractir moderate IN
seif-confdence, and usually modest in the conduc'
of life 10 that tyne of actor the influences OF the
oidar time were tributary, for it was a time OF
more staid ideas and more eeremonious manners
than are prevalent. time OF far less ie'tr
and of far more repose Mr.. Stoddart. to those OBJ
servers whose it has been to view the stage
from the inside. has ever been conspicuous for un
nretending worth unfailng geniality, sweetness OF
temperament, gentleness of bearing propty OF con-
duct and patient and thorough performance ol dutE'
His congenital inheritance was fortunate ana MS
early surroundings favored the development OF suc'
a character; for the stage in Scotland. where he
passed his youth and had his noViuate. was dii-
ferent institution from what it is now-as anybody
can see who will read Jacksons History and such
dramatic memoirs GaltS Lives and Bernards
"Reminiscences" The life of actor in those days
had to be one of economy, frugalty toll and self
denial. and il only to the great lights OF the
professon-and not always To them-that any So
cial consideration was accorded. The kembe period
in Great Britain had just passed away, and the
Macready period was just coming in, when Mr.
Stoddart began his apprenticeship TO acting. The
eccentric Mr.. Alexander-he who placed ms own
bust between those OF Shakespeare and Garrtck in
The front of his Glasgow theatre. and whose eabo-
rate tomb, with its theatrical drop curtain can De
seen in the Glasgow Necrenelis--was the principal
manager in Scotland and ''stars' such as Murray
Farren and Munden were roaming over the land
Mr. Steddart born at Barnsley Yorkshire, Eng
land On October Is. 1927, early trained TO the
theatre by his father, good actor and good man
and up 10 his twenty-seventh year. when ne emf
grated to America rigidiy sehooled in the
study and practice of his art al many places IN the
grtish Kingdom. particularly in the northern
towns OF Scotland in Yorkshire and IN h'efpooi.
In 1854 he crossed the sea, ano on S@piehipei VI
that wear he appeared at Nailaek lheale' De
yinrinu q career before the American pupiic that
has lasted close on half century and been steaoNy
attended with honorable renewp. Phases ana as
soe,stiens of career are recornee III ths o"h.
.d ,be reader will find 1t equally an exposition OF
charseter and a document in theatrical history.
Theatrical memoirs in general are dreafy COM
,uations abounding in dates and trivlaliIes' ana
VIZ, they are autobiographical they are commonly
,rodieous as ebullitions of overweenng esolisrh
II Is seldom that old actor WIRING apoul 'he
past records anything of value concerning MS cor,
te,nporaries or anything calculated TO east hsh'
upon any interesting aspect of the Tunes throasn
which he has lived. Cibber's book 'Ihe apology
remains urrivalied for vital portrature or me ana
famous persons with whom he was associatso' Inc
elder Bernard's book is excellent Tor authehtic
chronicles and sprightly anecdote Jenersohs oook,
In our own time is exceptional for spontaneous
manifestation of the writer's sympathetic tempera-
ment sweet playful hurnor. ana phhoFophic nus
bandry of peace and happiness amid the Vicsstaaes
Of a turbulent age But most Of the numerous and
frivolous writings OF actors could well be spared
The memoirs that the world needs, for Its guild
ance ana help. are those OF the men and women