Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-05-29

English actress and Tor long years the
artistic associate OF Henry Irving, who
dominated the English stage. has been
on the stage for more than forty years
She married an actor few weeks ago
The late Mrs. Gilbert after a profess
sional career extending over many
years went starring when she was at
I ON age at which all but few women
have retired TO the chimney corners
and ingle hooks OF life.
There are upon the stage in this
country today dozens of women who
were they engaged I'm other pursuits
would long ago have decided that they
were old enough 10 retire.
The stage. then. is by far the best
occupation i'm the world for old wom-
en- II is also fine field for old men.
indeed. in these stirring days In which
there Is talk OF chloroform to be used
at a certain age and when men find
that they cannot get positions I'm some
lines after they are forty years old the
stage is ABOUT the only field of human
endeavor that extends its arms wide 10
the middle aged and the old
Frank G. Bangs. who retired from
the stage not long ago after he had
been given fine benefit performance.
* an old man. The grandfathers of to
day remember him as Mark Antony
and Romeo. The fathers saw him AZ
Mercutio. The theater goers of today
have seen him In many roles OF middle
age aud old age. Yet Bangs had no
thought Of retiring from the stage IN.
Ill he met with an accident. When he
was struck 10y "A horse I'm the street and
sustained injuries from which com
plete victory never would be possible
he gave mp the stage. But Just TO show
how earnestly the desire for the stage
fingers on he gave at his last perform
ance the Grafton which as Antony he
had made over the corpse OF Caesar ut
the performance of the tragedy many
years before.
William Dean Howells was seven
~ years old not long ago. His birth
day meritcd and attracted great deal
OF attention. Still on the stage active
players who are seventy are not I'M
common. There was Henry Clay Bar
nabee. who persisted i'm singing the
part ~ the sheriff Of Nottingham ia
robin Hood until he. too. met with a
physical accident aud was compelled
To retire. The Bostonians. that fine
company OF singers of lighter opera.
bad fallen upon evil days by the tine
that Rarnabee's hard luck caught NJ
with him. but the old man was bravely
going forth into vaudeville. there 10 re-
pair his fortunes. Then he was hurt
was compelled 10 retire and was given
benefit. which rendered unnecessary
any further solicitude for the future on
his part
Joseph jefferson lived and acted till
green old age. During his later
wears. aS did Edwin Booth. he restrict
sd the length OF his season. Booth al
mittcd that he did this because he
/ feared TO become trite and stale at
traction. His star was going down
anyway when ne died Icfcrson's was
shining at the place where il he'd been
for years. jefferson at the approach Of
I'D age shortened his seasons that h"
! might have more time 10 play In. to
amp in his Louisiana bungalow. to
fsh with former President cleveland
md To paint pictures for his friends.
Although most OF the actors have
zone ON the stage young. David Car
rick. who certainly was one of the
most distinguished who ever have ap
peared upon any stage. was along In
wears before he made his appearance.
Tie had embarked IN the business ~
selling iuuor before he went into that
If playing parts Indeed. Horace Wal
polc la those Incompatible letters OF
his speaks of him as "A wine merchant
turned player" And Walpolc did not
like his professional achievements half
a. mucll as the vorld agreed 90 Ike
Them later.