The Washington herald., 1908-06-28
OLD AGE is NO BAR
TO STAGE SUCCESS

The stage is almost the only profession
IN the world where length of years does
not necessarily mean disability and re-
tirement II Is. in fact. by far the best
occupation IN the category Of callings for
old men and old women. particularly the
latter. In histrionic art there is always
definite place for the veteran, provided
the intellect remains keen. and senility
has a market value on the stage for the
characters whose wrinkles and tokens Of
physical decay cannot be successfully
simulated by actors in the prime Of life.
In almost every theatrical company IS
a place In the cast for matron or an old
woman. And many Of the most talented
actresses on the American stage can be
found IN these same roles, growing old
vigorously and successfully. their art
rich and mellow and their salaries large
enough 20 Hlumine the horizon Of their
lives with a rosy glow OF optimism.
Niches for old men are not so common,
but the actor whose art continues 70
flourish as he draws near the period Of
ripe old age is always in demand, for by
that time he has built up a personal fol-
lowing that is "A distinct asset 20 any
manager.
II IS a curious fact also that, though
the hardships Of a stage career are many.
the old people Of the tEeater seem 10
bear the shocks Of time more ruggedly
than their feIIow-creatures in private life.
Their c0mplexiOns bloom, their step is
firm. their voices are fun and sonorous.
The constant exercise in deep breathing
which their work demands is declared 10y
medical authorities 10 be the cause OF the
actors abounding and ume-cefying
health
Sarah Berrhardt. the most widely
I known actress. is now siXty-four years
old She seems to have discovered the
7 secret o. eternal youth, for her strength
and genius do not wane Eleanora Duse
Beruhardt's rival in fame. and perhaps
a greater actress. IS an old and faded
woman. but in the theater the spell OF
her art stM holds. Ellen Terry, whose
retirement doubtless Will be only tenn
I p0rary, has been on the stage more than
forty years. The late Mrs. Gilbert Is an
other striking example. She was made
a star al a time when the average do
mcstic grandmother would have retired
/ to her inEleuook 10 wait for the end In
patience.
Frank G.. Bangs, who died a few days
ago. with the record Of being the Oldest
actor I'm point Of service on the Ameri-
/ can staCe-a position handed 20 him by
/ Joseph Jcfferso1-is remembered by the
/ grandfathers Of to-day as a fiery An
/ thony and Romeo When he died he was
/ seventy-fve years old. and but for
| street car accident. which compelled hin
/ to 20 into retirement AT the close OF las
! sesason. he would have died In harness.
/ Joseph Jefferson. as all know. LIVED
and acted until a green old age. Durinl
/ the last years OF his life he curtailed hi
/ season. Edwin Booth did this also. To-
fear Of becoming trite attraction. anS
/ he died with his star on the wane, whl
/ Jenerson's popularity was greater. per
/ haps, than Il had ever been.
Many Of the prominent actors Of IN,
day are much older than they seem. ant
older than the parts which they habltu
ally present. Henry Woodruff. who play
the college boy in Brown Of Harvard,
Is more than forty years Old though Of
/ the stage. as well as on, be seems 20 b,
in the early twentIes- Henry Miller il
well over fifty. Henry Dixey. Nat Good
win. and Francis Wilson can make them
/ selves young and bIlthe, even 20 IN
point of playing lovers roles but thel
are all more than fifty. Forbes Robert
son. the English actor, is the ideal Ham
let o. the present day. in spite Of hi
sixty years. and he assumed the rol
for the first time not more than fiv,
years ago.