The sun., 1908-10-04

you must. Mr.. Drew you say. few
erishly. Naturally you don't tell him
that II hA ballEs. as you have no other
question ready at tho moment. on his
own head must be the consequences.
But he notes something intense and
tragic In the atmosphere and becomes
as serious as you wish.
Judging from my own experience I
should say that II a man is fortunate
enough 10 be born with en- inherited ten
dency toward any profession and can be-
come q member of that. he is greatly
TO be envied. II has always been one OF
my great satisfaotions that had call
which believe Is as emphatic for the
stage sometimes as II is for. the law. for
medicine. even for the ministry, with all
duo respect to my friends of the cloth.
-For man who enters this profession
without any suoh call. merely because he
thinks IL short road 10 fame, or because
he thinks the work itself 10 easy. ! can
imagine no more miserable lot, for he has
nothing with which to flght the sure dis
illusionizing and to counterbalanoe the
thousands OF hardships that he must
encounter In the beginning. 1t 10 a career
that has brought great deal OF happi-
ness to me, personally, for never wanted
10 follow any other. 49,.
The question of the exact degree of
happiness In the dramatic career as COM
pared with others is a favorite subject Of
discussion whenever representatives Of
professions are gathered together. re-
member an especially interesting one
had once with Frank Millet. the American
painter. and Whistler.
Il was inclined at that time to take the
pessimisto point of view and spoke feel
ingly OF the way in which actors were
forgo tten as soon as their public appear
ances were over. The man who paints a
great picture, 1 contended. or the man
who writes great book lives forever and
is innmortalized in his work.
@hillet asked; But what about the man
who may paint poor picture or who
writes weak book? By the same law he
is condemned so long as either endures.
while II an actor plays his role badly 1t is
forgotten just the moment he gives one
more acceptable to his public
I'm his own case he cited picture he
had painted the mere remembrance Of
which was horror to him but which had
been purchased by public museum,
putting 1t out OF his power to regain and
destroy it.
And whistler" you ask In the same
fsHerish manner Mfr. Drew has told the
anecdote with much feeling. If you can
only keep his attention along that path
you may cut your way to safety 18th ease
and not mention clothesafter all.
"Wbistler1' He laughs, the peculiar,
half cynical Drew laugh. We'll, OF
course, you couldn't expect Whistler to
admit that he ever did anything that he
needed TO destroy. That wasn't his way
companion, too. believe
1t was that same evening that he pointed
out to me in his book. The Gentle Art
of Making Enemies the particular para
graphs that he considered especially
we'll done, quite in the manner Of q man
calling attention to the work OF another
man whom he admired
Whistler! A vision is evoked Of the
artists peculiar way OF dressing. You
are on the point Of referring TO it. Dan
gerous ground, and you edge away from
II rapidly.
But as il that we're not near enough
like lightning fash returns
the provoking saying OF a playwright
friend Of whom you had asked advice
the interview: Just ask
MIN how he keeps his hair on and his
waist line down. It's old, but it's popu-
ar with the profession. We can't hear
Il too often" In one minute more. il
you don't hold yourself I'M
MIR. Drew's watchful expression, which
Is now at the nth power, helps you con-
II your manner was feverish
before. what is it now? You do not dare
conjecture as you inquire, without trace
of animation:
1T was brilliant first night, Mr.. Drew?-
a subject so well grounded
in historic precedent is secure.
1T certainly was.' Mr.. Drew is in
his best vein, with no trace OF agitation.
Americans are great individualists. !
think they show this tendency very clearly
In their devotion to certain stage favor
ties. possibly to women more than to
men.
-Maude Adams and Ethel. for example.
have an undoubted following on which
they can depend. No matter what play
may be produced, II the actor is popular
he will draw. In my own case i know
that my first nights always bring a GER
tain set who come because they like me.
when Jack Straw opened, for ex-
; nple. lot Of people came in from out
oftown, and that isn't an especially agree
able thing to do. is it' I appreciated the
,ompliment ~ that nipht and I do NOT
hink have ever had a moro enjoyable
,ne. notwithstanding the nervous appre-
that we old stagers always have
1t these times.
Il don't mean to say that think man
,r woman on the stage who has a dis |
inotly individual following can carry
/ poor play. II play is poor it won't
/ tournament was held to draft scores