New-York tribune., 1908-03-29
THE ACTOR.
SENSE IN VERSE.

From an Old Poem.
The Players province they but vainIy trv-
Who want these powers. deportmerS. voice. .,s
eye. ~
The critics sight it's only grace can please
No figure charms us if it has not ease
There who think the stature all in ALI
Nor like the hero If he is not tall
The feeling sense all other wit supplies
I rate no actors merits by his size:
Superior height requires superior grace.
And what's a giant with a vacant facee
Theatric monarchs. In their tragic gait
Affect to mark the solemn pace Of state.
One foot put forward in position strong
The other. like its vassal dragged along:
So grave each motion. so exact and slow
Like wooden monarchs at puppet show
The mien delights that has native grace
But affectaton i'll supplies its place
Unskilful actors, like your mimic apes.
VIII writhe their bodies in thousand shapes.
However foreign from the poets art
No tragic hero but admires start,
What though unfeeling of the nervous line
Who but allows his attitude is fine?
While a whole minute equpoised he stands
TIL Praise dismiss him with her echoing hands.
Resolved. though Nature hate the tedious pauss
Ply perseverance to extort applause
When Romeo, sorrowing at his JuIiet's doom
With eager madness bursts the canvas tomb
The sudden whirl. stretchd leg and lifted stsA
Which please the vulgar. make the critic laugh.
To print the passions force. and mark it well.
The proper action Natures self will tell:
No pleasing powers distortions e'er express
And nicer judgment always loathes excess
IN sock or buskin. who o'erIeaps the bounds
Disgusts our reason and our taste confounds
OF all the evils which the stage molest,
hate your fool who overacts his Jest;
Who murders what the poet finely writ
With shrug. and grin. and gesture out of place
And writes a foolish comment with his face
The word and action should conformity suit;
But acting words is labor too minute:
Grimace will ever lead the Judgment wrong;
While sober humor marks the impression strong
Her proper traits the fx'd attention hit.
And bring closer 10 the poets Wit:
With her delighted DER each scene go.
Well pleased. and not ashamed of being so.
But let the generous actor still forbear
To copy features with miuic's care!
'Tis a poor skill which every fool can reach
A vile stage custom. hOnOr'd in the breach.
Worse as more close the disingenuous art
But shows the wanton looseness OF the heart.
When behold wretch. OF talents mean,
Drag public fobles on the public scene.
Forsaking Natures fair and open road.
To mark some whim. some strange. peculiar mods
Fired with disgust. loathe his servile plan,
Despise the mimic and abhOr the man.
Go 10 the lame. 10 hospitals repair.
And hunt for humor in distortions there;
Fili up the measure of the motley whim
With shrug, wink. shuttle. and convulsive limb;
Then shame al once. 10 please trifing age.
Good sense. good manners, virtue, and the stage.
'Tis not enough the noise be sound and clear,
IT'S modulation that must charm the ear.
When desperate heroines grieve with tedious rnoan
And whine their sorrows in a tone.
TIE rare soft sounds Of unimpassioned woes
The voice all modes of passion can express
That marks the proper word with proper stress;
But none emphatic can an actor call
Who lays equal emphasis on all.
Some DER the tongue that labord measures roll.
Slow and deliberate the parting toll.
Point every stop. mark every pause so strong.
Their words. like stage professions. stalk along.
All affectatiOn but creates disgust.
And cen in speaking may seem too Just.
In vain for them the pleasing measure flows.
Whose recitation runs II all to prose.
Repeating what the poet sets not down.
The verb disjointed from its friendly noun;
While pause and break. and repetition join
To make discord in each tuneful line
Some placid natures stil the allotted scene
With lIfeless drone insipd and serene;
While others thunder every couplet Ger.
And almost crack your ears with rant and roar.
More nature. apt and finer strokes are shown
In the low whisper than tempestUoUS tone,
And Hamlet's hollow voice and fx'd amaze
More powerful terror 10 the mind conveys
Than he who swoln with big. impetuoUs rage.
Bues the bulky phantom on the stage.
He who in earnest studies DER his part
VIII find true nature cling about his heart;
The modes OF grief are not included all
III the white handkerchief and mournful drawL
y single look more marks the internal we
Than all the windinss OF the leuSthen'd on
Up the face tho quick sensation flies.
And darts its meaning from the speaking eyes;
Love. transport. madness anger, scorn. despair