The Washington herald., 1909-05-02
E. 7. Sothern.


ness. -ShaSespeaTe-
In .he lexicon Of goath. there IS 10 such word as
fal -Richelieu-
An actor may be great and still have
his limitations. The truth Of this aphor-
ism seems to be overlooked By some Of
those who would deny TO E. II. Sothern
rhe place that ne has won-that Of the
leading American actor OF to-day-the
nature OF his limitations being divsrgently
stated by different critics. Some deery
his Hamlet and extOl his Villon. while
some disparage his romantic roles and
praise his tragic efforts. The very na-
ture Of the structures amply prove his
versatility. The difference in opinion as
70 his calIber IN particular roles demon
strates that lie Is good enough in ali 10
attract unusual interest As to which Is
his best or which his worst character
ization is q matter for Individual taste
to decide Since the demise Of Richard
Mansfield he has virtually been without
q rival IN the popular estimation. and
particularly 50 among those who esteem
the poetic, the scholarly. and artistic TO
be prime essentials OF the legitimate
drama One has only 10 scrutinize the
personnel Of his audiences TO thoroughly
realize this fact During an engagement
in Washington-and we are informed that
& IS so in every city where he appears
almost every one who stands for any
thing in an intellectual sense may be seen
sr ore OF the other OF his performances.
the particular time Of attendance being
regulated by the individual taste as re
CARDS the vehicle or character, and the
general desire 10 see him being engen-
dered by the conviction that in him one
IS sure to see finished actor in ones
favOrite role.
The entire contingent OF Mr.. SOtheTn's
adherents is not comprised by those who
have come 10 be his admirers only since
he has arrived at his present high repu-
tation- Years ago some Of those Who saw
him lean cut Of the window in Lord
Chumley" and call out 20 his friend in
the passing regiment thought there was
something more than the Iisping light
comedian in this man. and 70 them his
persistent course upward must be a con
t.nued source Of interest and enjoyment.
IS well as q vindication Of their judg-
ment Through the different strata. light
cOmsdyT as exemplifed IN ChumIey and
LetterbIair; the lower form Of the ro-
mantle drama. as shown by The Pris-
Oner Of Zenda." the higher sphere OF the
same. as evidenced in The Proud Prince"
and "If Were King and then into the
supreme circle Of Shakespeare and the
ciassics-his career has been continuously
upward.
Tie aforementioned phrase or his ambi-
tion is the brightest spot OF all. a mere
presenter OF the same basic character
under q different name. after having ac-
QEired a reputation. ne was not content
10 be. He must be an actor. not a poser.
The highest realms Of poetry and schol-
arship must be explored, and human
character must be studied Never once
has he turned his face backward. even
though unfailing financial encouragement
may have al moments been lacking. Hav-
ing once settled upon the stage as a
career. he proposed 10 carry that career
20 the greatest heights that his talents
would warrant, augmenting his natural
gifts with unwearied study and uuwaver-
ing idssHsm- To him the stage has
seemed 70 be not 2 mere means Of amass-
ing wealth or catering 10 commonplace
amusement but rather zs z traditional
educational function Of human life. with
I'll aspiration toward arUusing the loftier
sentiments of the mind by means OF poetic
expression, lessons drawn from the play.
and the portrayal OF the diversified moods
Of human character. Such men have al
ways been needed in literature and the
drama, and never more 50 than now.
when the seeming tendency toward the
vulgar and bizarre seems 10 be reversing
toward a renaissance. There have been
periods OF seeming depression before in
the history Of the stage. and such men
as this have always stood in the breach
pointing toward the best. Of course we
90 not mean 10 say that Mr.. Sothern Is
the only one who IS doing this. for there
are Robert Nanten and others: but lust
now We are discussing AIr. Sothern.
To have Travelled the path as Mr.. sotH-
ern has is no child's play. and the result
does not justify so much confusion Of
ideas as regards his true standing in the
minds Of some critics. Whether his Ham
let IS equal TO that OF Booth. his Rich
eneu commensurate with that of Keene.
or his character drawing or his romantic
expression on a par with the traditional
erac1Ti1e;ssss e famous players. does not
matter As the exploiter OF g cosmopoIi-
tan quality Of art which embraces all the
oinerent elements OF the actors power
II q generally convincing extent. he
stands uurivaled on our stage AZ this
tine, and We have no hesitancy In haning
him as the greatest American actor Of
to-day.