The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24

You old yesterday to assume the same
tasks on The Sd of September that
you encountered on the third day Of
August to revolve perpetually in a
circle-that is real slavery; and no
man. take it wants to be a slave
even II his master is an animated
dollar sign. 1 had rather fail in a
new proouctiOn-as happened in Don
QuixOte'-and have the commentator
OF the few than make much money in
an effort 70 pander TO the little de-
mands Of mere pleasure seekers. So /
viii keep on playing repertoire, tack
ling new Jobs 'and failing now and
then, no doubt, for the joy that is in
good lighting
wouldn't that kind Of talk keep you
awake, even il you knew it was for
publication? AS a matter of fact Soth-
ern means it. and is. 1 say, a splendid
example for others TO follow who feel
that the Anlerican drama can only be
conserved, strengthened and extended
through efforts which have in them the
element of disinterestedness
Sothern believes in the efforts which
are called into tangible expression un-
der the caption of the national thea
ter
I do not say" he went on that
good drama needs any protection ex-
cept under copyright laws. but. I do
means this: The work of the national
theater movement is attracting atten-
ton to the seriousness Of the claims
OF the drama; it is a force opposing
that baneful influence which would
make Of the theater nothing but a
pa0der TO pleasure 1t is a protest.
/ would say against the contrivances
Of stage mechanics, electrical effects
and costumes to make the stage the
home OF pageantry and not of plays"
Sothern's enthusiasm for the ma
tional drama" has another illustration
in gossip which links his name persist
entity with that of Julia Marlowe in a
leading man and leading woman star
ship IN the New York National experi-
ment next year. But he wouldn't talk
about that, and would give little out
for publication as to his plans for the
future.
When ] cali sothern the real Ameri-
can actor ! do not forget the fact that
he was educated in England lie might
have been born there-which luckily
he wasnt-and still be more Ameri-
can than many undesirable citizens
whose American nativity carried moth
ing into the world but babe and
potential disregard of our customs,
and future. Sothern. TO me- is typical
~ merican-meaning of course the
best there is-because he has inherited
a splendid sense Of our traditions and
is, essentially. American in ali that
the expression implies.
Edward Hugh Sothern is his name
you know, and he is the son of Edward
A Sothern. whose Lord Dundreary is a
grandsires memory and whose David
Garrick and other representations of
the romantic period Of our national
drama development are pictures in the
minds of surviving thousands of lucky
play goers who heard the old man in
his prime.
Young sothern sat in his St. Francis
room and talked about his father.
You have never heard Lord Dun
dreary,' have your" he asked you
viii be surprised when I tell YOU. then.
that l watched my father in the role
and that I firmly believe that no other
man could play the part. That is not
egotism either. There are lines and
situations in the comedy out OF which
my father never failed TO get laughs
and which nevertheless depend for their
effect on the turn OF a head the glance
a word. They were worked out not
nor theoretically, but from
actual contact with the play goer No /
comedian would have the courage to
say or do some Of the apparently trivial
things which make Lord Dundreary the
delightful acquaintance which my
father introduced TO the American pub
lie. In one scene. as perhaps you have
heard, he trips when he steps on the
stage The awkward step causes a big
laugh, and justly. Nevertheless it was
an accident at first, but the laugh
justified the accident, which my father
thereupon repeated always"
Sothern is not a young man. though
IL requires his own assurance to per-
suade you that his gray hair Or gray
hairs. rather-is not the careful result
Of a picturesque tendency and an arti-
fetal assistance. He was born in New
Orleans in 1859. His personality was
given an early art impetus when in his
youth he was sent TO famous artists in
London to study painting. BE did not
altogether succeed as an artist with
palette and brush and that was q
fortunate misfortune for the American
stage, because he returned TO this
country and entered his fathers COM
pany to play small parts under the
name Of i. Dee. His debut was thus
made at Abbey's Park theater in 1879,