The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
The Actors Fame.


The week just past has seen the dis
appearance from the stage Of the world
Of one Of its greatest actors, Constant
CoQuelin. and writing Of his death in an
other place than this voiced once more
the ancient CRY about the fame OF the
player being transient because by the
very nature Of his art he could leave no
enduring monument. no positive record;
nothing but tradition.
But I find that this objection, 50 often
made. had already been most ably an
swered by one. a colleague Of COquelin.
who dsd more for the stage that his
French confrere, ard who was equally as
varied and talented a player, Sir Henry
Irving. Sir Henry, quoting from FroCde,
70 tie effect that Shakespeare plays
were as much the offspring OF the long
generations who had pioneered his road
for him as the discoveries Of Newton
were the offspring Of those OF Copper
nicus, said:
IN the face Of this statement OF fact
set forth gravely. in its place in the his
tory OF our land. what becomes OF the
bold assertions that are sometimes made
regarding the place Of The drama being
but & poor one. since the efforts OF the
actor are but mimetic and ephemeral,
that they pass away as tale that IS
tolde All art Is miuetic; and even life
itself. the highest and last gift OF God
10 HIS people. Is Aeeting- Marble crum-
bles, and the very name Of great cities
rsE- no
then would dare 10 arrogate 10 any art
an unchanging place in the scheme OF
the worlds development. or would con-
denim II because its efforts fade and
pass2 Nay, more; has even the tale
that is told no significance in after years2
Surely the record that lives in the minds
Of men is still a record, though IL be not
craven on brass or wrought in marble.
And It were a poor conception OF the
value Of art If. il considering il, We were
20 keep our eyes fixed on some dark spot,
some imperfection. and shut our eyes to
its aim. its powers. its beauty It were
q poor age. indeed. where such state
Of things is possible. as poor as that OF
which 5Irs. BrOwning's unhappy poet
The sge cuIs simples.
With 3 b-usd clowns back TUNED broadly 20 the
Eioy q the s5arS
let US lift our faces when We wish
10 Judge truly OF any earnest work Of the
hand OF mind Of men. and see It placed
in the widest horizon that IS given to as.
Poetry. painting, sculpture, music, archi-
lecture. all have a bearing on their time,
and beyond il: and the actor. though his
knowledge may be, and must be. limited
by the knowledge Of his age. 50 long as
he sounds the notes OF human passion,
has something which IS common 70 al
the ages II he can smite water from
the rock Of one hardened human heart
If he can bring light to the eye or whole
some color to the faded chesl-if he can
bring or restore IL ever SO slight q de-
gree the sunshine Of hope. OF pleasure. Of
gayety. surely ne cannot have worked
IN vain.
1T would need but small effort OF the
imagination 70 believe that that great
wave theory which the scientists have
proved as ruling the manifestations OF
light and sound applies also 70 the ef-
forts Of human emotion And who shall
tell US the ultimate bounds Of these
waves Of light and sound? II these dis
cernible waves can be traced til they
fade into fmpalpable nothingness, may
We not judge that this other. impalpable
at the beginning as they are at the end,
can alone stretch into the dimness OF men,
orv9 Sir Joshua REYNOLDS gallant cOmpIi-
ment that he achieved Immortality BY writ
ing his name on the hem OF Mrs SiddOns'
garment when he painted her as the
Tragic Muse had a deeper significance
than its pretty fancy would at first I'M
ply
That Is the actors answer to the wall
over fading fame