The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-02-02

that they may have time to laugh in between
Ezra Kendall says that when he is writing his
monologues if he gets one hundred words done in
a day he pats himself the back And then he
writes only when the mood won't let him do any
thing else. Conditions have to be propitious for
joke to come and nestle comedians brows.
Worst of all, every comedian does not write his
own lines by good deal. A patient author has
struggled with the jokes in the privacy of his own
room; the comedian may not be able to originate
one joke in lifetime, but people who see him over
the footlights expect him, when they meet him So
cially, to be genial lathe. 1t is no wonder that
the comedian lays down his head at early age
The funny man of the footghts is really more
serious than the average human when he hasn't
his eyebrows penciled. This is only natural. for
being funny is great strain and his time off the
stage is his recuperating period The leading come
dian is often before an audience for two hours in
an evening. The vaudeville comedians have to
come on" twice day.
There is just the touch of pathos in the
dams ever living desire to be tragedian. 1t is
something of blow when comedian finds that
the public will not take him seriously. Eddie 10y
was desperately in earnest a year and a half ago
when he said that he wanted to play Hamlet. The
papers took it up as joke and the result was that
he PVT out in burlesque on the great play
called "Mr. Hamlet OF Broadway There is no
doubt that he has powers in tragedy, but his man
ager won't listen to his plea to be given heavy
part.
Comedians Want to Be Taken Seriously
r VEN when is master of two arts he
- ually believes himself far superior in the tragic
role Sothern is really skilled workman in
the lighter parts but he firmly believes himself
more capable in the heavy part. 4
Il get tired of making people laugh all the time,s'
said Otis Harlan. rehectvely Il long, sometip1es
to make them cry, just for change. WhenL1 tell
my manager that he just laughs. Now Why does
he laugh?"
Harlan's secret desire is to play Romeo but most
probably it will never take more subst ntial form
than a pleasant morning dream
Lew Fields, although the manager of nearly a
dozen shows, and comedian par excellence
dreams his dream, too Il am tired Of being laughed
at" he declared to an intimate friend ut is bust
ness that keeps me from taking up a heavy part
When the people want laughs lit would be foolish
to offer them tears"
The rainier the day the harder the comedian
must work: when the personal barometer is low he
must be bright than ever must dance more ener-
getically, and must cleverer things in ratio to
bring the people out of themselves 1t makes no
difference If his head aches bursting the people
must be amused. If he can't bring the laughs the
manager pushes button and another comedian is
shown in.
1t is no wonder then. with world which always
expects Blondin to have his rope stretched that
the poor comedian, when the front doors close for
the summer sneaks off into peace and solitude of
the country. where the people eat tomatoes whole
and grease both ears with the succulent corn cob.