Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-09-15
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believed it feasible, but Aldrich never lost faith
In his ability to carry it to a successful conclil-
sion.
In this ideal abode are assembled tairty-one
former Votaries Of the sock and buskin They
are the Romeos, Menottes, Rosalinds and Ca
miles of bygone days. They were the idols Of
your fathers and your OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, and
some of your great-grandfathers; for noEe is ad-
m1tted to the home under fifty-five and many of
the inmates are octogenarians.
On winters evening the silver-haired women
are accustomed to gather in the parlor or library
and over their sewing or crocheting tell once
more of the beauty and charm of Adelaide Mel
son, the wonderful Characterization OF Lucille
Western, and sublime genius Of Charlotte Cush-
man; while downstairs in the billiard or card
room the have gone back to play again with
Davenport, Mccullough, Warren, Owens, Burton
and the peerless Forrest. jefferson, Barrett and
Edwin Booth spoken of casually; they belong
too much to the present fry ..
"Ah! there are tragedians like Forrest now
adays,' one veteran signs in voice that sug-
gests the ghost in Hamlet.
and no comedians like Burton" deplores an
other. ..... ...
NO, nor any pantommists like George Fox;
the art died with him." laments a third
There were giants in those days. if these
veterans are to b5 believed; and who shall gain
say them? None can; and surely none would
care to-
Two married couples grace the home. refuting
marriages in the profession" They are Mr. and
Mrs. Samuel Chester and Mr.. and Mrs George
Morton. Mr.. and Mrs. Chester have been mar
ried forty-seven years, and have seldom been
separated during their long connection with the
stage. Mr.. and Mrs. Morton have been married a
somewhat shorter time than the Chesters
The oftrepeated question, Are they happy?"
is well answered in the following incident AZ
old friend of one Of the couples mentioned
tended an invitation to them to visit him and
his family at their country home The pair
piled thanking him for his invitation and apollo
giving for not accepting but stating that they
were happy in their home that they could
not bear the thought of leaving it. even for
short time
One of the most interesting figures in this
unique household is Harry Langdon-" Handsome
Harry they called him in the days when he
played dashing parts opposite Adelaide Nelson
Charlotte Cushman and Eliza Logan Though
well into his eightieth year, Mr.. Langdon was
reading a book without glasses when l was in
troduced to him.
mo, have never felt the need of glasses" he
said in answer to my question regarding it. II
may have to get some later but now | read by
either daylight or artifci al light without any in
convenience"
Tell something about Forrest Mr.. Lang
don," asked him. some anecdotes if you can
think Of any"
There many" he replied "that 1t is
hard to think where to begin. One that has been
told often, and sometimes attributed TO other
people, really occurred while I was present
young actor was rehearsing a part but did not
seem to grasp the proper meaning of the lines
Forrest finally lost his patience and after re-
hearslng the scene for the young with all
his tragic power turned to him and exclaimed:
There, that's the way 1t ought to be done-why
don't you 90 it like that?
" If could do it like that Mr. Forrest the