Evening journal., 1911-05-31
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Famous Hamlet That
Dickens Helped to
Create
By sHoIland.v

From 1870, when he first came to-
this country, until he retired from the
stage six years later, Charles Albert
Fechter was one OF the most famous
actors OH the American stage. Indeed,
in the few short years that he was Oh
the boards here he built up reputa-
tion rivalling in brilliancy that which
he had previously secured both in
Paris and in London. The American
public flocked eagerly to see and ap-
plaud him in such we'll known old
time favorites as "The Corsican
Brothers" and "The Count of Monte
Cristo," but when all IS said and done
It was his blond Hamlet that attracted
the widest attention, creating some
thing like a furor among theatre-goers
of all classes.
If mistake not, Fechter's is the
only blond Hamlet worthy Of note in
the history of the English speaking
stage; and it is a curious fact that,
but for the encouragement Of Charles
Dickens, Fechter would neither have
made his New World reputation nor
created his great role of Hamlet, defy
ing all stage traditions to do so. MY
authority for this statement is Will
liam Stuart, in the sixties and seven
ties, one Of the leading theatrical man
ayers OF the country, and during Fech-
ter's residence in America one of the
latters closest personal friends
From 1S4S until 1880 Fechter was
reigning favorite in Paris" said Mr..
Stuart "Then he went to London,
making there his first appearance IN
English drama and instantly scoring
great success. Not long thereafter
he met Charles Dickens, and the two
speedily became fast friends Fechter
himself told me this instance to IL
lustrate their intimacy. Having de-
cided that he would play Hamlet,
Fechter carefully studied the play ana
then hunted out Dickens.
Il told Dickens, Fechter said to
me, that the Danes were not a dark
haired, dark-eyed people, Of pallid,
complexion; that they were conspicu-
ous for their fair hair, their blue
eyes. and their light complexion, and
that if an actor desired to be true to
racial characteristics he ought to play
the part OF Dane, like Hamlet, made
up to accentuate the physical char
acteristics of the Danes. Dickens
instantly told me that / was quite
right, adding that every Hamlet he
had seen suggested to him I'm his ap-
pearance and makeup that he was Of
the Latin rather than of the Saxon
race II was with Dickenss warm
approval. therefore, that / decided to
play a blond Hamlet, and l have al
ways believed that had Dickens not
given his approval of my idea | should
never had the temerity to portray it.
1T was Dickens. also who, per-
suaded Fechter to come to this coun-
try" continued Mr.. Stuart. "Fechter
told me that shortly after Dickens had
returned to England in 1867 from his
speaking tour here, he urged upon
Fechter that by all means he should
60 to the United States and portray
Hamlet as he had portrayed It with
such success for six years in Lon
don. Dickens assured Fechter that
he would surely make a great fortune
in America, and Fechter, catching the
enthusiasm of his friend, finally sail
ed for this country in 1870. Probably
you remember the great excitement
occasioned by the appearance OF
Fechter as the blond Hamlet I'm a New
York theatre at the same time Edwin
Booth was playing the conventional
Hamlet In another metropolitan thea
ire. All grades Of theatre goers quar-
relied about the two conceptions OF
the part. some maintaining that
Fechter was right. and some that
Booth had made no mistake, but all
untiring in declaring that each mar
had justly gained great triumph
Barring brief trip to England
Fechter continued on the American
stage until 1876, when he retired per
manentiy to a farm near Philadelphia
Il has generally been stated that hi
retirement was due to the fact that h
was of such violent temper that NJ
manager could get along with him
But I know better A year or two be
fore he retired Fechter said to me il
confidence that he was even>then pre-
pairing to leave the stage forever 70
two reasons. One was that he could M
longer play any part but Falstaff, sine
he had grown enormously fat, and tn
other was that he had discovered tina
he was afflicted with an organic ant
mortal disease, Of which only himself
his physician and one or two other
had any suspicion And what Fechte
told me was correct; and he died fron
the effects Of that disease within thre
years after he had gone into retire
ment"
Copyright 1911. by f. T. Edwards Al
rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell O
"An act of Courtesy that BrOugh
Forth n Thousand Fold"