Smyrna times., 1911-03-01
STAGE ANECDOTES
The London Debat of Edmund
Kean, the Great Tragedian.
A SUCCESS AND ITS PATHoS.


Critic on Edwin Forests Macbeth.
Edmund Kean's London debut was
made in 1874 at a time when his
financial affairs were at a very low
ebb. With his wife and one child he
was lodging in an attic. His reception
as ShylOck was most encouraging and
fattering. In an almost frenZied eS-
stasy he rushed through the wet to his
humble lodging. sprang up the stairs
and threw open the door. His wife ran
to meet him. No words were required
his radiant countenance told all
and they mingled together the first
tears of true happiness they had as yet
experienced. He told her of his proud
achievement and in burst of exulta-
tion exclaimed MARY, you shall ride
in your carriage, and Charley, my boy"
taking the child from the cradle and
kissing him-"yqp shall go to Elton
and'-a sad reminiscence crossed his
mind, his Joy was overshadowed and
he murmured in broken accents, "Oh,
that Howard (his dead child had lived
to see it!-but he is better where he is"
On the night of Edmund's first ap-
pearance as Richard a group of idle
actors in the greenroom were discuss
ing his merits in anything but liberal
spirit. 81 understand" said one, with
an elaborate sneer, "that he is an ad.
mirable harlequin" Bannister entered
at that moment, overheard the remark
and retOrted, 81 am certain of that, for
he has jumped over all our heads"
1t seems that the great tragedian,
Edmund Kean, and Charles Incledon.
the popular singer. were one day walk
| ign in Bond street when they met
Lord Essex, who bowed coldly to
Kean. though they were on terms of
intimate friendship.
The next day Kean found a note at
the theater from my lord desiring him
to call at his house. When there the
nobleman said to the tragedian. "My
dear Keap, you will pardon me. You
know how greatly | admire your gen.
ius. but was surprised yesterday to
see you in company of that singing
man. Incledon." My lord" said
Kean with flashing eye Pray don't
excite yourself. now, my dear Kean,'
interrupted my lord. but the respect
/ may say reverence, | have for your
wonderful genius prompts me to
speak thus" lord Essex" cried
Kean. drawing himself up and casting
q whitening glance at his noble patron
twelve years ago my family were il
want of bread and Charles Incledon
my friend. supplied the means to pro
cure it. and when Edmund Kean for
gets his friends may God forget him.
And from that hour the two men never
exchanged cOurteSies.
Kean, from early manhood, had al
internal complaint, for which he ha(
always been his own physician an(
prescribed that sovereign balm called
"brandy," from which it generally
found relief. and at least it always
proved an alternative. While travel
ing from London to Belfast, Oh quit
ting the coach at Donegal Arms, b,
missed his sovereign balm and he call
ed out to the Irish waiter to search tn
lately abdicated vehcular conveyance
as he had left his pocket pistol behind
''The devil a pistol can l find" criet
, the searching Hibernian. ''or anything
else but this" producing the leathe
covered charm. why, that's it, 20,
blockhead," exclaimed Kean. suitin
the action to the word and tasting t
be convinced. Pat scented the cOrdia
and. laughing, cried: do you call tha
a pistol. sir? Why, then, faith. thong
Pm a peaceable man. wouldn't min
? standing a shot or two of that pistC
4 myself
When Edwin Forrest went to Lor
don he was received in anything but
cordial way. One critic wrote:
. "Our old friend Mr.. Forrest afforde
great amusement to the public by hi
performance of Macbeth on Friday q
the Princess. Indeed. our best comi
actors do not often excite so great
quantity of mirth. The change froI
an inaudible murmur to a thunder {
sound was enormous, but the gran
feature was the combat in which b
stood scraping his sword against thu
, OF Macduff. We were at a loss to kno
. what this gesture meant until an el
y lightened critic in the gallery shoute
a out. That's right, sharpen itr"
!. A good story is being told at the e.
is pense of a certain local theater who's
:, standing Room Only notice is I
i longer needed. One night after I'll
!. curtain was rung up a small boy W;
discovered in front Of the box offic
The manager of the theater went
:, the lad and kindly asked him what I'll
i" trouble was. 81 want my none
J. back" sobbed the boy in answer
5 the query. In surprise the manag
|; asked his reason for such a reques
l. "Because-because Pm afraid to sit l
r In the gallery all alonew he waile
:, His money was returned.-Frankl
4, Barry in st. Louis Post Dispatch.
|. A Mere Trifie.