The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1912-08-31
BY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.

With concerts by the Dunbars this
afternoon and evening, the children's
exhibition under way this afternoon,
and the appearance of Brush, the ma
gician, this evening, the final Satur-
day of the 1912 chautauQua will be
one of the most enjoyable in the his
tory of this popular institution.
Tomorrow great crowds are expect
ed to hear Governor Glenn and
Madame Mountford, an addition to the
program which met with approval
upon its announcement, being the con-
cert at half past four in the after
noon by the Light Inspection Company
band Of New Castle, whose director is
Jean Moermans, for fifteen years saxa-
phone soloist with Sousa's band.
The announcement that the chautau-
qua would be held in Glen Miller next
year, made from the platform last ev-
ening, elected great enthusiasm from
the audience and the season sale of
tickets is expected to begin at once.
Benjamin Chaplin.
Benjamin Chaplin, in Some Imper-
sonations of Abraham Lincoln" at the
chautauqua last evening, gave an ex-
cellent exhibition of histrionics and a
convincing characterization of the
greatest president, aside from Wash
ington, the United States ever had.
Mr.. Chaplin states that, while he has
had many imitators, he originated the
Lincoln impersonation in which he has
appeared variously, for the past
twelve years.
For the scenes given last evening
were taken from his own play. Lin
coln," presented by Mr.. Chaplin in the
leading role, for four years, the play
having run of one year in two of
the leading theatres in New York.
Chaplin has also appeared on the
vaudeville stage in a sketch adapted
from the play but confines his activi-
ties now entirely to the lyceum and
chautauqua platforms.
Il prefer the latter medium of dra.
matte expression" said Chaplin to a
Palladium representative last evening,
because of the associations, because
l like the audiences better and also
because it is financially more remun.
erative.
In addition you are booked through
out almost the entire year-the lyce-
! um during the autumn, winter and
spring, and the chautauqua circuit in
the summer.
You are, in way, more independ.
ent, and, as / stated, the class OF
people you are associated with is
more agreeable, both in the manage.
ment and those who appear on the
same platform
Mr.. Chaplin held his audience with
the truth of his Interpretation of the
character of the great war president
Ideally built physically for giving
verisimilitude to the role and with
an exceedingly clever makeup, Mr.
Chapin's success still depends upon
his dramatic art and the wonderful
adroitness of his presentation of the
peculiar psychology of Lincoln.
In the scenes given last night Lin
coin was depicted in those dominating
phases of his character which are best
known to the general public and de
picted with fidelity, although mere
fidelity lis not always effective unless
accompanied by imagination.
And that Mr.. Chaplin is possessed oi
this latter inestimable quality is al
once apparent.
Theatrically canny were Mr.. Chap
in's interpretations of the moods OF
Lincoln from grave to gay" OF his
| attitude toward his domestic relations
of his love for his little SON, Tad" oi
his handling of his official duties and
perpIexities, of his tenderness, firm
ness. diplomacy, social unsophistica
ton, his humanity. his exquisite hum
our, his divine patience and the deep
seated melancholy that lowered like
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