The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-03-29
new NEWS Of YESTERDAY
Great Actor Who Was Persuaded
by Thackeray.
James w. Wauaek Not Only Attended,
Dinner Given by the Author,
But Even Rscited for the :
Guests.
BY e. >. EDWARDS.

liam Curtis wrote In one Of his little
essays something about d dinner that
Thackeray gave at D~elmOnico's In
New York. shortly before his return 10
his home in England in 1855. after
the completion OF mis- second lecture
tour In this country" said the lato
Parke Goodwin, son-in-law of William
Cullen Bryant. and n Of Thackeray's
intimates when the novelist was In
this country.
Curtis did not tell the story exactly
as the incident occurred. according
to my recollection" Mr.. Goodwin con-
tinued. II was present ut h dinner
and l sat very ear ~Thackeray. who.
Of course, occupied the chair OF tho
host. He gave the dinner In acknowl-
edgement of many courtesies Of .
similar kind which he had received
and he therefore had at the table near
ly all of the men prominent in pro
fessional NJ literary life In New York.
~ saw Il great deal of Thackeray
when he was in the United States up-
on his second featuring tour. He made
the editorial rooms Of the old Put
MANS Magazine. of which Curtis ana
l We're the editors. his headquarters.
He was almost always in high spirits.
I sometime Thought of him as a great,
overgrown boy. But I never saw him
in quite the exhuberance Of spirit
which ne showed at this dinner.
"As we sat down to dinner. ro-
member Thackeray saying to us that
there would be no speeches. He de-
tested formal speechmaking. he said:
that always threw a cloud over .
feast. But what he did like. he limited
with a whimsical. allincluding smile.
was a song. a story "A recitation--any-
thing that q guest could do informal
ly.
glanced about me. ] saw that Thack-
cray had secured as a guest James w.
Wallack. the great actor md play
wright. who had left Scotland for this
country three years before. Thack-
cray had told me previously that h0
was going to invite Mr.. Wallack to
the dinner. and In reply | had said
thai he would be very. lucky il Wal
lack accepted the Invitation. Thack-
cray wanted to know why ] felt that
way. and ! said that on the stage Wall
lack was known In New York al ono
Of the quietest of men. was very shy.
and almost always declined Invitations
to large dinners.
"As we were dtsposing of the good
cheer that T%hackeray had provided for
US. I found myself wondering what
T%hackeray would persuade Wallack to
do when tho time for coffee and cigars
was come. What he did do WAS to ask
Wallack. with whom hs had become
most friendly when Wallack was o.
the English stage. to tell q story. Wal
lack shyly shook his head. Thea.
asked Thackeray. would no not reiaoo
some an4cdOte. Again Wailack shook
his head.
"Thackeray sat a. II pUndsrtng Tor
q second. Then. of q sudden. ho turn
ed to his friend.
"'Mr. Wallack,' he cried with boy.
fish enthusiasm III tell you what yoo
a do thatll make every mans heart
throb with excitement and pleasure.
You can recite that great cen in
the play 1.-THE Rent Day. which. a. Z
have seen and heard you in the play
llp,n the stage in London. I have
thought was acting unsurpassed
Everybody ciinkcl the glasses. 1t
the suggestion. was afraid for .
moment that Mr.. Wallack would again
shake his hcad--it. a Of course. In
evening dress. SO that the illusion
which the dress OF the part that Wal
lack took In tho play produced. was
lacking. Hut he arose. stepped from
behind his chair "A little nearer to
T%hackeray. and In n low but very
clear voice began the lines Of that
scene. Almost Instantly We forgot
that Wailack was u private gentle
mar in evening dress. unsupported BY
any of the accessories Of, the theater-
the wonderful spell which he was able
to exert upon his audience in the tie
ater was with him then. We were all
enthralled. especially Thackeray. He.
sat half turned around In his chair,
listening intently. lie did moi. move
once during the entire recitation. But
when Wallack a done and had oak
down, and while tho entire room 70
sounded with applause after tho diners
had got their breath. T'hackeray ruso
and bowed 10 Wallack, and j think e
waa the most graceful Acknowledge
ment that ! ever saw one man pay A.
other.
Il said to Thackeray after the din
ner that ! felt sure he was tho 90
man in the world who could have pee.
suaded James w. Wallack to enact
his part In The Rent Day while b
evening dress and ct : great dfnnse.
] think Thaekeray iiked TO hear ~
say that, for he ssissd my hand aaA
gave It = warm grasp"
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