Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-27
n &C. IS
NeNNISVNM. @ AVG 1-
\ N B: Is
\ OP - THE
CIV T.: T.. u
BY WILLIAM FAVERsHAM.

When 1 hear actors of attainment
complaining about the transient fame
Of histrionic achievement. which can
not be transmitted to posterity except
by hearsay. I smile indulgently at their
vanity. and recall the story about Jaco-
bi. the illustrioua mathematician. In his
old age. Jacob was once consOled by a
hattering disciple with the remark that
all future mathematician would de-
light in his work.
All. yes" replied Jacob, drawing
down the corners of his mouth, but to
think that all my predecessors knew
nothing of my work."
Natural acting isn't by any manner
Of means new thing upon our stage.
In former ages. just as to-day, it was
often unappreciated. Speaking Of the
acting of Garrick as Hamlet
matchless performance.-Partr ore
of Fielding's characters. says, with a
contemptuous sneer: He, the best
player, Why, l could act as well as he
myself am sure if | had seen a ghost
should have looked in the very same
manner and done just as he did"
Last winter / was touring through
the South. where the trains forget their
schedules Day after day we would
arrive at the station, and have to walt
anywhere from one to ten hours for the
train we wanted. One day in western
Texas, however the train steamed in
right on schedule time to the minute.
The ingenue Of the company could not
repress her delight.
There's the train; there's the train
right on time!"
The dyspeptic looking station agent
overheard her.
"Shucks, mol" he shouted, that's not
o-day's train; that's yesterdays train
getting in "a hours late"
As a young lad I used TO haunt the
London theaters and the greatest OBJ
iect Of my youthful hero worship was
the late Henry Irving. In later years
the influence OF Irving came to be the
greatest intellectual force in my life.
but at that time | stood much in awe Of
him, until one night an incident hap
pened outside the stage door Of the
theater where he was playing. | was
standing there waiting for a glimpse IL
the master actor near the old four
wheeler that always took him to and
from his room.
Presently Irving came out. looking
very tired and worn after a strenuous
performance He opened the door Of
the four wheeler, which, like all of its
| kind, contained one large comfortable
/ La
/ back to the driver. As Irving started
to step in, he noticed al his heels his
| little terrier, Fuzzy. In ahead of him
| jumped Fuzzy. and up to the COM
| Portable seat. Then in climbed Irving.
and seated himself on the small un-
! comfortable seat back of the driver.
while the dog stretched himself in lux
| urious comfort opposite. And away
they rode into the mistoy night. Some
how after that / never stood in awe Of
Irving although it was several years
later that l first met him.
The average drummer possesses a
fund of ready wit. Last year when [
was touring in Arkansas, several mem
bers OF my company and myself were
l
nounced the expected arrival and de
parture of trains i'm junction station.
About ten trains were listed, and every
one Of them was several hours later In
each instance the caues for the delay
was marked, Delayed by snow" All
except one train that was down as be
| ing "On time" Upon seeing this. a
drummer who was reading the sign
stepped forward picked up the crayon
and beside the record Of the train that
was marked con time" he scrubbed,
Cause, unknown"
An English actor who had never been
| in this country till he joined my COM
| pany was about to be married. Beins
| ignorant of the color distinctions be-
| tween negroes and whites as we make
them in this country, he started to fill
in the answers to the various questions
on the slip that was handed him with
out much difficulty until he came to the
| single word color" For a moment
this query threatened to floor him until
! lie remembered that his complexion was
particularly iorid, so undauntedly he
wrote Pink"
Unconscious humor is often the wit
! tiesJ of all. The other day l heard two
negro lads arguing in deadly serious
ness. One was trying to impress the
Other with the lofty station to which he
had risen in life. WHY | amt got no
| job he shouted Use got a position