The Washington herald., 1913-09-21
THOMAS w. kET,NE.

Ibelng intimate friends of Thomas W.
lKeene found him the same consummate
actor of the stage as he was back of
the footlights. His conversation was
lanimated, with eyes that looked into the
Ivery soul until 1t vibrated with enthu-
siasm to its innermost recesses. Laugh
ing, bright, joyous eyes. that ever spake,
leven though the lips moved not-quiz-
lzical, enhancing. pleading. sad, chang
ing quicker than the 'twinkling of an
eye"-a great. big open heart and purse,
always ready TO do an act of kindness,
loyal and true TO friends, a typical man
OF destiny-such a man was Tom"
Keene to those who knew him. To
those who did not come within the cir
Gle Of his like and friendship he had a
rather a distant and naughty manner.
Born in the great metropolis during the
year 1870, he very early evinced a desire
for the stage, making his first appear
Iance, when only lad OF fifteen, in one
lof the minor roles in Julius Caesar at
the old Chinese buildings in that city.
! 1t was for the benefit OF S. w. Beckner.
That first benefit must have given him
taste for them. for no one was more
ready and willing when appealed to for
aid than Tom Keene. The play of Julius
Caesar was always a favorite of his, he
probably being the only actor that ever
performed all the male roles; that was
many years before he became famous
as star. Early i'm his career he made
lit point to associate with prominent
actors. even then closing with ]. II.
Hackett for a five weeks engagement.
during which he appeared as King
Henry " to that well-known artists
FaIstaff. His performances with John
Brougham. at his Lyceum Theater. he
considered his first real engagement.
followed by others with John +. Owens,
Frank S. Chanfrau, Mary Provost, Ada
Isaacs Menken John Mccullough. Char
lotte Cushman, Z. l. Davenport. and
Edwin Booth. His stellar career was re-
munerative. many of his portrayals be-
ing lauded very highly by the press and
the public. l have seen him impersonate
all manner of characters, running the
gamut. Tom spoke of them as working
the seven ages.
Keene was in those days considered
| the best Richard III since the elder"
Booth. He made his great hit prior to
| his starring tour, in San Francisco as
LIarc Antony. Both the Brutus and
Cassius in the cast told me he carried
everything before him, the rest Of the
company awarding him the palm of sue
cess His last season. 1897 and 1895. was
under the management of that sterling
actor, Charles b. Hanford. who played
opposite roles to keene. His death oc-
CURED June /, 1895. at Tompkinsvile. S.
! l., New York, from the effects Of an
operation for appendicitis During his
| tours through the country making one
night stands, Keene had many expert
ences which he sometimes felt disposed
to narrate, one in Connecticut | recall
While waiting for the hour to arrive
when il would be time to go to the
opera house" he strolled into a general
merchandise store. purchased a cigar
and holding II in his hand on high, a look
of disgust and sadness overspreadng his
countenance, he began asking informa-
tion about the city" gradually indulg-
ing in his well-known propensity Of guy
ing" A long. lank. thin youth wearing
an ulster. nearly reaching the floor, en-
tered with a salutation of how do. mis-
ter: good night for. the show and went
behind the counter. Presently the "'old
man" who had sold him the 'smoke-beg
pardon, cigar. came out attired in a pair
of check trousers turned up at the bot
tom in several folds. After a few COM
monplace Questions, he took his depart
ure. The aforesaid youth began seeking
all kinds OF information about actor
men and women" and anything else
about the show that could coin ex-
preston in his gigantic brain and mas
sive rural intellect all Of which Keene
evidently enjoyed. Finally came 81 am
going to the show tonight to see Richard,
as l think the fight is the biggest thing
on tap" Again: II will just have to-
wait till dad comes back. as we both
can't get away at the same time"
Mellowing up with a confidential air H.
added: Dad always goes TO a show first
to talk to the actors. He is a friend OF
Curtis Long. the boss at the 'opery'
House. and he lets him in He has on
my pants. the only pair we have between
us. Dad he rolls them up and lets them
down, and when / goes out l wear the
ulster and Dad dresses, so as not To
lose any time"-and not till then did
keene grasp the why-for OF the long
threadbare ulster. Dad evidently did not
get back on schedule time. as the inter-
ruption during the performance of Rich
ard was due to the fact that the youth
was just making his appearance in front
Later on when Keene was called before
the curtain. bowling his acknowledge
ment he cast his eyes towards his friend
of the ulster and wearer of the pants and
said, Il am glad to see my friends so
pleased and happy tonight" In a small
town, several idle ones talking over crops
and politics at the Store" Present also
Tom and some of his company. One
of the leudest and most pronounced crit
les 81 present addressed Tom. DO you
know the fellows playing at the town |
hall?" "Oh, yes" Then you know this |
fellow Keene, the main guy. He is rot |
ten He can't act Richard a little bit. |
He is the ugliest, toughest meanest guy
that ever thought he could act. Why, I |
know our little Johnnie Summers could |
do ii better. And that speech about winter |
and summer he gets all mixed up so that
any of us fellows that knows crops |
would take to the tall timbers. Say, don't |
forget it, he amt one, two, three" Snap |
ping his fingers he walked over to where |
several of the company were enjoying |
the TRADE. One of them called him aside |
and mildly mentioned the fact that the |
guy he was speaking to was keene /
himself. The critic suddenly remembered |
he had business elsewhere.
During one of his engagements a small |
part had been entrusted to a steady" |
an old reliable that never failed to appear
with wondrous makeup" evidently |
wishing to be the observed of all OBJ
servers, even to sharing the attention be- |
slowed upon the star. This night he was |
in the front row of the populace.. While
keene was wooing Lady Anne; he noticed
an unusual restlessness in the aforesaid.
He had laid bare his breast and was
saying THY wondrous love-" &c, when
the ''supe" jumped forward and began
rubbing his legs. causing an outburst of
laughter from the audience. a dark frown
from keene, added to few strong words
not printable. and a speedy termination
OF the scene. It was 'afterward learned
that the finale was caused by a disap-
pointed jealous brother supe, who had
Il /