The Washington herald., 1913-10-05
DION BOIICICAUIT.

the very head Of "adapters'' was Dior
Boucicault. who, not content with pre-
pairing and producing plays. must per.
chance become an actor also, making
the extraordinary combination OF the
highest genius for authorship and for
acting.
Few can create a drama, much less
step on the stage and illustrate the Gre
auons. He wrote poetry as well as
prose, which. taken together with the
consummate knowledge of stage busi-
ness he possesseL, made him easily the
grand master of the art. He was the
target for all manner of criticism. being
called "Robber,' Literary Pirate" etc.
The public appreciated the extraordinary
man and gave him the tribute he so
justly deserved.
There were all manner of Irish char
acters on the stage previous to Bouci-
cault's creations. Barney Williams gave
Us the ragged. reckless. quick witted
freshman. Years before, Tyrone Power.
who was lost on the steamship Presi-
| dent in March, 1871. first gave us the
| freshman as a rational being: John
! Brougham showed that he could be a
I
I from the whiskey still. clay pipe, and
peat fire to regions of poetry and chiv-
airy. Augustin DAILY would be second
on the list of "adapters," with Bouci-
cauIt ss the dean.
| This list, which is not complete. will
verify my first few lines: Colleen Bawn,"
DADDY ODowd." Irish Heiress, "
London Assurance, RIP Van Win
kle." Mimi" "OId Heads and Young
Hearts" Woman" "Octoroon,' Jessie
Brown" ''Love-and Money" ''Formosa, -
'JezebeI," Lost at Sea- Jeanne
Deans" THE Corsican Brothers, -
phegor," Janet Pride" Don Caesar"
''Napoleon's Old Guard" Dot" THE
Life Of an Actress" Used Up" Vanity
Fair" ''Smike," Flying scud." "Babil
and Bijou," ''Elfie.' Belle Lamar"
Foul Play" Mora" THE knight of
Arva," THE Long Strike" THE Phan-
ton," ANDY Blake" "Genevieve," How
She Loves Him." Louis XI, Streets OF
New York." Man of Honor" and Led
Astray."
Dion Boucicault was the youngest of
four brothers, sons of Samuel Bouci-
cault. a Dublin tea merchant, who mar
ried Miss Anne barley. of that city.
His early years were passed in his ma
tive city. he finishing his education at
the London University. The date of Mr..
Boucicaults birth was December g, 1922.
He first came to this country in 1853.
The Boucicault family have been resi-
dents in Dublin since 1880, at which time
they emigrated from Touraine. France.
They are descended from the Bouci-
caults, whose names are known to every
student of the history OF France. The
name occurs in the list of prisoners
tai he ha ~ AUin W. fS
TO be found so mentioned in the eighth
scene of the fourth act of Shakespeare's
play of Henry V" He died in 1890
The bright mind had been overwork-
ed: its inimitable creations had ceased
to be created. He tried to get it back
to its old form. but il refused to re-
spond; toward the last it was with great
difficulty that he could recall former
scenes of trials and triumphs. Its YER
satilty had gone. its cells were dormant,
the jOvial Wit and bon yivant was a mass
Of form moving listIessly about, waiting
for the final summons. His enormous
capacity for work. the strain on the men,
tai. together with the inadequate physi- |
cal body. could end in but one way
DiOn's usefulness>in the dramatic sphere |,
was no more. He Iabored with an acute |
ness and acumen not always accorded
the man. When we consider the greater
such eXacting mental strain, can we
wonder how he gradually ceased to re-
spOnd to the many requirements?
His company was sought far and near: |
his humor infectious, the twinkling eyes
seemingly appealing TO the inner soul |
with that warmth of conviviality only !
equaled by the cordiality and sincerity of |
the welcome. He loved Henry ]. Monta- |
que. and for him created the role of Capt. |
Molineaux. the young English Officer in |
THE Shaughraun," making an ordinary |
role into prominent part for his friend. |
All of us who have seen Montague know
how well he enacted the part and be-
came the idol OF the theatergoers. He
was also a great admirer of the Fords
and was always glad and ready TO aid
them in their enterprises. Here is a
letter of his to Ford, who
asked him to appear for benefit. On this
occasion he gave Kerry"
&c +. 18th Street, New York City. n. Y.
May End, 1873.
Dear Mr.. Ford: When in Washington
asst winter you accepted a promise to
Ilay for your benefit, when ever that /!
went should occur. IL happily no other
Engagement withheld me at such a date.
am not engaged on the ninth of May,
md il will add to the pleasure a visit
o Washington always gives me. to en-
race the occasion OF AIDING a mite to I
our program, and another assurance of
steem for yourself and Mrs. Ford The
LAY Kerry will not take much room ,
n your bill OF fare. 1t seemed to please ,
he Capitolians when il was represented
ONE time ago. Will it suit and fit in ,
With your other attractions? asked
ohm Mccullough 20 come on with me. {
nd take a hand on the ninth. He would I
ave been only to glad to have done so. Y
he had not been engaged TO appear on I
hat day at the Grand Opera House i'm a
Jew York I suggested that he should O
ppear by telephone-or phonOtel-or
get bothered up in these #
ew sciences)--and ] offered to take his n
ottled speech with me. He did not be- .
eve I was in earnest. but I was y
With best wishes for your success, a
Sincerely yours, n
DION BOUCICAULT." A
Boucicault seemed happy when he had n
onn for the evenings performance, al 4
lough he often wondered how it would q
nd, after reviewing the support given n
i'm. I have been out in front with him .
,oking at a portion OF the show before N
e departed to dress for the part. I say
ress, for he was very rapid in his make N
D." Sometimes I would hardly miss !,
i'm when. 10 and behold, there he would :,
E holding the stage and bowling to the .
enerous applause that always followed "
s entrann. n
Boucicau't~ could get very much pro- n
oked, in fact mad, following ii with N
,me ouiZzical exDressiOn or drolI story -