The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-16
FORBES ROBERTSON
PRESS CLUBS GUEST
Actor Tells Newspaper Men He
Wants to Quit While lie
Can Kick q Leg"
PLEADS STAGE FRIGHT"
Sir Johnston ScriO-C 0mically
Expresses Uneasincss at
Facing Journalists.
PLEADS STAGE FRIGHT"

Sir Johnston Forbes. Robertson. who has
been saying farewell to the public at large
for some time, was the guest at dinner
OF the New York Press Club last evenin,
and explained to the newspaper men the
real reason for his retirement, which. to
express II In his own words. 10 desire to
ring down the curtain while I can still
kick leg
A merry throns Of newspaper men. re-
porters critics and journalists. rs they
were severaiiy referred to by the various
speakers. gathered with their wives and
others In the PROSE- Clubs banquet room
TO eat, drink. laugh and listen to 81
Johnston. J. I. c. Clarke, who acted as
toastmaster; Robert Erskine Ely. presi'
dent OF the Civic Forum. Daniel Frohman
Talcott Williams. president OF the Co
lumbia School OF Journalism: Percy S.
Bulien, George T. Wilson, vice-presldent OF
the Pilgrims Of the United Stats, and Sir
Courtenay Bennett, Consul-General OF
Great Britain.
When sir Johnston rose to say good-by
to the newspaper men no was greeted
with q loud and long storm OF applause,
which seemed to indicate unmistakably
the sincere esteem In which he In held by
After the applause had finally subsided.
which II appeared for q time II never
would Mr.. Robertson smiled his well
known Hamlet smile and said he was
overwhelmed.
II have been uneasy for ten days at
the prospect Of facing this ordeal-very
uneasy indeed--but now ! am here sup
pose | must face the music"
There was ripple OF mirth al the
notion OF Str Johnston Forbes Robertson
being uneasy In the act or racing a host
Of newspaper men. and. 10 say the TRUTH
he managed to conceal his uneasiness so
effectively and with such a suggestion or
humor that some of the newspaper men
themselves began to show signs OF the
disorder OF which he complained.
81 feel In a way" he continued, that
| have tie In common with you. because
my father was newspaper man from
the time he was % years old until his
death. lie tried TO make his children
fcwspaper men too. but. as YOU know, he
didn't succeed.
From Philadelphia have come here
wondering just how | was to get through
this ordeal and from here | go to Wash
ing,on and from Washington ! go here
and there until II ~ time for me to return
at last to my children and to retire from
the stage for good. that is. l trust 1t will
be for good
Before | go II ls a great pleasure 10
me to remark on the Kindness with wni,"
| have been received In this country
toward which | feel almost as native
son. indeed I have felt so kindly toward
II that nothing would do but that
select my wife fror, It's daughters
Sir Johnston had fsT words of praise
for the modern stage and the modern
drama. and especially the part played In
both by Americans. Then II was that he
explained the truth about his retirement
1T has been my ambition" said he.
80 quit and ring down the curtain while
I could vet. 40 to speak. kick a leg.
DO not like the idea of lingering on, and
for that reason i am going to say good
nv"