The Washington herald., 1914-12-25
HISTORY BUILDERS.
The Beginnings of Two Great Actors.
Cwrtten Expressly for The Herahl
By DIR. u. J. EDWARDS.

CWrtten Expressly for The Herah)
By DIR. Il. J. EDWARDS.
1 found the late A. NJ. Palmer in a
delightfully."- reminiscent mood one after
noon when 1 called upon him by appoint
ment at his private ONCE, which had for
me-ly been the parlor of a dwelling
which stood at the rear OF wallack's
Theater, New York City. At that time,
Mr.. Palmer was esteemed the foremost
OF American managers. Curiously enough
his early associations were not with the
world of dramatic affairs, but with an
entirely different kind OF business. He
was regarded as an able political organ
tzer. and for that reason gained the
friendship of Gen. Chester A. Arthur at
the time when the latter was the leader
OF the New York State Republican or
ganization. This friendly relation was
permanent
1t was by the merest chance, Mr.. Palm
er told me, that he became associated
with dramatic production, and it was
on account Of his relation as a political
manager with Sheridan Shook
II often think as look back upon my
career" said Mr.. Palmer, "of two great
successes which came suddenly and un-
expectedly both to those who gained the
triumphs and to ale managers Of the
companies in which two successful actors
took part.
Il never had any business association
with Z. II. Sothern. although ! knew
him well. I looked upon him as the
most highly finished actor in certain lines
OF his time. 1 suppose Sothern would
ultimately have gained great popularity
even though he had not created the part
OF Lord Dundreary in the play OF Our
American -ousin.'
Il never think OF the success of Rich
ard Mansfield. which was first gained
when he was one of my company. with
out also thinking of a somewhat similar
experience OF Sothern. / suppose every
body knows that the part Of Lord Dun
dreary in the play of Our American
Cousin as IL was originally written by
| Tom Taylor was a very Insignificant
part 1t was offered to Sothern, who was
at first disposed TO refuse II, but he was
| told he could do what he wanted with
| II and he accepted the opportunity. From
! the night of his first appearance as Lord
Dundreary he became the principal fig
ure in the play. l suppose Sothern must
have earned some 10000. perhaps more,
| from his many appearances in this part.
Now as to Richard Mansfield. l de-
cided to put a play called a Partisan
Romance upon the stage of the Ola
Union Square Theater. had a splendid
company. I think I am safe in saying
that there never in the United States
was stronger. more effective company
of men and women than I had at that
time.
Mansfield had been to me several times
in the hope that ! would give him some
thing to do. think he was hard up and
was glad to accept any part I offered
him. l told him that l would cast him
as Baron Chevrial in the play. The part
as originally written was as inconsider-
able and trtfiing as was the part OF Lord
| Dundreary in Our American Cousin
Mr.. -dansiieId asked me II he could dress
the part as he thought ft. 1 told him
to go ahead. In the rehearsals he simply
went through them in a perfunctory
manner. But on the first night OF the
play he came out of his dressing room
so wonderfully made up to represent a
senile, dissipated Frenchman who, never
theless, was a gentleman, that was
astonished. He told me afterward that
he had spent hours in his lOdging-which
consisted simply OF a bedroom-before a
looking glass in the attempt to impress
upon his face the characteristic features
of an old debauchee. He told me- that
he walked the streets of New York
studying face after face until at last
he discovered one that had just the kind
OF expression which he wanted.
| when the curtain came down that
night 1t was Mansfield who had gained
the chief triumph. 1 congratulated him
upon II and he told me that he saw his
| chance when offered him the part and
that hard work had accomplished all the
rest"