The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-23

r HENRY PATTERSON is noted
 for his sharp pen. When the
 \ \ editor of the Louisville Courier
 Journal writes, you expect his words
 to bore right in and, perhaps, hurt a
 little. You hardly look for gentle
 words or praise from the gifted Ken
 tuckian.
 But Colonel Watterson is not al
 ways caustic. Now and then he opens
 the fountains of his brilliant intellect to pour forth words of eulogy. And
 the best part of it is that he doesn't
 wait for man to die before he be-
 gins saying pleasant things. This story is not about Colonel Watter- son. however. It is about Wll'lam H..
 Crane, who as member of a unlquely strong theatrical company, comes to the Jefferson theatre on Monday ana Iues- day to present play almost as popular and respected as himself The brief ce- scription of Colonel Watterson IS gwen to empha size and make clear the worth of the words of praise written recently of Mr. Crane by the KentuclIan. Here they are:
 MT. Crane IS Uean ol lns Aiiei ieoi II stage by universal consent. The position is his equally by the right of unblem- ished personality and artistic italnment. Every American recognizes in Crane a cOuntryman to be proud of whether as d citzen of the highest claim to respect, or as an actor compelling admiration in both the native in the art of portral-ure and the homelike in thought; each simple in method and racy of the soil Crane is as funny as fun can be, yet so wholesome and chaste that ne nEght be turned loose in nursery. William H. Crane is distinguished and an eminent American, who deserves the public recognition quite beyond the bounds and limits of his profession" A reporter met William H. Crane two years ago when he was celebrating the fftieth anniversary of his debut as an actor. He was 6S years old at that time, but his hand clasp was that of ] boy. "You didn't expect to find a youth like me when you were sent out to interview MT. Crane, did you?" he laughed If a man is as old as he feels, Tn, on the sunny side of 35. I've always said when grow old I'll retire from the stage. But don't grow old. The stage is my pleas ure. Why should I give it up: I am stronger than I was 10 years ago, and I'm a better actor"
 l sation that nearly everybody else feels who meets MT. Crane. The remarks of member of his company expresses that Re nsation:
 1T rever want to grow old. But do want to grow up like MT. Crane. If you were a member of his company you would understand. He's Il great, big boy who lives for everybody else.' Mr. Crane was born in Leicester, Mass, April 30, 1S45. Soon after his birth his family moved to Boston, where at the old Brimmer school. which overlooked the stage entrance to the Hollis Street theatre. young Crane was sent to be edu- cated.
 He was better at mimiclSing his fellows and his teacher than at his lessons, be- 1 cause he would mmick and he wouldn't \ study. One vacation his father got him a job in music publishing house. Noth- ! ing seemed to go right in the store after Crane entered it.. All of the employees | appeared to have a great deal to do in the basement. The proprietor found that \ young William Crane was the magnet As often as he could steal away from his work, the youth would give imita- | tions of the actors he had seen, and would sing the songs which were popular at the time. He lost his job.
 You're a good singer" one of his com panions told him one day. Come and see my mother We are actors, and maybe you can go with us."